Life Camp, Inc. CEO Decries Gun Violence, Calls for More Personal Responsibility

May 31, 2016 – Erica Ford, CEO of LIFE Camp, Inc. one of New York’s leading anti-violence organizations, has called for increased support and partnerships with crisis intervention teams that lead the City’ on the ground gun-violence prevention efforts. 

Ford also called for heightened anti-violence work in the wake of over 20 people being shot in New York over Memorial Day Weekend in over 15 incidents, including an incident in LIFE Camp’s target zone in South Jamaica, Queens, that interrupted the record set of 539 days with no shootings in that region.   

While LIFE Camp Inc.’s target zone has seen no killings in 541 days, LIFE Camp., Inc. is asking the city to band together as one to prevent further shootings.

“We all have a role to play in defusing incidents and for over 539 days it worked and can continue to work if we recommit to personal responsibility. Violence is a disease and we have the medicine to cure this public health crisis to prevent future incidents,” said Ford.

In 2013, New York State made history by becoming the first state in the country to designate an entire month to the issue of gun violence.

Gun Violence Awareness Month was created in an effort to raise awareness surrounding the issue of needless and senseless gun violence in New York's communities and LIFE Camp., Inc. began the symbolic adoption of orange for peace as a way of life.

The goals of Gun Violence Awareness Month are: to promote greater awareness about gun violence and gun safety, to concentrate annual heightened attention to gun violence during the summer months, when gun violence typically increases, and to bring citizens and community leaders together to discuss ways to make our communities healthier. 

Source: Mercury