City to Focus on Violence "Hot Spots"

November 13, 2006 -- There were 5 murders in the City over the weekend, wounding 13 people. The bulk of the gunplay came from the usual temper flare-ups and arguments over turf, prompting tireless anti-violence crusaders to evoke pleas normally heard in the Middle East.

Most of the weekend shootings occurred in the "hot-spot" neighborhoods of North and Southwest Philadelphia. One shooting occurred in the shadow of City Hall. A man was shot in the back as he exited the SEPTA station at Dilworth Plaza around 3:45 Sunday afternoon.

Another shooting occurred just blocks away from the campus of St. Joseph's University in Wynnefield. Two students were shot near 54th and Wyndale during an armed robbery early Sunday morning. (READ MORE)

In all, Philadelphia has had 354 homicides so far this year.

What can be done to stop the carnage? Noted criminologist Dr. Lawrence Sherman says Philadelphia Police could discourage people from carrying guns by being more aggressive in using Supreme Court sanctioned "stop and frisk" procedures targeting high-violence hot spots.

Police say they are doing just that in 6 targeted areas across the City; from Southwest to the lower Northeast, and from West Philly to the River Wards. So far in 2006 through September 30th police have confiscated 4116 guns. During the same period of '05 the number was 317 less.

The Mayor says police have to be cautious when playing hunches about who to search on the street.

At a news conference Monday morning, leaders of Men United for a Better Philadelphia outlined their plan to curb the violence, especially in North, Southwest, and South Philadelphia. Beginning Wednesday, they will be going door-to- door in those neighborhoods, trying to find and help young men who might be at risk for committing violent crimes. They want to connect those young men to jobs, educational opportunities and social services.

The activists say hopelessness leads to the arguments that are at the root of so many shootings.

Men United will also be teaching prison inmates about anger management with the hope that when they are released, they too, will be less likely to turn to guns to solve their problems.

Men United leaders were quite frank in saying this effort is targeted at African-American men, but they say they need help from families in the effected communities and also from corporate leaders who might be able to create jobs if this initiative is going to work.

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