A new measure to tackle gun violence nationwide was announced by President Joe Biden.
His administration will create the "Office of Gun Violence Prevention." It will coordinate such measures throughout the federal government, and also urge Congress to take action in what Biden is calling an "epidemic."
"This is something that's been advocated for years by advocates around the country, and it really was an opportunity to elevate this issue as it should be to the highest office of the land", said Reggie Moore. "We should not wait for that tragedy to visit our families or our neighborhood, or someone we know, we should be caring about this now."
Almost four years ago, Moore testified in front of a Congressional Committee regarding community solutions to gun violence.
He once led the Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention and helped the city with its first-ever community-driven Blueprint for Peace plan.
Reggie, who is now with the Medical College of Wisconsin as the Director of Community Safety Policy and Engagement, joined TMJ4 News to discuss this new effort.
"There really is an opportunity to align the priorities that the administration, both from an investment and a policy perspective to ensure that action is taken and actually seeing those edges through," Moore said.
Watch the full interview with Reggie Moore:
President Biden signed the Safer Communities Act last year; a bipartisan law that strengthens gun control laws for the first time in 30 years while adding more resources for mental health and school safety programs
Moore sees an opportunity for the Office of Gun Violence Prevention to change the narrative and help focus more on policy changes and less on politics. He says several members of the new office are surveyors of gun violence.
"Greg Jackson, in particular, is the former Executive Director of the Community Justice Action Fund, and he has been an advocate and advocating for these types of policies and investments."
Vice President Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor, will lead the new federal office.
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