The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice found that homicides increased by 30 per cent in 2020, with the majority of the deaths a result of gun violence. And just as the pandemic disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities, so too did the rise in gun violence. "These are communities that often have been disinvested in and under-resourced, so gun violence is not new to them," said Headley. U.S. President Joe Biden has called gun violence "an epidemic in America," and his administration has set aside more than $470 billion dollars to help cities fight gun violence. Headley says reducing gun violence will require finding the right balance.

Source: CBC News August 08, 2021 07:52 UTC