The D.C. Council cast the first of two votes last week on a 100-provision public safety bill that would stiffen gun penalties, create new retail-theft related crimes, and lengthen the maximum prison sentence for repeated theft. The bill passed unanimously, sans one councilperson who voted “present” on the bill. The council direction represents quite a departure from when the city opened and activist flocked to the Black Lives Matter Plaza in front of the White House.

“The DC Council’s affirmed vote and support of the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act is a demonstration that they know crime is out of control,” says Villareal Johnson, who is a candidate to represent Ward 7 on the DC Council.

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Villareal Johnson, who is a candidate to represent Ward 7 on the DC Council, expressed confidence that the council “knows no silver bullet will kill this werewolf."

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The passage of the bill comes with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform report as a backdrop.  The report examined all 341 homicides occurring in the District of Columbia from January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2020, and all 522 nonfatal injury shootings that occurred from January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020.

The victims and suspects of homicides and nonfatal shootings in the District of Columbia were primarily male, Black, and between the ages of 18-34 the report says. About 96 percent of victims and suspects in both homicides and nonfatal shootings were Black, despite Black residents comprising only 46 percent of the overall population in the District.

Approximately 86 percent of homicide victims and suspects were known to the criminal justice system prior to the incident. Among all victims and suspects, about 46 percent had been previously incarcerated.

Of those who had documented prior victimization, 98 percent of those individuals were Black males. Homicides most often occurred as a result of personal disputes between known individuals (21.1 percent).

The goal of the report’s analysis was to “examine the circumstances of the event itself, explore the characteristics of individuals involved, and identify the networks associated with the highest risk of violence.” The hope is that the report will guide policy, tailor interventions to those at the highest risk of violence, and inform the work of civic, community, and criminal justice leaders to reduce gun violence in the nation’s capital.

Despite the city’s seemingly distancing itself from the Defund the Police and Black Lives Matter aura, Villareal expressed confidence that the council “knows no silver bullet will kill this werewolf.” He added, “It’s the first step in the right direction. However, if the systemic, structural problems of race and class economics are not addressed, we will find ourselves here again, sooner than later.”

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Washington, DC Gun Violence Problem Analysis

Success Stories By T. Michael Colbert