Philadelphia has had a rough 2020 as far as homicides were concerned. According to a report by Chris Palmer of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the annual total for homicides in the city was almost 500. Similar scenarios have taken place across American largely due to unrest from the Wuhan virus pandemic and many cities’ decisions to implement lax policies to fight crime.
Philadelphia’s homicide count as of December 31, 2020, stood at 499. This number is 40 percent higher than in 2019 and represents a greater total of homicides recorded than the years of 2013 and 2014 combined. The last time more people were murdered was during 1990, when law enforcement reported 500 homicides. This number took place against the background of the crack-cocaine epidemic.
The increase in shootings was even more significant. Over 2,240 people were victims of shootings from January 1 to December 31 of last year. Law enforcement were quick to blame the increase of firearms in circulation. In 2020, there were 2,300 arrests related to illegal firearm possession, which is double the number from 2015.
Read the full story from Big League Politics
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