Abstract
In Bleeding Out, Thomas Abt conveys a clear sense of urgency about urban violence through metaphor, a man has been shot in his leg and is on a hospital gurney. Abt weaves this story throughout his book by establishing principles on what should be addressed immediately with urban violence to stop the bleeding—metaphorically with the man’s leg and literally in society. Abt’s expertise comes from his background as a government official specializing in evidence-based approaches to reducing crime in urban areas. He currently serves as a lecturer and researcher at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Abt defines “urban violence” as lethal killings primarily related to gun violence, which excludes “sexual violence or violence between intimate partners or family members” (p. 6). He says if communities can focus on urban violence, there will be a trickle-down effect in reducing challenges with poverty, nonviolent crimes, and education. In addition, Abt declares that unless urban violence is addressed first and urgently, then other “wounds” (i.e., poverty) will only deepen and become more threatening. Providing impetus to the conversation, Bleeding Out begins with explaining the problem of urban violence. The book follows with treatment strategies for urban violence and concludes by providing the readers with actionable steps on moving the discussion forward. Abt presents a streamlined approach for confronting urban violence, which is underlaid by three fundamental principles: focus, balance, and fairness.
Abt’s “treatment” strategy for urban violence first focuses on hot people and hot places most prone to urban violence. The book identifies three groups of “hot people”: the would-be shooters, someday shooters, and bona fide shooters. Working first on “would-be shooters,” who are more susceptible to violence early on, will be the most efficient approach to address the urgency of urban violence. Since these would-be shooters have yet to be exposed to violence, the author proposes reaching out to them before they engage in a violent crime and sending hard and soft messages while connecting them to community resources to deter them from violence. Abt also explains that consistent and specific follow-up with this group is essential in keeping them from moving down the spectrum to become bona fide shooters.
Supporting “someday shooters” is a noteworthy strategical emphasis in the “treatment” section of the book. Someday shooters are who Abt identifies as adolescents and children who have been exposed to violence and might become shooters in the future. Abt indicates one of the most successful strategies to support someday shooters is influencing and helping their support system, primarily family members. The author identifies different therapy areas for families and individuals who can effectively steer someday shooters in another direction. Finally, Abt addresses the bona fide shooters who are not open to considering other options besides killing. The author is very clear and direct about these types of individuals—“If we cannot turn would-be shooters away from violence, they may become bona fide shooters who must be separated from society” (p. 108).
Abt, next, talks about the different “hot places” or communities where urban violence is most prevalent. In doing so, he debunks many misnomers about guns, gangs, and drugs. Gangs, like the Crips and Bloods, are no longer organized like once before, as their hierarchal structures have loosened immensely. Most gangs function with flattened authority—day-to-day decisions are based on who has a car or who has money. Further, Abt posits that drugs in themselves are not necessarily the problem—violent drug dealing and abuse are. The same is true of guns—gun carrying is not necessarily the problem, it is illegal gun carrying that is the problem. In reorienting thought about confronting guns, gangs, and drugs and the behaviors that drive them, Abt demonstrates that relying on one general approach is unlikely to be a panacea despite what political rhetoric would claim.
Abt acknowledges how politics has undermined addressing and presenting real solutions to address urban violence through examining pushback on the right and the left. For instance, any change proposed regarding gun laws creates an outcry from the right about unfairly restricting Second Amendment rights. On the other hand, left-wing organizations—like the American Civil Liberties Union—are sensitive about being tough on crime in certain majority–minority communities, arguing that it eventually leads to being tough on minorities in general. While one can quickly ascertain, the political climate is cantankerous to the extent that it is almost impossible to have a conversation about a solution.
If Abt’s stories and data do not connect with the reader, he takes his narrative one step further and connects urban violence to a language everyone speaks: money. Although disheartening that money can be linked to the value of a person’s life, perhaps it is the one commonality that everyone comprehends. When there are many different factors as to why people cannot agree on specific solutions, the transparent black-and-white dollar amount can potentially establish a sense of urgency between conflicting groups.
Abt concludes by detailing a specific plan addressing urban violence through his three different lenses: focus, balance, and fairness. Abt’s perspective is unequivocal about the who, what, and how to address urban violence. Not only is the book a plan in itself, but it also connects to the many stories of those impacted by urban violence. Bleeding Out would prove to be a useful resource to anyone concerned about eradicating violence in inner cities and upholding social justice that is overdue in neglected communities as well as both researchers and students interested in a unique perspective on the issue.