The nationwide debate about gun control, mass shootings, and violent crime was once again jump-started in the wake of recent massacres at a county center in California and at a Planned Parenthood in Colorado that left several people dead.
But here in St. Louis, officials are concerned with a different type of gun violence — the kind that happens almost routinely and usually takes one life at a time.
At least 180 people have been killed in St. Louis so far this year — the most in almost two decades. And most of those homicides involved a gun.
That's led to a growing cry from community members, non profits, law enforcement and public officials who say it's time to re-think the approach to tackling gun violence.
Specifically, many are advocating a public health approach.
Still, cities like St. Louis are finding out that implementing this approach is easier said than done. We explore that in this week's podcast.
We also get a little help in this episode from Ryan Delaney, a reporter for WFYI in Indianapolis.
Delaney has started a series called Intersections, which is tracking a new consolidated plan to lower gun violence in Indianapolis by addressing things like poverty, mental health and hunger in target neighborhoods.
You can follow his work here.
