In Youngstown, there have been more than 10 fatal shootings and even more non-fatal shootings in 2024.

The most recent was just this week, when a man was found shot on the city's south side.

To curb the gun violence in the state, the Ohio Mayor's Alliance, of which Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown is apart of, has signed a letter urging Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to take more action.

The letter, signed by mayors of 31 major cities across the state, states that while gun deaths have gun down over the last two years a "spasm" of violence has spread across their cities because of the summer. This has resulted in multiple homicides and three separate mass shootings.

It also notes that most of the victims in these shootings are under the age of 18.

"We know that firearms alone are not to blame," the letter states. "The individuals that perpetrate these crimes and engage in these deadly acts of gun violence must be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

However, the availability of firearms and the ease with which they are acquired are significant contributing factors to the scourge of gun violence in our communities and across Ohio."

The letter adds that firearms are now the leading cause of death among young people across the country, according to data gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So in response to the what the coalition says is an increase in gun violence this summer, they've made five recommendations to DeWine:

1) Establish a state-level research unit dedicated to supporting cities and local law enforcement with analysis, research and best-practice data sharing focused on the prevention of firearm-related deaths in Ohio.

2) Double-down on targeted state grants to cities and local law enforcement agencies for technology and other data-driven strategies that work to reduce violent crime.

3) Reduce the number of stolen firearms that are being used in violent crimes by promoting awareness of Ohio law so owners are aware of the consequences for not reporting a stolen gun.

4) Leverage the Ohio Collaborative Community-Policy Advisory Standards to incentivize more enforcement agencies to input recovered crime gun information into the eTrace system and to share that data.

5) Re-engage lawmakers on necessary state law changes that help reduce gun violence and improve public safety in Ohio.

The letter also urges state and local lawmakers to improve education on gun use to younger people, claiming that too many officer-involved shootings were because of a replica gun.

Additionally, the letter states that the coalition plans to establish a statewide, cross-sector coalition to build a shared understanding of the problems, impacts and potential solutions to reduce crime and improve public safety in Ohio.

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