Gun violence threatening the future of Memphis, pastor says
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A mass shooting in Orange Mound is raising more questions about gun violence in Memphis.
An Orange Mound block party where hundreds were in attendance turned into a mass shooting on Saturday night. Officers found nine gunshot victims, two of whom died on the scene along the 2400 block of Carnes Avenue.
Victims killed in Orange Mound block party shooting identified
Senior pastor and founder of Great Imani Church, Dr. Bill Adkins, has been outspoken about the need for gun control in Memphis.
Following the latest deaths at the hands of gun violence, he said the city is becoming a cautionary tale.
“Well, we’re thinking it’s the Wild, Wild West,” Dr. Adkins said. “Like we’re the new tombstone territory.”
Police say about 200 to 300 people were at the party where guns were brazenly brought to the park filled with young people, families and children.
“It’s so alarming to us that people can assemble in such large numbers and brandish weapons such as were being brandished,” Dr. Adkins said. “And then a gunfight breaks out and people are killed and wounded.”
Grandmother calls out ‘devils’ responsible for block party shooting
Some say this kind of violence can be partially blamed on the lack of adequate programs for young people.
“Crime seems like the only resort they have left,” Dr. Adkins said. “For years we have been negligent in our city in sponsoring programs for our youth and now it seems we’re paying the price for our negligence from years ago.”
Dr. Adkins says that this has produced a generation that’s almost out of control.
“We’ve got to deal with the rampant amount of crime in the city and it seems like people are willing to commit crimes,” Dr. Adkins said. “We have a generation where people are no longer afraid to go to jail. They’re not even afraid to die and that’s a situation maybe we’ve never faced before.”
Dr. Adkins says unless families, the faith-based community, law enforcement and the city do more to address crime and violence, Memphis will face a difficult future.
“The city is going to go downhill if we don’t get a handle on it,” Dr. Adkins said. “We’re looking at a future ghost town.”
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