‘We’re better than this’: Gun violence trends higher

KUOW sums it up: “Whatever statistic you look at, one thing is clear: gun violence continues to trend ever higher in Seattle.”

So let’s check the statistics KUOW reported, as provided by Seattle’s interim police chief, Adrian Diaz:

• There have been 150 more shootings in 2021 than in 2019.
• More than 380 shots fired in 2021.
• 278 shots fired incidents with no injuries.
• 35 homicides so far in 2021 (two are delayed deaths, meaning they were injured last year, but died in 2021).
• SPD has recovered more than 700 guns in 2021 (about 100 were collected in August alone). Chief Diaz said the department is on pace to recover about 1,000 this year.
• 104 shooting incidents that resulted in victims; a total of 135 victims overall.
• 24 individuals have been arrested for gun-related offenses over the past month. So far in 2021, 14 people have been arrested for homicides.

Add those up and you have a horrible equation for needless violence and suffering.

Chief Diaz is right: We’re better than this.