Liana Eisler, Conard '19 travels to Detroit to learn about Guns

By Liana Eisler

eislerlili@gmail.com

DETROIT- Over Columbus Day weekend, the founder and CEO of the Caliber Collection, Jessica Mindich travelled to Detroit to meet with residents about the illegal gun violence that exists in their community.

During a discussion held in the Detroit Foundation Hotel, Wayne County Sheriff, Benny Napoleon stated, “gun violence is more than the sensational mass murders that the media covers.” For his community, gun violence happens on a regular basis. He and Mrs. Mindich agreed that in order to prevent the destruction caused by illegally obtained weapons, they must be proactive.

The discussion led by Mrs. Mindich undertook the controversial and devastating issue of gun violence that occurs frequently in today’s society. The gun buyback program received, “AK47s and rocket launchers,” said Napoleon in disbelief.

Mike Bruggeman, a businessman who helped create Project Lighthouse, a program that connects over 30 businesses in the Central Business District in order to provide aid to citizens in need of help, contributed to the discussion by emphasizing the importance of taking action to improve the community.

The Caliber Collection intends to transform “ugly into beauty,” said Mrs Mindich. Along with the thousands of lives negatively impacted by illegal weapons, there is a sense of fear “that leads people to move away from Detroit,” said Napoleon. “If the city isn’t safe and people don’t want to be here, the city can’t thrive,” said Mrs. Mindich.

The perpetrators of gun violence are typically in age group ranging from 14 to 44 year olds; however, gun violence affects the entire community. Napoleon and Mrs. Mindich are determined to inspire the entire community to come together in order to confront this issue.

Mrs. Mindich also attended the Oak Grove African Methodist Episcopal Church to meet with Pastor Robert Brumfield. During their discussion, Brumfield remarked that the gun buyback program has “reduced the severity of the issue, but the violence continues to persist in the community.” This community, located in the Metro Detroit Area, experiences the devastating outcomes of gun violence daily.

Brumfield thanked Mrs. Mindich for her involvement in reducing gun violence and said the most important thing is that they continue to “create change.”