Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

More Problems with Alternative Approaches to Addressing Crime?

Monday, November 13, 2023

More Problems with Alternative Approaches to Addressing Crime?

NRA, as well as many involved both with combatting violent crime and studying ways to reduce it, have long held that imposing restrictions on gun ownership does nothing to deter violent criminals from committing crimes while using firearms.  As we have said time and time again, those who are already law-abiding will tend to obey “gun control” laws, while criminals will ignore them.

They are, after all, criminals.

Besides trying to impose new restrictions, though, many anti-gun “progressives” have also promoted alternative approaches to criminal justice.  Most readers of our alerts are familiar with many of those alternative approaches that are obviously flawed.

“No cash” bail policies turn violent criminals loose on our streets to prey on the law-abiding, often mere hours after being arrested for serious crimes.  During the COVID pandemic, some “progressives” chose to release many convicted criminals early from their incarceration; with many of these same criminals, if not most, being later arrested for committing new crimes.  In some areas with “progressive” approaches to criminal justice, some serious crimes have been downgraded from felonies to misdemeanors, or mandatory minimum sentences for violent crimes have been reduced.  Again, this allows violent offenders to be released onto our streets after far-too-brief prison sentences.

But there are relatively innocuous alternatives to criminal justice that may also be problematic.

One type of program involves hiring community activists to work in their neighborhoods to try to deter criminal activity.  These individuals are often hired because of their knowledge of the neighborhood, and their status or recognition within the neighborhood.  In some cases, those hired are former gang members, or have had other involvement in criminal activity, but are now expected to work on the side of law and order, and to use their previous connections as a way to make inroads into the criminal community to try to dissuade others from committing violent acts.

Depending on the program, participants are sometimes referred to as “peacekeepers,” “violence disruptors,” or something similar.  As we have reported before, they know their neighborhoods, know the bad actors (and often once were the bad actors), and may be able to identify and intercede if there is any threat that a violent incident may be about to take place.

Unfortunately, as you will note in our previous coverage of such a program in Chicago, the plan doesn’t always work as intended.

Recently, the “Safe Streets” program in Baltimore, which calls its participants “violence interrupters” and is similar to the one in Chicago, has come under scrutiny.  Local media began reporting of an October 26 FBI raid on a Northeast Baltimore office of “Safe Streets,” as well other raids that included a visit to the home of a supervisor of that office.  While the full extent of what was uncovered in this law enforcement operation has yet to be revealed, initial reports indicate some of the items seized include a handgun “with an obliterated serial number” and “narcotics packaging materials.”

In light of this ongoing investigation, former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, who launched “Safe Streets” in 2007, called for the program to be suspended, at least temporarily.

 “I believe we ought to just put it on hold, have the audit done, re-assess it, and determine if this mechanism is really helping us fight crime,” said Dixon, as reported by local FOX45 News.

FOX45 News also reported that three staffers from the Northeast Baltimore “Safe Streets” location are currently on leave while the investigation proceeds, and that a source has told the news outlet that part of the investigation involves looking into connections to a notorious Baltimore street gang.

Even with the ongoing investigation and questions about the program’s efficacy, however, the Baltimore Board of Estimates unanimously approved a $3.5 million state grant for “Safe Streets” on November 1.

Whatever the investigation produces, this story is yet another cautionary tale about putting too much emphasis on “progressive” crime fighting approaches, rather than sticking with proven strategies like catching, holding on to, prosecuting, convicting, and incarcerating violent criminals.

Violent crime in Baltimore is a major problem, and has been for decades.  The “Safe Streets” program doesn’t appear to be having a positive impact, but perhaps an audit of it will prove that it is at least helping in some small way.  The FBI investigation could show a systemic problem with the program, or it could reveal something isolated that involves a handful of individuals.  Or it could reveal nothing.

Whatever the case, perhaps now is not the time to commit millions of dollars to a program under such scrutiny.  If the audit shows effectiveness, and the FBI investigation roots out isolated bad actors—or even exonerates those under investigation—maybe then consider spending those millions of tax dollars.

In the meantime, there’s always the novel idea of targeting violent criminals and putting them behind bars.  Incarceration will certainly “interrupt” or “disrupt” any “violence” they planned on committing against law-abiding citizens.

TRENDING NOW
Major Digital Currency’s Terms of Use Prohibit Firearm and Ammunition Sales

News  

Monday, October 20, 2025

Major Digital Currency’s Terms of Use Prohibit Firearm and Ammunition Sales

So much of the energy surrounding the digital currency space has been aimed at bringing forth a new liberty. 

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

Friday, October 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Permitless Carry

Last week the North Carolina General Assembly briefly returned from recess and re-referred Senate Bill 50, Freedom to Carry NC, to the House Rules Committee.

Urban Crime Spike “the Most Overlooked U.S. Crime Story in Recent Years”

News  

Monday, October 20, 2025

Urban Crime Spike “the Most Overlooked U.S. Crime Story in Recent Years”

It was a standard talking point of the Biden White House that violent crime had dropped by record levels under the Biden-Harris administration, attributed in part to its support of gun control measures.

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging California’s Glock Ban

Monday, October 13, 2025

NRA Files Lawsuit Challenging California’s Glock Ban

Today, the National Rifle Association—along with Firearms Policy Coalition, Second Amendment Foundation, Poway Weapons & Gear, and two NRA members—filed a lawsuit challenging California’s Glock ban.

David Hogg: “The Grift that Keeps on Grifting”

News  

Monday, October 20, 2025

David Hogg: “The Grift that Keeps on Grifting”

At this point, anybody who reads NRA-ILA’s Grassroots Alerts even sporadically is well aware of the shameless, anti-gun self-promoter David Hogg. 

Virginia: Wytheville Town Council to Vote on Gun Control Ordinance on Monday

Friday, October 24, 2025

Virginia: Wytheville Town Council to Vote on Gun Control Ordinance on Monday

On Monday, October 27, the Wytheville Town Council is scheduled to vote on a gun control ordinance that would expand “gun-free zones” by prohibiting firearms in Wytheville government buildings, public parks, and community and recreation ...

California: Governor Newsom Signs Gun Control Bills Into Law

Monday, October 13, 2025

California: Governor Newsom Signs Gun Control Bills Into Law

For someone who has claimed to be"...deeply mindful and respectful of the Second Amendment and people’s Constitutional rights,” Governor Gavin Newsom has once again proven that actions speak louder than words.

NRA-ILA Files Reply Brief Pressing the U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Its Challenge to the NFA’s Restrictions on Short-Barreled Rifles

Thursday, October 23, 2025

NRA-ILA Files Reply Brief Pressing the U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Its Challenge to the NFA’s Restrictions on Short-Barreled Rifles

Today, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) filed a Reply Brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to the National Firearms Act of 1934’s restrictions on short-barreled rifles in a ...

Canada’s Gun Grab: Amnesty Expiration Approaches as Top Officials Sow Confusion

News  

Monday, September 22, 2025

Canada’s Gun Grab: Amnesty Expiration Approaches as Top Officials Sow Confusion

Canada’s Liberal government has consistently and misleadingly used “buyback” to describe the 2020 mandatory “assault weapon” confiscation law, in an attempt to make the scheme appear less hostile to property rights and Canada’s responsible gun ...

Canada’s Public Safety Minister on Gun Ban & Confiscation: “Don’t Ask Me to Explain the Logic”

News  

Monday, September 29, 2025

Canada’s Public Safety Minister on Gun Ban & Confiscation: “Don’t Ask Me to Explain the Logic”

There have been multiple developments on the Canadian gun grab and ban in the last few days, but the most astounding has got to be a leaked bombshell recording of the Liberal Public Safety Minister, ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.