Fighting gun violence

As Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg is working every day to keep us safe and end gun violence. While many carp from the sidelines, Alvin is in the trenches utilizing all approaches possible to hold perpetrators accountable, stop the flow of guns on to our streets, and pro-actively work in the community to stop shootings from happening.    In a New York Daily News op-ed, Alvin, together with CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance’s Executive Director Michael Jacobson, wrote that strong enforcement actions and critical prevention strategies are both “essential to stop the swell of crime and gun violence that has plagued New York City, and the nation, since the pandemic began.”   While enforcement is necessary to “stop known drivers of violence from continuing to harm the community,” the authors note that “enforcement alone won’t deliver the enduring safety we need. It must be paired with community partnerships to prevent violence upstream, provide support for victims of crime, and help those leaving incarceration thrive and avoid returning to jail.”   In the last week, we saw significant examples of his work paying off: As part of his effort to zero in on those who drive violence and fear in our streets, in a joint action with the NYPD and the US Attorney for the Southern District, Alvin announced indictments last Tuesday against Own Every Dollar, or OED, a violent criminal enterprise linked to a violent spree of murders, assaults, and robberies across Manhattan and the Bronx.   This gang takedown is just the latest enforcement action. His office has increased gun prosecutions by 26% this year compared to last — in many cases seizing guns from alleged domestic abusers. The office has secured indictments against alleged traffickers bringing firearms from North Carolina and individuals accused of shootings on our streets and subways. Each successful case holds accountable someone who would otherwise endanger our community, and hopefully brings some sense of closure for victims and their families.   But Alvin knows that enforcement alone won’t deliver the enduring safety we need. With that in mind, Alvin took an important step to prevent gun violence from happening. At Henry Street Settlement on the Lower East Side, he announced ten community-based organizations selected to receive $20,000 each from the Manhattan D.A.’s Office to engage young, at-risk New Yorkers by paying them stipends either to participate in meaningful programming, or to enhance and beautify public spaces that are known locations for gun violence.  Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs said, "My hope is that this will go a long way in ending gun violence across Manhattan, because when we invest in young people, we are investing in the future of our neighborhoods.”   There is a lot more going on, and we appreciate you taking the time to learn about the work of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. People like you play such a critical role in helping us get out the facts. We ask for your help keeping more people informed.    Thanks for standing with us for a safer and more just New York.   Richard Fife Stand with Alvin DONATE

Alvin Bragg for DA Box 1584 New York, NY 10026 United States