Governor Wolf asks state lawmakers to join fight against community gun violence

WILKES-BARRE (WOLF) — Governor Wolf is calling on state lawmakers to help put an end to community gun violence.

This week, he approved a $6 million proposal in his budget to address it.

In the Fall Luzerne County was awarded almost $250,000 to help fund police, as part of a gun violence reduction initiative.

"We need to address is and we need to get serious about it because ultimately all gun violence results in devastation," said Governor Tom Wolf.

This week, Governor Tom Wolf pleaded with state lawmakers to join his fight to end community gun violence in the Keystone State for good.

"It's time we provide support to every community, not just a few," said Governor Wolf.

This comes just a few weeks after the Governor proposed this year's state budget, recommending $6 million be devoted to this initiative.

Pennsylvania Commission of Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Chairman Charles Ramsey echoing those concerns.

"We need to all come together and we need to be committed to work and know that there is no end to work because there will always be an at-risk generation that's going to need guidance," said Ramsey.

Over the past two years the PCCD has brought millions of dollars in grants.

More than $200,000 of them going toward developing a gun violence reduction task force and trigger lock operations in Luzerne County, where police are focusing on small high-crime areas.

"The Wilkes-Barre Police Department is doing the best job they could possibly do and I believe they're doing an excellent job of doing it," said Bob Kadluboski of Wilkes-Barre.

However, it is not just murders raising concerns

"Gun violence may appear in different forms, in different communities and some people may see it as on street shootings, while others might have a higher rate of suicide by guns," said Governor Wolf.

According to CeaseFirePA, of all the firearms deaths in Pennsylvania 2/3 of them were suicides.

"Six million dollars is a lot of money, but there's really something that money can't buy, that's the need to really make a difference. And that is the total commitment of the community, of business leaders, of elected officials, of police, everybody coming together to end this," said Ramsey.

Grants from the last couple years are still being distributed across the state.