Community investment reduces gun violence in Oakland California

Pastor Michael McBride and his organization LIVE FREE USA are using community-based interventions to reduce gun violence in Oakland, California.

McBride, who also leads The Way Christian Center in Berkeley, argues that public safety depends on supporting high-risk individuals rather than relying on punishment or increased incarceration. McBride says his approach focuses on providing off-ramps and interventions for people most likely to be involved in shootings. These efforts help individuals choose to resolve conflicts without using lethal violence.

He claims that this strategy has successfully moved from a niche operation to a mainstream approach supported by hundreds of millions of dollars from federal, state, and local governments. The work in Oakland has resulted in a steep reduction in violence recently. McBride says the community has shifted its thinking to recognize that a small number of people are responsible for a large portion of the violence.

He believes that violence will continue to decrease as long as people invest in solutions that address the choices of these individuals rather than focusing on punitiveness.