DC Shootings

[Anonymous]

These are children with short fuses. Imagine your teenager having a meltdown about "going out" except instead it was about being "disrespected", and they had a gun handy.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beefs between crews. With gentrification, there's less turf for crews to stake as their own, so they're pushed into closer proximity (higher density low income housing) where there's more opportunity for conflict. Similar with drug dealers competing over fewer customers in gentrifying neighborhoods. Throw in all the social and economic disruptions from COVID, with large swathes of young men having nothing productive to do with their days and a lot of rage to express, and you have a recipe for violence.

This.

Not sure what you expect when you move into urban areas. There will always be ebbs and flows of violence based on the factors PP mentioned.

This is a strange response because expectations have nothing to do with it. I'm just trying to understand the underlying causes of the violence. I certainly hope we never reach the point where we all find such violence acceptable and something that should simply be expected.

[Anonymous]

No school = more chaos, trouble.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beefs between crews. With gentrification, there's less turf for crews to stake as their own, so they're pushed into closer proximity (higher density low income housing) where there's more opportunity for conflict. Similar with drug dealers competing over fewer customers in gentrifying neighborhoods. Throw in all the social and economic disruptions from COVID, with large swathes of young men having nothing productive to do with their days and a lot of rage to express, and you have a recipe for violence.

This.

Not sure what you expect when you move into urban areas. There will always be ebbs and flows of violence based on the factors PP mentioned.

This is a strange response because expectations have nothing to do with it. I'm just trying to understand the underlying causes of the violence. I certainly hope we never reach the point where we all find such violence acceptable and something that should simply be expected.

Is your initial reaction to "DC shootings" not a function of your expectations? Meanwhile, back here on planet Earth...

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beefs between crews. With gentrification, there's less turf for crews to stake as their own, so they're pushed into closer proximity (higher density low income housing) where there's more opportunity for conflict. Similar with drug dealers competing over fewer customers in gentrifying neighborhoods. Throw in all the social and economic disruptions from COVID, with large swathes of young men having nothing productive to do with their days and a lot of rage to express, and you have a recipe for violence.

This.

Not sure what you expect when you move into urban areas. There will always be ebbs and flows of violence based on the factors PP mentioned.

This is a strange response because expectations have nothing to do with it. I'm just trying to understand the underlying causes of the violence. I certainly hope we never reach the point where we all find such violence acceptable and something that should simply be expected.

Is your initial reaction to "DC shootings" not a function of your expectations? Meanwhile, back here on planet Earth...

My reaction was to post a query for information. That query was provoked by my curiosity. So, no, it was not a function of my expectations. I did have an expectation that this thread would generate responses from know-it-alls who had nothing useful to offer. Sadly, you met that expectation.

[Anonymous]

My neighbors 19 year old son and two friends were robbed at knifepoint in Georgetown last Friday night and son’s car was stolen. They tracked the thieves and the car by the cell phones that were stolen. The car was abandoned but neighbor couldn’t pick it up until Saturday because a homicide investigation on the block where the car was abandoned. The cops picked up the three thieves on Sunday by cell phone tracking. All were under 18 and had long records.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbors 19 year old son and two friends were robbed at knifepoint in Georgetown last Friday night and son’s car was stolen. They tracked the thieves and the car by the cell phones that were stolen. The car was abandoned but neighbor couldn’t pick it up until Saturday because a homicide investigation on the block where the car was abandoned. The cops picked up the three thieves on Sunday by cell phone tracking. All were under 18 and had long records.

That is so interesting...
What’s that got to do with DC Shootings?
That’s kind of what the thread is about ya know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neighbors 19 year old son and two friends were robbed at knifepoint in Georgetown last Friday night and son’s car was stolen. They tracked the thieves and the car by the cell phones that were stolen. The car was abandoned but neighbor couldn’t pick it up until Saturday because a homicide investigation on the block where the car was abandoned. The cops picked up the three thieves on Sunday by cell phone tracking. All were under 18 and had long records.

That is so interesting...
What’s that got to do with DC Shootings?
That’s kind of what the thread is about ya know.

Sorry. Should have been clear that the homicide was a result of a shooting in DC

[Anonymous]

So this thread so far has established that there appears to be a link between gun violence and recidivism. Yes, those statistics appear to be two years old, however, they are the stats that are still being bandied about by the Police Chief at shootings today.

It would appear to me, that if things are as @JSteele claims they are and it is the Federal government simply releasing or not prosecuting these individuals when they are initially charged, or along their path to ten or more charges, then this issue could be easily resolved with a sit down between the DC attorney general, the MPD and the States Attorney. The States Attorney and the DC Attorney General have a come to Jesus about what type of violent crime is going to be prosecuted and the standards for the referred packages. The DC Attorney General stands up a temporary interim bureaucracy (I know I know) which reviews all referred packages and endorses them with a cover letter as complete and supported by the city.

This would at least end the finger pointing and allow the city to make a quick determination as to whether or not recidivism actually played a part. If, as the Chief claims, it knocked out 50% of the gun crime right off the bat, the Mayor could take that all the way to her next election.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:It would appear to me, that if things are as @JSteele claims they are and it is the Federal government simply releasing or not prosecuting these individuals when they are initially charged, or along their path to ten or more charges, then this issue could be easily resolved with a sit down between the DC attorney general, the MPD and the States Attorney. The States Attorney and the DC Attorney General have a come to Jesus about what type of violent crime is going to be prosecuted and the standards for the referred packages. The DC Attorney General stands up a temporary interim bureaucracy (I know I know) which reviews all referred packages and endorses them with a cover letter as complete and supported by the city.

The delegation of authority is outlined by Federal law. The USAO is responsible for prosecuting serious crimes. See this:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/about-us

We are responsible not only for the prosecution of all federal crimes, but also for the prosecution of all serious local crime committed by adults in the District of Columbia.

Where the DC Attorney General has a role that is relevant to this discussion is with regard to youth crime.

However, I am not convinced that this is entirely, or even primarily, an issue of better law enforcement and prosecution. I really doubt that the participants in these gun fights involving 5-10 people are spending much effort evaluating the likelihood that they will be prosecuted. I think the posters suggesting that shooting has simply become a common form of conflict resolution these days are probably on to something. That's why I am interested in learning more about the underlying causes of conflict. The idea that gentrification is pushing these folks into smaller plots of real estate and increasing opportunities for conflict is interesting.

[Anonymous]

It's a culture that at the worst glamorizes violence and at best tolerates it silently.

[Anonymous]

Is there anything in this city that cannot be blamed on gentrification? Or are we simply using it to scapegoat and not look for other answers?

Homicide numbers are far worse in 6th and 7th Police Districts (EOTR). I would think that the city should target some of its ample resources into providing the people who live in these areas some of the things they are demanding.

Safer streets, more police, better after school activities etc.

How about this, how about the Mayor set up a world class daycare system to allow all EOTR resident free or subsidized daycare so that moms and dads can take that one worry off of their plates. It could be a model for city run programs across the country. Rather than trying to be "first" in legalizing drugs etc, we can be the first to remove the financial burden of world class daycare from the people that need it most. Maybe at this daycare, there could also be a one stop for other benefits (Annual physicals for kids, vaccination clinics, nutrition zones).

But you keep on blaming it on Tony Williams wanting to make Shaw a livable community.

This city is suffering from a crisis of responsibility and imagination from its leaders.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would appear to me, that if things are as @JSteele claims they are and it is the Federal government simply releasing or not prosecuting these individuals when they are initially charged, or along their path to ten or more charges, then this issue could be easily resolved with a sit down between the DC attorney general, the MPD and the States Attorney. The States Attorney and the DC Attorney General have a come to Jesus about what type of violent crime is going to be prosecuted and the standards for the referred packages. The DC Attorney General stands up a temporary interim bureaucracy (I know I know) which reviews all referred packages and endorses them with a cover letter as complete and supported by the city.

The delegation of authority is outlined by Federal law. The USAO is responsible for prosecuting serious crimes. See this:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/about-us

We are responsible not only for the prosecution of all federal crimes, but also for the prosecution of all serious local crime committed by adults in the District of Columbia.

Where the DC Attorney General has a role that is relevant to this discussion is with regard to youth crime.

However, I am not convinced that this is entirely, or even primarily, an issue of better law enforcement and prosecution. I really doubt that the participants in these gun fights involving 5-10 people are spending much effort evaluating the likelihood that they will be prosecuted. I think the posters suggesting that shooting has simply become a common form of conflict resolution these days are probably on to something. That's why I am interested in learning more about the underlying causes of conflict. The idea that gentrification is pushing these folks into smaller plots of real estate and increasing opportunities for conflict is interesting.

Eliminate strict punishments for drug offenses, and shift those strict punishments to gun offenses. Mandatory minimums for illegal gun possession and use of a firearm during violent crimes. Guns literally have one purpose: to kill people. There's no reason why their illegal use shouldn't be punished severely. Make people know that if you use a firearm illegally, you will face severe consequences.

Right now, there seems to be little fear of punishment in DC, especially when it comes to the illegal use of firearms.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything in this city that cannot be blamed on gentrification? Or are we simply using it to scapegoat and not look for other answers?

I don't think this is what posters in this thread have been doing. Obviously any sort of major social and demographic change in a city is going to have a number of impacts -- both positive and negative. Whether those changes are "blamed" or "given credit" for the results is obviously subjective. Connecting an outcome to its cause is more of an explanation than the assignment of credit or blame.

A discussion of policy changes aimed at addressing long-term inequities would be an interesting topic for another thread, but it is really not the purpose of this one. I am more interested in the specific causes of the increased shootings that DC has been experiencing. Certainly a lack of daycare 20 years ago could have contributed, but I doubt it was an important instigator in the specific events.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything in this city that cannot be blamed on gentrification? Or are we simply using it to scapegoat and not look for other answers?

I don't think this is what posters in this thread have been doing. Obviously any sort of major social and demographic change in a city is going to have a number of impacts -- both positive and negative. Whether those changes are "blamed" or "given credit" for the results is obviously subjective. Connecting an outcome to its cause is more of an explanation than the assignment of credit or blame.

A discussion of policy changes aimed at addressing long-term inequities would be an interesting topic for another thread, but it is really not the purpose of this one. I am more interested in the specific causes of the increased shootings that DC has been experiencing. Certainly a lack of daycare 20 years ago could have contributed, but I doubt it was an important instigator in the specific events.

@JSteele has nailed the problem with this city. Everybody is so enamored with trying to solve today's problem instead of sitting down and trying to lay out roadwork for a brighter future. Planning for the future is hard which is why nobody wants to do it. It is far more satisfying to sit around and admire the problem today.

Daycare does not take 20 years to solve stress. (That is a short sighted view) It removes stress instantly as parents and siblings do not have to make the choice between working or the safe caring for their kids.

I have responded a coupe of times in this thread and I don't want you to think I am trying to be argumentative, I simply refuse to believe that this is not a SOLVEABLE problem. We simply as a city have decided that it is too hard to solve. I could show you studies (meaningless as none of them are really borne from execution, but that is what academics is) after study that link child rearing to teenage stability, success in school etc. I think that the Mayor's extended family leave is a great step, but it is a step she took only to put her name out there on the national stage.

Forget the national stage, let's do this for OUR city.

So, at the end of the day, why has the gun violence picked up this year. Interesting question, we could admire it for days and write a few PhD papers on it and we still would not agree with the proximate cause because we all see things differently (ban guns, but the guns are already illegal...). Or...now here is the tricky part, we can sit down and map out a solution for the next decade. Will it be expensive, maybe, I don't know, but if there is one thing this city has money for in spades it is useless social programs (needle exchange vans that don't exist etc). So let's create an auditable and actually useful service for those who need it most. And if it takes a year to start getting data back, who cares.