US: Washington, D.C. Councilman Calls for National Guard to Combat Rising Crime

By Gamal Khattab August 09, 2023 5512

A Councilman in Washington D.C., Trayon White, is deeply concerned about the rise in crime and violence in the city. He believes that the situation is getting out of hand and has proposed an emergency declaration to bring in the National Guard to combat it.

A Growing Problem
White made a statement after three people were killed in a gunfight on August 6. He said that things are getting worse and worse in D.C. He even used words like "anarchy" and "lawlessness" to describe the situation. Yikes!

Protecting the Innocent
White believes that the police can't handle this problem on their own. He's been talking to the National Guard to see if they can help. He wants to make sure that children and innocent people are safe from all this violence. It's really important to him.

A War Zone
According to White, gunshots can be heard all the time in the capital. Not just at night, but in the early morning and even during the day. He says it's like living in a war zone. That's pretty scary, right?

Empty Shell Casings
When White visited some of the areas where these conflicts are happening, he found a lot of empty shell casings. In one area, there were 106 of them, and in another area, there were 113. That's a lot of evidence that something needs to be done to stop these armed conflicts.

The Mayor's Warning
Now, let's talk about the Mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser. She's also concerned about the rising crime rates in the city. In fact, she hosted a summit on public safety to address this issue.

Increasing Crime Rates
During the summit, it was revealed that crime rates in the city have gone up by 27% compared to last year. That's a big increase! And there's been a 10% rise in violent crimes too. It's definitely a problem that needs to be solved.

Focusing on Real Criminals
Mayor Bowser wants to make sure that the real criminals are being targeted. She thinks there are too many people who have committed serious crimes like murder but haven't been arrested. She believes that some changes need to be made to the city's laws to fix this issue.

What's Next?
In the United States, it is imperative to note that Congress has complete authority over Washington, D.C. The city, on the other hand, is responsible for managing its own operations. However, it is crucial to understand that any new laws must receive approval from Congress before they can be passed. It may appear complicated, but this is the established process that must be followed.
As for the crime problem, it's still ongoing. Just recently, three people were killed and two others were injured in a shooting. It's a sad situation, and that's why people like Councilman White and Mayor Bowser are working hard to find a solution.