San Juan, Puerto Rico — The grim realities of gun violence were laid bare at the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)’s first-ever Gun Violence Survivors’ Summit. As National Crime Victims’ Rights Week unfolded from April 21-27, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico joined forces with the ATF to confront this pressing issue.
Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow and ATF Director Steve Dettelbach unveiled an exhibit at ATF headquarters, displaying 118 photographs of individuals senselessly cut down by gun violence. Accompanying these heart-wrenching images was a kiosk detailing the lives of the victims, with three families from Puerto Rico sharing their loved ones’ biographies: Lieutenant Oswaldo Albarati, Mr. David M. Méndez Calderón, and Stefano Steenbackers Betancourt.
Statistics paint a chilling picture: In 2022, nearly 20 million victimizations occurred in the United States, with over 6.6 million being violent crimes, including rape, robbery, assault, and more. Yet, only about 42% of these violent crimes were reported to police. This year’s NCVRW theme, “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors,” aims to bridge this gap and ensure that victims and survivors have access to the support they need.
Muldrow emphasized the urgency of addressing gun violence: “Gun violence is devastating families and communities across our nation. It’s the leading cause of death for American children and teenagers. The Department of Justice is focused on keeping our communities safe, targeting violent crime drivers like gun violence. With federal, state, and local law enforcement and community partners, we will continue to fight for lives and justice.”
This summit served as a poignant reminder of the human cost of gun violence and a commitment to support survivors and work towards a safer future.
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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