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Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

Monday, July 14, 2025

Baltimore Gets Serious on Crime Control, and the Results Speak for Themselves

As the mid-year mark of 2025 hits, a promising report on crime trends has come out of the City of Baltimore. Surprising news at first glance until you dig deeper into the policy direction the city is taking with not a single mention of gun control. Then it all makes perfect sense.

The city of Baltimore is reporting significant decreases in its midyear crime data showing a 22% decrease in homicides compared to this time last year, while nonfatal shootings were also down by 19%. The data goes on to show that shooting suspects are being arrested at higher rates, with a homicide clearance rate of 64% and a 44% clearance rate for nonfatal shootings, which is 20% above the department's 10-year average.

The City of Baltimore is crediting specific new policies for these reductions based on “qualitative and quantitative data” as cited by a Baltimore Police Department press release. While some will emphasize the city’s relatively strict gun control, that was also in place during the days of sky-high violent crime in Baltimore, when attempts to get through even one murder-free weekend were destined to fail. The difference now is smarter and stricter policing and enforcement.

Baltimore City State's Attorney Ivan Bates released an insightful statement on the direction of those new policies:

While some have criticized our office for moving beyond the policies of the previous administration, the progress we've made in reducing homicides in Baltimore tells a different story — one grounded in results, not rhetoric. By repealing ineffective non-prosecution policies, we've empowered our police officers to re-engage fully in the mission of public safety — not only as law enforcers, but as violence interrupters working proactively in our communities.

These truths about crime enforcement are certainly not new to the NRA community, as we’ve long reported on examples such as Washington, D.C. and its accidental epiphany.  Beyond the need to focus on enforcing existing laws rather than creating unconstitutional laws that only affect law-abiding citizens, there is an important need to focus work on deterring the people considered most likely to be involved with crime, specifically gun violence. See NRA-ILA’s previous alert on this topic for proven strategies for what works. Hint: It’s not layering gun control on top of gun control.

Forecasting crime is a tricky endeavor reliant on a vast amount of variables, but for certain, as more cities are confronted with facts rather than rhetoric on violent crime, it becomes undeniable that the soft-on-crime policies and anti-gun scapegoating are simply not solutions.  

Entering the second half of the year, the hope is that more failed gun control proposals fall off in favor of what is working and will work in other cities beyond Baltimore. Focusing on failed gun control models has absolutely sapped critical energy from the facts of crime control and public safety needs for far too long.  

While cities continue to work on the many pieces of the crime prevention puzzle, NRA-ILA continues to work tirelessly in every state to prioritize solutions that address real drivers of violence along with public safety policies based on facts and data, just as Baltimore appears to be doing so far to good effect in 2025.

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North Carolina: Pro-Gun Bills Advance in Veto Override Session

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

North Carolina: Pro-Gun Bills Advance in Veto Override Session

During a veto override session on Tuesday, July 29th, both chambers passed House Bill 193 (H193) and defeated Governor Josh Stein's veto.

Report: Newsom Rejected Gifted Handgun Because California Law is Too Complicated

News  

Monday, July 28, 2025

Report: Newsom Rejected Gifted Handgun Because California Law is Too Complicated

In a video interview with Tennessee-based podcaster Shawn Ryan published earlier this month, anti-gun California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared to accept a gift of a Sig P365 XMACRO semi-automatic handgun from the former U.S. Navy ...

NRA, Other Leading Second Amendment Groups File Lawsuit Challenging the Constitutionality of the National Firearms Act

News  

Friday, August 1, 2025

NRA, Other Leading Second Amendment Groups File Lawsuit Challenging the Constitutionality of the National Firearms Act

Today, the National Rifle Association (NRA), American Suppressor Association (ASA), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Prime Protection STL Tactical Boutique, and two members of the organizations filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality ...

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Monday, July 7, 2025

Florida: Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday Signed by Governor

Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed the Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2025–2026, which includes a Second Amendment sales tax holiday from September 8 through December 31, 2025. The NRA is thankful for Governor DeSantis’ strong ...

Legislation Introduced to Prevent States from Enforcing Firearm Rosters

News  

Thursday, July 31, 2025

Legislation Introduced to Prevent States from Enforcing Firearm Rosters

On July 23, Representatives Darrell Issa (R-CA-48) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) introduced the Modern Firearm Safety Act (H.R. 4676). This legislation would reject the effort by anti-gun radicals to utilize unconstitutional “handgun rosters.” These rosters prevent law-abiding ...

Minnesota: Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Repealed

Friday, June 20, 2025

Minnesota: Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Repealed

On Monday, June 9th, outside of regular session, the Senate passed the Environment Omnibus bill, removing shotgun-only hunting zones in the state. 

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

North Carolina: Update on Gun Bills Moving through the General Assembly

Recently, House Bill 193 (H193) was reported favorably out of both the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Rules Committee, with amendments.

Sen. Murphy and Political Performance Art

News  

Monday, July 28, 2025

Sen. Murphy and Political Performance Art

Readers of our alerts know, very well, that U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) does not believe in the Second Amendment, and would probably like to see virtually every law-abiding American disarmed. And he has held ...

Montana: Governor Gianforte Signs Legislation Protecting Against Localized "Red Flag" Laws

Monday, May 12, 2025

Montana: Governor Gianforte Signs Legislation Protecting Against Localized "Red Flag" Laws

On Thursday, May 8th, Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 809 into law, protecting citizens against localized "red flag" laws and any outside funding intended to promote the use of such schemes. 

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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.