Gun violence intervention program saving lives and stopping shootings and last updated 2021-04-30 11:58:19-04 STOCKTON, Calif. â Deadly shootings and gun violence in the United States have steadily risen since 2018. The Gun Violence Archive estimates 2020 was the deadliest year for gun violence in at least the last two decades, with nearly 20,000 Americans who were shot and killed. However, a city is seeing a decrease in gun violence and one group says it's because they're taking an unconventional approach to stop the shooting before it happens. A group of men and women called Advance Peace Stockton. They are made of Neighborhood Change Associates who have come from the very streets they're now trying to help.