Maybe the covid-19 pandemic is partly to blame for Jackson’s record-high homicide number in 2021. But it can’t be the only reason.
The Clarion Ledger said Jackson reported at least 152 homicides last year, easily beating the prior record of 130, which was set in 2020.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba believes the pandemic “has increased the level of desperation that leads to violent crime across the nation.”
The uncertainty of the pandemic didn’t help. Fear and anger may have played a role in the rising number of fatalities in Mississippi’s capital city. But another factor should be considered and investigated, too: Why do more people seem willing to fire a gun at someone?
The Associated Press quoted Jackson law enforcement officers and politicians as saying that guns are more frequently being used to settle family and neighborhood disagreements. Working to cool off these disputes before someone starts shooting might be a way to prevent Jackson’s embarrassing homicide count from setting another record this year.
