Earlier this week, I was invited to the White House to meet with Vice President Joe Biden and state and local leaders from all 50 states. 

Our goal: to identify and share best practices we can do today to address gun violence in this country.

I went to tell the story of our own Southeast Area Command’s Impact Team. In partnership with the ATF, some of their detectives have received specialized training and commissions allowing them to refer local APD arrests of felons with firearms and serious firearm offenses straight to federal prosecutors before those violent offenders make bail and are back out on the streets in our District 6 neighborhoods.  That program is sending some of our most dangerous felons to federal prison for serious time and giving our own neighborhood officers real tools to address serious violent offenders.

But something else happened while I was there, too.

As I shared our story of successes (and plenty of challenges we haven’t yet fixed), I found that mayors, state representatives and governors from around the country are dealing with the same challenges.

Tired of waiting on Congress to wrestle free from the grip of gun manufacturers, some local elected leaders started some great local programs that are having real success.

• I met San Francisco Mayor Mike Lee who changed San Francisco’s city purchasing policies to allow officers to purchase smart guns that only fire when used by an authorized officer.  That simple act created a market that encouraged some gun manufacturers to reinvest in R&D to create these systems.  Perfecting smart gun technology is a priority of President Obama and this one local step made it much more possible.
   
•  I talked to a state senator from Chicago’s South Side (more than 1,382 shootings there so far this year!) who walked me through their program to trace every single crime gun back to its first sale.  Those simple checks identified just 4 gun stores that were responsible for selling majority of the guns used in crimes there.
   
• The Attorney General of Washington, DC introduced me to their anonymous Firearm Tip Line to report illegal guns.
   
• And in Gary, Indiana, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson is partnering with former felons to intervene with young people caught with a gun, but who haven’t used it in a crime of violence yet.

Vice President Biden reminded us that so long as Congress is dysfunctional, cities and states are where we are getting things done. On minimum wage, on women’s rights – and on smart gun violence prevention (you can watch the VP’s entire speech online at WH.gov)

Now I’m back in ABQ and looking at things we can do with the resources we have to make real progress on gun violence right here at home.

So, let me know what you think.  What should our priority for gun violence prevention be?

Upcoming Events

Memorial Day Ceremony - Monday, 5/30, 9:00am-12:00pm - You are invited to join us at the NM Veterans Memorial for a ceremony honoring the sacrifice or our fallen warriors. Music begins 9:00am and the program begins at 10:00am. Shuttles will be available from the parking lot at the Kirtland Federal Credit Union (Louisiana & Gibson SE).

International District Health Communities Coalition's Lighting Project - Wednesday, 6/1, 4:00pm, 437 Kentucky St SE - Join the IDHCC as they install two more solar lights in their continued effort to take back the streets.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day - Thursday, 6/2, 6:30-9:30pm, Albuquerque Brewing Company (8600 Pan American Freeway) - Wear organ and come support the effort to prevent gun violence in solidarity with events across the country on "Wear Orange Day"

International District Health Fair - Saturday, 6/4, 10:00am - 2:00pm, UNM SE Heights Clinic, 8200 Central Ave SE - More than 100 groups will be on site to provide free health screenings, workshops, fun activities for the children, lunch, entertainment and booths featuring community resources. Learn more at http://www.id-healthfair.net

City Council Meeting - Monday, 6/6, 5:00pm, 1 Civic Plaza - We'll be voting to adopt a solar standard for Albuquerque, improve our public financing for Mayoral candidates, and provide additional funding to purchase open spaces. When the agenda becomes available you will find it at https://www.cabq.gov/council/agendas-and-minutes.

Jack and Jill Park Cleanup - Saturday, 6/25, 10:00am, Jack and Jill Park - We'll be cleaning up one of our neighborhood parks and the surrounding area. Join us and your neighborhood might be next!