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Congresswoman Robin Kelly Hosts Public Safety and Violence Prevention Summit


Dolton, IL—(ENEWSPF)—July 20, 2015. Thirty south suburban police chiefs and social service advocates attended a Summit on Public Safety and Violence Prevention today in Dolton hosted by Congresswoman Robin Kelly. 

The purpose of the summit was to discuss strategies to prevent and counteract violence in suburban communities. Rep. Kelly listened to the concerns of law enforcement officials and learned what community-based solutions were successfully counteracting violence.

“The police chiefs informed me that suburban communities are facing similar problems as Chicago, but are compelled to respond with a fraction of the resources available to the city,” Congresswoman Kelly said. “They’ve countered by forming regional coalitions like the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, but state budget cuts and a lack of consistent funding have negatively impacted the unit and other effective violence prevention programs.”

Law enforcement officials also told Rep. Kelly they were in favor of comprehensive background checks and a more efficient gun registration system.

“A lack of national laws has made the jobs of our law enforcement officials much harder, and it puts the public at greater risk,” said Kelly, who supports comprehensive background checks. “I am committed to supporting law enforcement in their efforts to make our communities safer, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in Washington to pass common sense gun laws that will help get illegal guns off our streets.”

Joining the chiefs were representatives from La Rabida, Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center and Bloom Township Youth and Family Services.

Congresswoman Kelly said the Summit would periodically reconvene to further discuss workable solutions to combating gun violence.

Source: www.robinkelly.house.gov

 


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