Murders are way up across the country

Biden takes shot at gun violence

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

 iStock

Bullet casings and broken glass. Crime scene.

Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 9am and 7pm on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”

First it was mass shootings. Now it’s a significant increase in the number of murders across the country.

President Joe Biden released a five-point plan last week to combat violence – specifically gun violence. It includes money for the hiring of more police officers just a year after racial injustice protestors often called for spending less on police departments or even defunding the police.

What’s driving the surge in homicides that are up since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic? Gun sales are way up but experts say that’s not the only factor. More people losing their incomes and being cooped up may be contributors as well.

On Monday’s Smart Talk, we’re joined by two nationally known experts to discuss the rising murder rate. Appearing on the program are Dr. Cassandra Crifasi, Deputy Director, Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Jeff Asher, data analyst and co-founder of AH Datalytic.