CLEVELAND — Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson held his first news conference on Friday since the Sept. 19 shooting death of his grandson Frank Q. Jackson. 

Mayor Jackson, who will finish his fourth and final term as mayor at the end of the year, addressed the city’s rise in gun violence. Over the course of the decade from 2010-2020, the city’s homicide rate more than doubled despite a shrinking population. 

In 2010, there were 75 homicides. In 2020, there were 177. 

Jackson has expressed his frustration of not being able to pass more stringent gun laws at the local level. Although outspoken during his tenure as mayor on gun laws, he said he does not have any plans on being such a vocal advocate once leaving office. 

Jackson said that cities like Cleveland have to “deal with the fallout” of current gun laws. Among them was a 2006 law passed in Ohio that permitted the concealed carry of guns. The law also specified that municipalities were unable to pass more restrictive gun laws. 

Under the Jackson administration, the city of Cleveland sued the state. In 2010, the Ohio Supreme Court rejected Cleveland’s challenge. Jackson pointed toward this decision as part of the reason for the city’s rise in gun crimes since.

“This is for me not about gun control but how do people responsibly own guns and how does the federal government define what that responsible gun ownership looks like,” Jackson said. 

Jackson agreed there are things that can be done to stop gun violence beyond gun laws.

“You have to address the cause of why people do what they do,” he said. “It is a long-term thing but it comes down to institutionalized inequities, disparity and racism… There is a lack of implementation and execution of getting rid of inequities and getting rid of disparities and eradicating racism. This is not just a government issue; this is a society issue and it permeates all of society.”

When Jackson leaves office in less than three months, he will hand the keys to his office to either nonprofit leader Justin Bibb or Council President Kevin Kelley. Jackson offered his advice for the next mayor on addressing gun violence. 

“Don’t be naive,” Jackson said. “This is serious business and people out there who use guns whether it is to rob you, whether it is to kill you — whatever it is — it is serious business to them.”

Jackson added that police are an important facet toward stopping gun violence.

“If you want to tie the hands of the police in regards to that, then good luck brothers,” Jackson said. “Many times, the only thing between you, meaning the public, and that person of violence is that police officer. I will tell you as much as I hear about the police, I have yet to have a citizen call me and tell me, ‘Don’t have them come over here.’ If we get calls, they say, ‘When are you going to send some more?’ Particularly in those neighborhoods with high incidents of gun violence.”