Cape Girardeau task force urges combined prevention, enforcement and state advocacy to reduce gun violence

The Gun Violence Task Force on Tuesday delivered a final report to the Cape Girardeau City Council recommending a three-pronged approach — city programs and policies, state advocacy and public awareness — to reduce firearm violence locally.

"We weren't here to solve gun violence," co-chair Adam Kidd said, describing the six-month, eight-session listening process that included police, courts, schools and nonprofits. "We were here to talk about how our city is approaching it currently, and ... think for a minute about something in the future."

The report endorses what co-chair Jessica Hill described as a public-health model that pairs enforcement with prevention and community supports. "Enforcement is key. Social programs and community building are key," Hill said, and the report groups recommendations under city…