Rep. Kinsey, Gov. Wolf discuss combatting gun violence in Northwest Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 28 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., along with community leaders, advocates, and students hosted Gov. Tom Wolf on a visit to the 201st Legislative District at Parkway Northwest High School for Peace and Social Justice to discuss tackling local gun violence and called on the General Assembly to help secure the $6 million in funding measures for gun violence prevention across Philadelphia outlined in Wolf’s 2020-21 budget proposal.

“I’m extremely pleased and support Governor Tom Wolf’s proposal to keep Pennsylvanians safe. Gun violence has become a public health crisis, cutting short the lives of too many people across our commonwealth, especially here in Philadelphia,” Kinsey said. “Governor Wolf recognizes this and has stepped up to the plate with plans. We’re now demanding the state legislature does its part on solidifying this proposal

to increase funding thus giving us additional resources that will assist us in battling this threat to the health, safety and welfare of the people of Pennsylvania.”

Kinsey also acknowledged the need for grassroots community mobilization in quelling local gun violence and spoke about his public listening tour—Step Up, Stand Up—an anti-gun violence prevention public listening tour.

“I recently launched Step Up, Stand Up to reduce—and hopefully end—gun violence across our local communities. I hosted the first public listening tour last week where I listened to input from the public,” he said, noting that the event was a success. “We need to continue having more fruitful discussions to find viable solutions to save lives. One of the next events will focus on bringing voices from our local youth into the conversation.”

Joining Kinsey on welcoming Wolf were community organizations, and city and state  officials such as Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, EMIR, Moms Demand Action, MOYTTA, Father’s Day Rally Committee, and Einstein Health Network; City Council members Cindy Bass, Isaiah Thomas, Kendra Brooks, and Jamie Gauthier; state Reps. Joseph C. Hohenstein, Danilo Burgos, Jordan Harris, James Roebuck, and Chris Rabb; and Sens. Anthony H. Williams, Art Haywood and Shariff Street.

Wolf’s visit is part of Kinsey’s recently unveiled initiative, Step Up, Stand Up, to combat gun violence across Northwest Philadelphia. Wolf gave his budget address earlier this month, in which he proposed allocating $6 million across the commonwealth and $4 million in Philadelphia for anti-gun violence efforts.

Kinsey, chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, and PLBC members, led efforts to lobby for the funding.