Gun violence rates, support for officers top priorities for Gov. Cooper in 2024 [Video]

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Governor Cooper spoke in front of the Governor’s Crime Commission Thursday highlighting his top priorities for the year when it comes to addressing crime.He called on a need to reduce gun violence in addition to more education on guns and gun safety.

“When you’ve got gun violence passing car accidents as the number one cause of injury deaths in children in this state and in this country, we know that we’ve got to do something,” Cooper told the commission.

The Governor’s office says an average of five North Carolinians die per day from firearm injuries and rates of firearm violence are increasing both statewide and across the country.

“The number of guns in our communities is increasing, there’s so many people who leave their gun in the car, on the seat with the gun unlocked and that gun is often stolen and used in a crime. …