(Radio Iowa) – Davenport Mayor Mike Matson says the level of gun violence in his city is escalating and he’s asking for state and federal assistance. “But ultimately our community must be willing to take a hard look,” Matson says. “What can you do to prevent this violence?” Davenport Police say at least 80 shots were fired early Sunday morning in a Davenport parking ramp. Windows at the nearby Figge Art Museum were blown out, but none of the witnesses police interviewed would identify those involved. Davenport Pastor Stephen Echols of Davenport’s Peace Group says hush mode needs to end.

“After while, we’re not going to be able to walk down the street because there’s going to be so much craziness going on,” Echols said. “We have to make a stand. We have to get sick and tired of this stuff.” Echols says it’s time for a unified community response. “We march against police brutality. We get so enraged in that, but when are we going to get enraged about our 14-year-old men and women dying?” he asked.

Reverend Melvin Grimes, chair of community relations for the local N-Double-A-C-P chapter, says the level of gun violence in Davenport makes no sense. “I don’t want to have to do any more funerals,” he said. “I’m tired of writing condolences to parents who have lost children and young people who are part of this violence and victims of this violence.” Grimes says standing behind a gun is the coward’s way of resolving disagreements.  “It does not solve anything,” Grimes said, “and it doesn’t make you any more of a man or a woman if you’re going to hide behind a pistol if you have a disagreement.”

Davenport’s mayor has assembled an anti-violence task force that will meet for the first time next week. Davenport’s police department investigated 279 incidents last year in which gun shots were reported — an all-time high — and the pace has continued this year. In one Davenport homicide last year, nearly 100 shots were fired from nine different guns.