Eureka!

I think I've found the group Kansas City needs to help us reduce the shootings and killings in town.

They are called CeaseFire and were formed in Chicago to, according to its mission statement:

a) work with community and government partners to reduce violence in all forms; and,

b) help design interventions required to better define what should be included in a community or city anti-violence plan.

And thank goodness.

I've written for some time that we need some group of community activists that can somehow reduce the ridiculous number of pointless shootings and murders that happen in town.

This, I think, could be the group.

And the thing is, the churches and other community groups could all form around them and work with them to get this done.

From the Star:

"An expert who has helped decrease shootings and killings by 40 to 70 percent in cities such as Chicago was in Kansas City on Thursday to talk with City Council members about using his program to help cut crime."

"'We see the issue of violent behavior is a learned behavior,' said Gary Slutkin, founder of Ceasefire."

"Slutkin said it starts with hiring and training community organizers to step in and prevent retaliations and disputes by reaching out to the parties that are at war with each other."

"'Most of the shootings and killings in Kansas City, as well as in most cities around the country, are related to grievances and interpersonal disputes,' Slutkin said."

"In Kansas City this method is being used in the east zone area, where the most murders occur. An 11-member group known as Aim For Peace is working in the area."

"'There were two houses that were warring across the street (from each other) where there were multiple bullets flying,' said Tracie McClendon-Cole. 'They were able to intervene on both parties behalf to the point where there were no shots fired.'"

Now, apparently, they're running out of money.

The city should at least look into this and check on the viability and reliability of this information and group and see if they don't deserve our support through tax money.

It certainly sounds as though they do.

Then, as I said, church members, activists, families and everyone interested in having a safer city should get behind the groups, too--both CeaseFire and Aim for Peace.

This may well be the solutions we've needed.

Here's hoping.