There has been a national rise in gun violence across the United States, and some blame police reform efforts with no supporting data. In fact, the data tells a different story, with an increase before “Defund” calls, an increase before tepid defund efforts, and an increase in cities that have increased police budgets. Instead, the data points to the proliferation of gun ownership, unemployment, a breaking social fabric, and an unresponsive government. Let’s explore this complex subject a bit more.