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January 24, 2025
Guns are the #1 cause of death for kids and teens. 51% of US teens say they worry “about a shooting happening at my school or a local school near me.” (US Department of Health). For decades, the I-95 corridor has been notorious for its role in the American drug trade. The Iron Pipeline is the route of illegal guns trafficked up the I-95 corridor from southern states with weak gun laws to states with strict gun laws, like Maryland. The I-95 corridor runs through states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. This easy access allows traffickers to exploit differences in state regulations, purchasing guns cheaply and reselling them at higher prices in Maryland. Many of the crimes in Maryland are committed with these illegal guns. 2/3 of crime guns in Maryland are trafficked from southern states (Baltimore Magazine). With stringent background checks, age restrictions, and limits on private sales, it’s harder for individuals to legally obtain guns in Maryland. This drives the black market demand for trafficked firearms. LifeBridge Health sees the devastating impact of gun violence every day—it’s not just a legal issue, but a public health crisis. Illegal guns fuel this violence, and by addressing the illegal gun trade, we can save lives and create safer, healthier communities. Here's the link: Stop The Iron Pipeline | Help End Gun Violence in Maryland
Our Ministerium has some free lock boxes from Harford County's Office of Mental Health that can be used to safely store handguns and medications.
Please contact Bob at crhoopert@zoominternet.net if you'd like to have a box.