New York City Police Department’s Post

Great Talk With A Buddy Who Laments Having To Carry A Pistol For Protection. After posting this on X, I decided to flesh out the discussion a little more: 'Great talk w/a buddy who lamented having to carry a pistol for #protection these days. I told him he's merely recognizing reality of violent Community traitors enabled politically. They're producing more lethality to which he, as a center right married Brother, chose Safety.' My safety creation evangelism is steeped in a realization that we individually will have to fend off politically enabled brutality. It's the foundational layer of three levels of protection I call 'layers of mass safety creation.' The city in which I type has a police department reduced to cosplay by reaction to external controls and resolute internal corruption. That eliminates them as the first reliable layer of mass safety creation against those I call violent community traitors. Such police executives and officers enable career criminals on the streets by declassifying (refusing to charge at all or charge them appropriately) in concert with politicians doing so in office suites. The next layer of mass safety creation, private protection professionals, is available only to those willing to pay for them. They're an option on whose behalf I've advocated for years but inflation and hesitation reduce broader employment/deployment in this unsafe city. The final layer of mass safety creation, self defense, is our only option which can be readily mobilized. A citizen deciding upon ballistic and other strong safety measures need not consult overlords on high to do so. At least not yet, unless local branch of the disarmament lobby has their way, My buddy is an active member of this final layer of mass safety creation. He's not a right wing Second Amendment advocate. He also doesn't post social media calls to arms nor pictures of him holding them. He's a fellow member of Generation X who isn't opposed to private gun ownership in the least. We do differ on how gun ownership should be exercised except now where we agree on the logic of carrying for protection. He's an often professionally dressed Black man of slender build who drives a late model car. 'Street pirates,' as I sometimes call armed robbers and car jackers may target him. Events of late compelled him to arm himself after years of rebutting my support of this practice. A gun wielding unneighborly neighbor at his previous residence spurred his decision to arm himself when out in public. While community mentors, mentor and reformers, reform, we in their clients' cross hairs must mobilize individually as the informal final layer of mass safety creation. That's the take away of today's great talk with a buddy who laments having to carry a pistol for protection. I'm glad he does. Cap Black. #securitytopicwriter #selfdefense #personalprotection

A new op-ed from my boss, John Feinblatt, on why the NRA's string of legal losses has gun industry executives on edge. Excerpt: "The NRA’s legal turmoil is welcome news for the millions of Americans clamoring for solutions to America’s gun violence epidemic — and a four-alarm crisis for the gun industry. For the last 30 years, the NRA has served as a suit of armor for the gun industry, one that was big enough to hide the corporations that profited from the organization’s “guns everywhere” agenda, and intimidating enough to keep Washington lawmakers in line. Lately, however, that suit of armor has been losing limbs faster than a knight in a Monty Python movie. In addition to spending more time in court than Donald Trump — who recently boasted to NRA members that his administration “did nothing” on gun safety — the organization is failing by nearly every other metric. Since 2013, its annual haul of membership dues has plummeted by more than half. And in a stark sign of the NRA’s waning political power, spending at its once-mighty lobbying arm has dropped by 80 percent since 2018."

You know what our problem is as a nation? LACK OF COMMON SENSE! I am a United States Army Veteran and a non-owner of a firearm. The second ammendment posits the right to bear arms. I know of the history that led to this law being enacted in the past, but I am no law expert, I'm no Supreme Court Justice, but I think even those legal minds seem to side with gun owners and I hear that. Where I stand is not the ownership of guns, it's the loopholes exploited by it. Mentally challenged individuals and criminals shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a firearm. There are millions of legal responsible gun owners so this isn't for you, this isn't for the individuals who pass background checks and adhere to law. This is for those states that refuse to implement gun safety and gun ownership measures that can ultimately save lives. America's love of guns isn't on debate here, it's America's lack of COMMON SENSE when it comes to us enacting legislation to keep guns out of the hands of those who do not fit the rubric of being responsible gun owners. We will continue to see carnage, chaos, confusion and conflict as it relates to these shootings now a regular feature at schools, churches, mosques and malls and we will continue to talk bs about our prayers and standing with families and as soon as the victims are buried and perhaps even before, another shooting occurs. How do we fix this America? I see problems on both sides of the discourse and it's messaging. On one side is the opposition to gun control legislation, while the next argues the second ammendment right to bear and carry arms has been upheld by the US Supreme Court. Where is the consensus, as both sides seemingly vilify the other. We know in this country, the center is a thing of the past. Our politics is as divisive as nasty, as callous as it has ever been and every election cycle it has gotten worst. I stand in the center hoping and praying that we can collectively find common ground on the issues that divides us because it's hurting me always having to turn on the television and it's another senseless killing. I know we can get this right. Both sides make valid arguments but there has to be concessions, ( a give and take) if we are to truly address these ongoing and vicious unnecessary attacks. Let me make myself clear. If I disagree with you, it's on the issues at hand, it isn't that I hate you, because I don't. I hate what you do, not who you are as an individual. There has been some repulsive and repugnant remarks sent to my inbox numerous times. As an intellectual, I refuse to go down in the gutter so I take them to school and I lay out the facts. Calling me nasty names doesn't fade this Caribbean American United States Army Veteran, because hateful words doesn't depict who I am. There have been many who started out that way and believe it or not on LinkedIn, we're on different political spectrums but we now appreciate each other. This is my America 🇺🇸 let's do better. MUCH LOVE.

Welcome to Day 48 of my 50 day posting journey to Election Day! I have received lots of nervous calls, texts and emails about the race. The most common anxiety I have heard is about the unAmerican rhetoric coming from Trump and the calls for violence. This reminded me of the issue of gun safety and how Kamala Harris champions policies that will make us all safer. Kamala Harris has advocated for various gun safety and gun control policies that have broad support due to the growing desire among Americans to address gun violence and improve public safety. 1. Universal Background Checks       •   Policy: Harris supports universal background checks on all gun sales, closing loopholes that currently allow private sellers to transfer guns without background checks.       •   Why It’s Popular: A majority of Americans support universal background checks as a common-sense measure to keep guns out of the hands of people who may pose a risk to public safety. This policy is seen as a straightforward way to prevent individuals with criminal records or mental health issues from obtaining firearms. 2. Red Flag Laws       •   Policy: Harris advocates for “red flag” laws, which allow law enforcement and family members to petition a court to temporarily remove guns from individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.       •   Why It’s Popular: Many Americans view red flag laws as an effective way to prevent potential tragedies, especially in cases where warning signs are present but not enough to warrant other legal action. 3. Assault Weapons Ban       •   Policy: Harris supports a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, arguing that these types of firearms are not necessary for civilian use and pose a heightened risk in mass shooting scenarios.       •   Why It’s Popular: A significant portion of Americans support restrictions on assault weapons, particularly due to their frequent association with mass shootings. 4. Gun Manufacturer Liability       •   Policy: Harris has proposed holding gun manufacturers accountable, such as by allowing lawsuits against gun makers who market or design firearms in ways that increase gun violence risks.       •   Why It’s Popular: Many Americans feel that holding gun manufacturers accountable could incentivize safer design practices and discourage aggressive marketing tactics. These policies resonate with many Americans who are concerned about gun violence and support pragmatic steps to reduce risks without infringing on responsible gun ownership. Harris can make America safer. Over 60 million Americans have already voted, and I expect record turnout for this consequential election. It is certainly the most important election in my lifetime. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #Freedom #Election2024 #GunSafety #HarrisForPresident

This is an interesting take from WaPo, playing on the Hillary Clinton "it takes a village" as an approach to responding to active shooters. The author, Petula Dvorak, makes a few assertions of note: 1 - she says there have been 400+ school shootings since Columbine. While technically accurate, the inference is that these incidents were mass shootings (since she mentions them in the context of Columbine). That's not the case. Most "school shootings" are one-offs (still tragic when there are victims, of course) that include incidents like officers whose guns were negligently discharged and people committing suicide in an empty school parking lot. 2 - as I posted yesterday, there is a new movement to hold the "village" accountable for mass shootings. Dvorak mentions the Oxford shooter's parents being sentenced for their role in the shootings, the former assistant principal in Newport News being indicted, and the parent of that Newport News 6-year-old shooter being convicted on federal marijuana-gun charges. The circle of accountability is definitely widening. 3 - Dvorak is dangerously close to saying charges should be leveled as broadly as possible when mass shootings happen on school grounds: "But we, too, are accountable, when we don’t insist on common-sense gun laws, when we reduce legitimate debate to T-shirt slogans and when we fail to respect machines whose only purpose is to kill with chilling efficiency. Some of this blood is on our hands." I agree that culpability should extend to those who knew about the event (or were forewarned of possible trouble) but did nothing to stop the shooting. However, until the facts of the matter have been fully examined, we should be slow to publicly indict non-shooters, especially in the court of social media. Young people who want to carry out this sort of attack are good at hiding their intentions (and their arsenals) from adults. We should all remember that hindsight is 20/20, and what looks obvious after the event wasn't always so beforehand. Be safe.

Ralph A. Clark, CEO of ShotSpotter: For over 27 years, ShotSpotter has evolved to become the leading gunshot detection system in the world. Our mission has always been clear: to save lives, mitigate gun violence, and help communities feel safer. ShotSpotter is effective, unbiased, and welcomed by the communities it serves—delivering critical support to law enforcement and first responders. With a mature company and the measurable benefits we provide, ShotSpotter is occasionally subject to false and misleading claims, such as recent statements from Brooklyn Defender Services. These mischaracterizations are dangerous to communities, amplified in some media reports, distort the facts about how our technology supports public safety and reduces harm. Let’s set the record straight by addressing four recurring myths straight from the source: 1️⃣ Absence of Evidence ≠ Evidence of Absence: Critics argue that no physical evidence at a ShotSpotter alert means no gunfire occurred. This ignores real-world scenarios: shooters removing casings, revolvers not ejecting shells, or evidence being obscured. ShotSpotter provides credible digital evidence, like audio recordings used in hundreds of court cases, empowering law enforcement to respond quickly and effectively. 2️⃣ Addressing Unreported Gunfire: 80% of gunfire incidents go unreported. In communities where fear or mistrust prevents 911 calls, ShotSpotter fills this gap. Claims of "over-policing" ignore community surveys showing residents overwhelmingly want faster, more accurate police responses to gun violence. Our mission ensures no neighborhood is left behind. 3️⃣ Surface-Level “Analysis” Undermines Real Impact: Lives saved, evidence recovered, and violence prevented—these outcomes transcend simplistic stats. ShotSpotter helps locate gunshot victims faster, recover critical evidence, and link crimes, breaking cycles of violence. Every gun removed from the streets is a potential life saved. 4️⃣ A Vital Tool, Not a Cure-All: Expecting ShotSpotter to single-handedly end gun violence is unrealistic. Like a smoke alarm for gunfire, it’s one piece of the solution—enabling faster responses, smarter resource allocation, and stronger community trust. ShotSpotter operates in all five NYC boroughs and 180+ jurisdictions worldwide because IT WORKS. Our communities deserve safety, and we’re proud to be part of the solution. Let’s continue the conversation about how technology can enhance public safety for everyone.

Gun violence impacts entire communities, extending beyond just the direct victims and their families. Addressing this issue effectively requires crime gun intelligence, a collaborative approach involving partnerships across multiple sectors. These partnerships span law enforcement agencies, forensic labs, prosecutors, analysts, technologists, and often community organizations, all working together to disrupt cycles of violence. Read the full blog post here to explore how these partnerships strengthen efforts to combat gun violence.

Results... My ATF career actually started at part of such collaboration. I was a Bronx Homicide Detective and in 1996 we embarked on a program with ATF's New York Field Division and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. "Operation Triggerlock" took the Bronx homicide rate of roughly 600 murders per year and reduced it to roughly 200 over the course of 3 years. The program was so effective that it caused me to rethink my career choice and I retired from the NYPD in June of 2001 to become an ATF Agent, feeling that the move would allow me to be in a position to have a greater impact on public safety. By enforcing the laws, arresting trigger-pullers and then proffering defendants to make bigger cases, we made an impact that exceeded my wildest dreams as a new cop in the Bronx. Racketeering cases. Home invasion robbery crews decimated and put away for decades. Continuing criminal enterprise cases. All of them started as low level gun cases and through collaboration with great prosecutors and our investigative partners, turned into huge investigations netting dozens of ultra violent criminals. They key to that success was a word that is rarely focused on in discussions today--Prosecution. Soft on crime policies do not keep communities safe. Period. Full stop.

Gun-Mad Culture by Dana Milbank This month, after a school shooting in Georgia, JD Vance, argued that school shootings are just a “fact of life.” “I don’t like that this is a fact of life,” the Ohio senator said. “But if you are a psycho and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets. And we have got to bolster security at our schools.” Less than two weeks later, after what appears to have been a second assassination attempt against Trump, it now looks as though even “hard” targets are a lot more soft than we would like them to be. In our gun-mad culture, we can keep neither our schoolchildren nor political leaders safe. Now will come more, necessary efforts to fortify the Secret Service. President Joe Biden acknowledged this on Monday when he said the Secret Service “needs more help.” But there’s only so much “hardening” of targets, whether schools or presidential candidates, that can be done. A civilized society can’t ignore the obvious commonality between the assassination attempts and the Georgia school shooting: They all involved assault rifles. It was an AR-15-style weapon in the Georgia school shooting and in the first attempt against Trump. In Florida on Sunday, the suspected gunman had an SKS-style rifle with him in the bushes on the golf course a few hundred yards from the former president. This reflects the overall shift in patterns of gun violence. Until recent years, handguns were the weapons of choice in mass shootings, but that has shifted in the past few years to AR- and similar-style rifles. This helps to explain why, as the Violence Prevention Project has found, half of the 36 deadliest mass shootings in the past 120 years occurred in the last decade. There have been 393 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, and 12,136 people have been killed by gun violence, according to the Gun Violence Archive. I’m thankful that none of our high officeholders is among those. But if our gun laws continue to allow deranged people to have unlimited access to weapons of war, it’s likely that those psychos who want to make headlines, as Vance puts it, will keep taking shots at our leaders. Of course, this is the last thing you’re going to hear from Trump and Vance. Instead, the GOP nominee went right to the baseless claim that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are to blame for the possible assassination attempt. “Because of this Communist Left Rhetoric, the bullets are flying, and it will only get worse!” Trump predicted — or possibly threatened — in a social-media post Monday afternoon. Trump told Fox News on Monday that the would-be gunman “believed the rhetoric of Biden and Harris, and he acted on it. Their rhetoric is causing me to be shot at.” He went on to call his opponents “the enemy from within,” a phrase used by authoritarians. He said both this perpetrator and the July shooter were motivated by the Democrats’ rhetoric and the “lawsuits they wrap me up in.” ©️Washington Post 2024