FBI data shows TN violent crime rate consistently higher than rest of nation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. October 14 2022 Governor Bill Lee just announced a new investment to help curb crime. The state is now investing $100,000 in grants for local law enforcement to go toward proven crime-reduction programs.
A line of hearses sit staged and ready at the SAG Funeral Home in North Nashville.
Owner Steve Ganaway says sadly, this is necessary, with the rate of calls he gets from people to bury their loved ones.
“I can hear it in my ears over and over again, this is mister so and so, I need your help. What can I do for you sir or ma’am? I just lost my son, that was my son you seen on TV last night that got killed here and there. The next thing out of my mouth is how old is your son? 17, 16, 14, 18, and it goes on and on and on,” Ganaway said.
Ganaway says he’s not surprised to hear Tennessee ranks as one of the top three states for violent crime.
“Everybody keeps wanting to blame the kids, it’s not all about blaming the kids,” Ganaway said.
Crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shows Tennessee consistently ranks higher than the nation in violent crimes per 100,000 people.
Data shows in 2021, Tennessee had a violent crime rate of about 675 per 100,000 people. The national rate is 396 per 100,000.
Tennessee’s rate is the third highest in the nation among states who shared data with the FBI.
Gov. Lee is now investing $100 million in grants for local law enforcement to try and curb violence.
But community activists say they want to see that same level of investment for organizations that help steer children along the right path.
Activists want the funs to go to organizers like Clemmie Greenlee who founded Nashville Peacemakers after her son died to gang violence in 2003. Part of the organization’s mission is to steer youth in distressed neighborhoods toward peaceful alternatives to violence.
“To me doing something about it is investing in it, not keep arresting in it,” Greenlee said. “It should be going to organizations like myself and other grassroot organizations who have been fighting for years to reduce violence and make a change in our own community.”
FOX 17 News brought these concerns to Governor Lee.
Jackie DelPilar: “We hear from community organizers, churches, organizations that work with youth. They say they need some more funding to help with their programs, apart from law enforcement. Do you have any plans to invest in that or provide more grant opportunities for those community organizations who have that same mission?”
Gov. Lee: “I think you make a really great point that communities are a significant part of the answer. We cannot solve this problem. Government isn’t the answer to the greatest problems we have. We have an important role to play. And that’s what this funding is, it provides much needed reporting and resources for law enforcement, which in law enforcement is certainly an important part of the equation. But our community organizations are nonprofits, our faith-based institutions, they have a significant role. Nothing will be off the table and thinking about how we budget resources for those organizations that are making the greatest change. As you know, we offer we open an office of faith based and community initiatives to serve as a liaison between nonprofits, community organizations, churches, and the work that’s happening with government agencies. So it’s incredibly important that we engage in our communities and in our community organizations.”
Nashvillians like Ganaway and Greenlee hope state lawmakers will consider finding ways to fund programs and organizations to help reduce violent crimes, which will in turn lower the number of funerals for children held each year.
