Many sessions I attended at SXSW — whether about gun safety, the future of sustainability, creating wealth, or even implementing Artificial Intelligence to aid in building the future of our cities — all circled back to community and the unification of the people within those areas. “What do you mean, Braxton?” Hang on, because I […]
Gun Violence
Posted inNews
No more waiting: Mansfield leaders unite in fight against youth violence
Rev. Bruce Bond doesn’t see any more time to wait to address youth violence in the City of Mansfield.
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Mansfield police continue to investigate Halloween party turned deadly
MANSFIELD — Mansfield police Capt. Randy Carver just returned from a year-long military deployment overseas, serving as the 1st Sgt. in an Ohio Army National Guard infantry combat team. The veteran soldier and long-time police officer said he wishes local residents, especially young people, better understood the finality of bullets. “We train (that) words aren’t […]
Posted inSolutions
Hope takes root in Mansfield youth amid gun violence epidemic
MANSFIELD — In times of adversity and stress, advice to “stay positive” can seem flippant at best and insensitive at worst. However, it turns out positive thinking can be a powerful psychological force. It’s why Mansfield City Schools Superintendent Stan Jefferson believes strongly in leading with hope. “When individuals have hope, they have high levels […]
Posted inSolutions
Fighting Together: A community strategy to end gun violence
MANSFIELD — Gun violence is not just a problem in Mansfield, it’s one of America’s most prevalent issues. According to the website www.teamenough.org, 316 people are shot daily across the country in instances of murder, assault, suicides, attempted suicides, and unintentional shootings. Of those shootings, 106 end in death. Like Mansfield, a number communities are […]
Posted inSolutions
No easy answers: Mansfield officials seek solutions to gun violence
MANSFIELD — Ryan Grimshaw works the front lines in the battle against gun violence. The 39-year-old Grimshaw, a sergeant now in his 16th year as a Mansfield police officer, sees it face-to-face in his work on patrol and now as the leader of the department’s new Community Action Team. He has looked into the eyes […]
Posted inSolutions
Where does violence begin? Finding the smoking gun
MANSFIELD — When Jim Kulig came to Mansfield in 1968, his first job was as a casework supervisor in the youth dormitory of the Ohio State Reformatory, which housed around 200 young men ages 16 to 19. That’s where he met Sid. At 19 years old, Sid had already been in prison for three years […]
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Sanderfer’s death epitomizes tragic toll of local gun violence
MANSFIELD — Antonio Sanderfer Jr. had kind eyes and the type of soft smile that immediately put people at ease. He was quiet and warm and a friend to most everyone he met. A 2014 Mansfield Senior High School graduate, Sanderfer was found shot to death inside his Newman Street home in August of 2022. […]
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Mansfield confronts alarming spike in gun violence
MANSFIELD — The teenage boy looked at Richland County Juvenile Court Judge Steve McKinley without blinking. He told the judge he was going to keep carrying a gun when he was back on the city’s streets. The teen didn’t care what penalty the judge may impose — including being sent away to the Ohio Department […]