NASHVILLE, TN - Citing statistics that say the homicide rate among African American men has reached “a public health crisis in this state,” Rep. Rick Staples has filed a bill to study the causes and suggest ways to take action.

Representative Staples; image submitted

The legislation (HB1545) uses data from the Violence Policy Center, a national nonprofit “that conducts research, offers public education, and provides the public and policymakers with analysis and information on the issue of violence in America.”

In the bill, the Knoxville Democrat cites data from the Center that shows the homicide rate among African American men in Tennessee is five times greater than the overall homicide rate and 8 points greater than the national rate for African American victims. Rep. Staples said, “These numbers are extremely disheartening. African American men are being killed across the state at an incredible rate. We have to get to the root of the problem, find solutions and implement them quickly.”

The bill would require the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) to conduct the study and report back, with proposed solutions, no later than January 13, 2021.