Mayor Bowser: We’ve Seen Gun Violence Peak Last Year, During Covid Lockdowns

EXCERPT:

BOWSER: "Well, first of all, Al, we had this discussion the last time I spoke with you. We have seen gun violence peak during the last year, during Covid shutdowns. And all of us in cities and towns across America are concerned about the prevalence of guns. We’re concerned about repeat offenders using those guns and getting on top of it. The message that I sent and I shared with the President of the United States and the Attorney General, and I’m very happy that they have been responsive to it, is that we need to get our entire criminal justice system up and running. Everything that we do as a city to prevent crime from violence interruption to summer jobs programs — all of those things are happening and in person. We also need to make sure, however, that enforcement and accountability systems are also open in person and in place. That includes our courts, our supervision agencies, grand juries, United States attorneys. And again, because we are in the district, we are a little different. Our court system is not under the purview of the D.C. Mayor or accountable to the voters of the District of Columbia. It, too, is federal. And we need that system up, in person, and running."