BUFFALO, N.Y. —  It's been a violent week in the city of Buffalo. Two stabbings, multiple people shot and three people killed, including a 17-month-old boy.

"We can't quite put our finger on why everybody now is deciding to handle their business with a gun," said Pastor James Giles of Back to Basics Ministries.

His organization is dedicated to ending the gun and gang violence in the city. He says the recent spate of violence may point to a disturbing trend.      

"Is Buffalo getting more violent than what it was? I think the men, the men that are doing this, that are the perpetrators, I think they're getting more brazen and more bold, more bodacious," said Giles.

He's calling on the community to become more involved in curbing the violence. That's why he recently the MVP or Most Valuable Parent Initiative.

"We want to get your people, your kids, your children, involved in a proactive, very positive program. We want to help you get to your cousins, your nephews, get them out of the gangs," he said. "We want to be a support to you. When you're having problems you know that this element exists in your home, we want to stand together and stand with you and say- enough is enough."  

The group meets on Thursday evenings at the CAO center on Jewett Avenue in Buffalo.

MVP Coordinator Neal Dobbins says they’re currently working to recruit 1,000 parents who are committed to anti-violence practices.

"Well this is a community and this is a unit, and the unit starts with family. The family unit starts with parents,” said Dobbins.

Stop The Violence Coalition President Murray Holman says the problem stems from too many guns on the streets. He thinks police should do more to stop the flow on guns into the neighborhood even if it means doing something unpopular.

"I'm one right now to say that we need some type of cars pulled over, roadblocks or whatever. Go through some cars. Maybe these guys will go in a different direction on how they carry guns," Holman said. "They're transporting guns in cars, they're doing ride-bys, and yet the still want to say civil liberties. My community is hurting because guns are being transported in cars and people are being affected."

But some citizens groups have complained that roadblocks often target poor African American communities and violate people's civil rights.