President Joe Biden will launch a slate of new actions Thursday aimed at combating rising crime and gun violence in major metropolitan areas across the country.
Biden will announce the new programs during a visit to New York City on Thursday with Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.
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“The President is committed to serving as a strong partner for communities on the frontlines of the fight against crime. That’s why his American Rescue Plan gives cities and states historic levels of funding that they can use to put more cops on the beat, and invest in community-based violence prevention and intervention programs,” the White House said in a statement.
“Stronger law enforcement is critical in stopping gun crime, but it’s made more effective when we make real investments in making our communities stronger and in addressing the causes of crime before it spills over into violence.”
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White House officials say that Thursday’s new actions will make progress on Biden’s comprehensive strategy to combat gun violence, which he released last June. In particular, the new items include:
- Directing every U.S. Attorney’s Office nationwide to increase resources dedicated to district-specific violent crime strategies
- Cracking down on the “Iron Pipeline,” an illegal flow of guns sold in the South, transported up the East Coast, and found at crime scenes in cities from Baltimore to New York City
- Launching a National Ghost Gun Enforcement Initiative, “which will train a national cadre of prosecutors and disseminate investigation and prosecution tools to help bring cases against those who use ghost guns to commit crimes”
- Pursuing “unlawful gun sellers that put firearms in the wrong hands by taking steps such as prioritizing federal prosecutions of those who criminally sell or transfer firearms that are used in violent crimes, including unlicensed dealers who sell guns to criminals without the required background checks”
White House officials say that Biden will also call on Congress to approve $500 million in new funding “for proven strategies we know will reduce gun crime,” including $300 million to expand the COPS Hiring Program and $200 million for evidence-based community violence interventions.
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Despite Biden’s past actions on gun violence, such as launching five interagency task forces to get illegally sold firearms off the streets in major cities, violent crime has continued to rise throughout the pandemic, and recent polling indicates that the issue is becoming increasingly important to voters in both parties.
