Georgia Towns Swept Up in Rising Tide of Gun Violence

Cities and towns across Georgia — like many across the U.S. — have struggled with an increase in homicides in both 2020 and 2021, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Researchers say the rise in violence is driven by complex social factors such as poverty and isolation colliding with a broken mental health system, domestic violence, joblessness, drugs and gangs, the prevalence of guns, the shutdown of courts, and a shortage of officers—all of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

A little less than half of last year’s homicides were in the core metro counties of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett, according to preliminary data from a state Department of Public Health office that tracks violent deaths. Those counties collectively recorded 501 homicides, a third higher than in 2019. The rest of the state recorded 556, a jump of 21 percent.  The bulk of gun violence happens in a few areas in each city and involves a relatively small group of people who commit the violence or fall victim to it. To try to break the cycle of repeat offenders and reduce the violence, city police, courts and state parole officials are partnering in a new program to triage cases before offenders get out on parole. Officials also blame anti-police rhetoric from progressive leadership for creating the crisis in communities, emboldening criminals and gangs.