BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) -- After seeing a 74% reduction in gun violence since 2021, the city of Bakersfield is seeking nearly $5 million in state funding to continue the decline.

"From 2021 to 2024 we've seen a 74% reduction in homicides and shootings, we saw about a 30% reduction year over year in each of those years to see the cumulative effects of a 75% reduction. What that means is that we have far less shootings, far less homicides, and we're not approaching the state and national averages you would see in other cities that are much smaller," said City Manager Christian Clegg.

According to City manager Christian Clegg, gun-related homicides went from 60 in 2021 to 26 in 2024, and non-fatal shootings went from 109 to 44 during that same period.

He says that this, in part, is due

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