Democrat-run cities throughout the country are canceling contracts with gunfire detection systems that help police quickly respond to crimes. Their reason? The life-saving technology is “racist,” they claim.
The most well-known system is ShotSpotter, which uses a network of outdoor acoustic sensors in high-crime areas to triangulate where gunfire is coming from and alert law enforcement. According to SoundThinking, the company that makes ShotSpotter, only 20 percent of shootings are ever called in to 911 – meaning that the system fills an enormous gap in the ability of law enforcement to treat gunshot victims and catch criminals.
ShotSpotter was first deployed in 1997 and is now in use by more than 180 cities. Dozens of local officials and law enforcement leaders have testified about its effectiveness.
Police chiefs in Detroit and Syracuse have shared how these tools help them reduce crime and aid victims. “Oftentimes, nobody called 911 and I’ve got somebody bleeding out,” Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettinson shared recently after questioning by city council members. In one study from Cincinnati, serious gun violence declined by 46 percent in the areas of the city where ShotSpotter was installed. In St. Louis, reported assaults in police beats with ShotSpotter installed declined by 30 percent.
Despite this astonishing track record of success, the tool has come under criticism from left-wing groups who say that it leads to more policing in minority communities. Several cities have even shockingly canceled or declined to renew their ShotSpotter contracts, claiming that the technology is somehow racist.
Cambridge, Massachusetts, home of Harvard University, recently decided to cut ties with SoundThinking after a group of left-wing activists from the Democratic Socialists of America raised concerns about “hidden microphones in working class, majority black and brown neighborhoods in our city.” (The microphones, notably, only detect gunshots, not conversations.)
Another socialist said the technology is used to “further inequality and systemic racism” in the city, as The Daily Caller reported. Other critics appear to reject the whole concept of policing, arguing that the use of ShotSpotter will lead to cops coming into immigrant neighborhoods which will then lead to deportation of illegal aliens.
But Cambridge is far from the only city to ditch the highly successful technology.
City council members in Durham, North Carolina voted in 2024, over the objection of the mayor, to stop using ShotSpotter after just two years.
“Critics on the council, and members of the public who spoke at the meeting, said ShotSpotter disproportionately targeted Black and Brown communities,” WUNC reported in 2024. (Never mind the fact that those communities are statistically where most of the gun violence occurs – and that it is precisely the law-abiding residents there who will suffer most from the removal of ShotSpotter.)
Among the most prominent critics of the technology is Chicago’s left-wing Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teachers’ union organizer and “defund the police” advocate.
Dubbed “BLM Brandon” for his support for the Black Lives Matter agenda, Johnson ignored the concerns of the City Council, which is dominated by Democrats, and cut ties with ShotSpotter in 2024. He then scrambled to extend the contract through the Democratic National Convention set for summer 2024, paying a higher rate for the extension than the city paid for a full year, as AMAC Newsline previously reported – effectively admitting that yes, ShotSpotter does indeed help keep the city safer.
But now the mayor is touting a study by an activist professor, Robert Vargas, who claims that police response times improved after the city discontinued its use of ShotSpotter.
On May 27, Johnson “pointed to a study from the Justice Project at the University of Chicago that determined response times where the technology operated have improved 4.2 minutes on average since he ended the ShotSpotter deal in September 2024,” as the Chicago Tribune reported.
Johnson criticized his opponents for “promoting fear and casting doubt on our effort to improve safety.”
Yet the study has come under criticism, as observers note that the study excluded police response times to gunshots – in other words, the main thing that ShotSpotter is supposed to help with. The study also compared data from the summertime, when crime is typically higher, to data from the autumn, when crime is typically lower.
“Fall and winter emergency calls will naturally be fewer than in the spring and summer, when violence and accidents increase,” the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board noted on May 29. “So faster response times are more likely to be caused by the lower volume of calls than the absence of ShotSpotter.”
The study also completely ignores how the technology helps police arrive to assist victims before they bleed to death. Since the contract ran out in 2024, independent news organization CWB Chicago “identified 84 cases in which gunshot victims appear to have endured lengthy waits for emergency responses in areas that were previously monitored by ShotSpotter.”
About 60 percent of these victims died, according to a May 31 report from the crime watch website. Those findings comport with research from the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab which found the technology saves about 85 people a year.
And of course, many of those lives saved, if not all, are black and Hispanic residents of the city’s dangerous South and West Side neighborhoods.
In other words, the “researchers” in this study either unintentionally published extremely shoddy work or intentionally skewed the data to justify their preferred political narrative. Either way, Johnson’s “evidence” against gunshot detection technology is totally unreliable.
Unfortunately for residents of liberal cities, Democrats’ dangerous obsession with obstructing the ability of law enforcement to stop crime and punish criminals only appears to be accelerating. In an equally inexplicable move, the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan, recently removed all 600 of its neighborhood watch signs to “promote inclusivity.” And of course, that’s not to mention the army of left-wing prosecutors throughout the country who refuse to prosecute violent criminals with dozens of prior arrests.
The only people who will feel more “included” thanks to Democrats’ efforts are the criminals terrorizing American streets. Rarely in history has there been such an overt and egregious case of leaders actively dismantling the infrastructure that keeps law-abiding residents safe.
Matt Lamb is an AMAC Newsline contributor and associate editor for The College Fix. He previously worked for Students for Life of America, Students for Life Action, and Turning Point USA. He previously interned for Open the Books. His writing has also appeared in the Washington Examiner, The Federalist, LifeSiteNews, Human Life Review, Headline USA, and other outlets. The opinions expressed are his own. Follow him @mattlamb22 on X.
As usual, the Left still wishes to cause as much mayhem as possible across the cities of our nation, defying to extend any help to law enforcement agencies whatso ever. Remember their agenda — the destruction of our nation.
Wow, I never knew that the sound of bullets had different colors,
Yet another blaring example of how demoncrats WANT crime to continue. Can’t make this crap up.
By calling gunfire detection “racist” aren’t they just admitting a certain race is more criminal? Of course.
The only way to stop this nonsense is for conservatives to actually get out and vote!! Vote RED to stop the insanity.
Another progressive policy to get rid of people and let the criminals go free. They don’t want law and order. They have called everything racists from overpasses to highways why not Shotspotter. Anything they see as a way to destroy the inner cities they support. LA and SF it’s the homeless and drug addicts. Portland and Seattle Antifa. Chicago by mayor Johnson and the state of Illinois by Pritzker. NYC by Mamdani. All dem states dropping laws and promote lawlessness. They can’t or won’t live within their budget. Taxes are raised under the wording as a fee. Police budgets keep getting cut and safe neighborhoods are no more. Old people don’t dare to venture out at night especially not alone. Children run our neighborhoods, for entertainment they decide to destroy a restaurant or a gas station or for fun start shooting at people. The parents think it’s okay after all the progressive leadership like the DA’s won’t prosecute these kids. Soros has seen to that. Like the professional demonstrators at the ICE Detention centers. They all have been instructed what words to use to describe the Centers or the illegals inside. It’s a war. They have enough people to join, 20 million illegals makes for quite an army. The genie is out if the bottle……
The racial identification of a criminal suspect has been a liberal issue for many years. Of course it is the first thing that is good to know if you are looking for that suspect. The Dems/Commies don’t want anything in the criteria of the criminal released because they might get caught. Their stance on crime is that these poor criminals somehow have a right to commit the crime. The current mindset of the radical left is absolutely ridiculous and does nothing to curtail criminals. These Commies love criminals which is now being shown in their choices for political candidates for government offices. They are a sick group of individuals.
We have cnsistently fought communism in forighn countries. I am now cleaning my home security systems and being sure at 79 I can still LOCK & LOAD. Yep, I can.
So put this valuable resource in red cities too; that way it can’t be “racist.”
Problem in these areas, when the cops arrive- Eye ain’t sea nuffin.
They deserve all the criminals they can’t stop. Perfect!! Fairly soon Conservatives will answer violently in self defense.
Seems like people have forgotten about socialist and communist governments. I guess they haven’t read books like Animal Farm, 1984, Nothing ot Envy, and The Road to Serfdom (this book is a wake-up call to what is happening now in America). Another good book is Witness, by Whittaker Chambers. This is also a wake-up call. Mao Zedong said something about how Capitalism. Socialism, and Communism will destroy Capitalism without firing a shot. We are seeing it here now what’s happening to our government. And again, you can’t fix stupid people in this beautiful country of ours – the USA.
Why do we relate crime with race? A crime is a crime, no matter your race or gender. This equipment needs to be in dangerous areas, where the poor citizens have grown so accustomed to it, now they don’t even dial 911. And why should they, the police in these cities are told how to deal with crime, by mayors like Johnson in Chicago.Just ineffectual to say the least, thats why crime is so common, and repetitive.
Leftists sure do love their criminals and illegals. But they could care less about their own citizens. It’s bizarre. MAGA
Typical demonrats wanting to maintain control of their (former) slaves. What better way than through fear, violence and platitudes. Maybe one day people in the demonrat hell holes will wake up and realize the dems don’t give a damn about them, but I will not hold my breath.
Until voters wake up to what their candidates for office truly stand for, they will never be safe in their homes, neighborhoods, or cities. And don’t believe their campaign hype; look up their past and/or their voting record if running for re-election.
Cut their nose to spite themselves
I’m starting to think that the Democrats are determined never to win an election again!
Why would any sane person or people ditch tech that helps cops catch killers? Communist, Islamist freaks? They should charged as traitors and removed from any position of leadership whatsoever.
When city officials opine on racism, it gets reported and amplified by the mainstream media. The data doesn’t get investigated or reported. Leftist politicians need racism to flourish in the news, even if it is not “a thing.” We all know that racism is part of our history, but socialist democratic politicians need to make sure it remains a problem and they do that by manufacturing concerns. The Southern Poverty Law Center is now being exposed as an organization funding racist groups to conduct cross burning events, because there apparently wasn’t enough racism being exhibited by groups like the KKK. Neighborhood Watch is racist? Give me a break.
Insanity! Obviously gunshots fired is a very important indicator of someone quite possibly needing life-saving medical care! And also of probably needing a police presence! Do the idiots complaining about this want people also NOT to call if they hear gunshots fired? To just let people get killed by gunfire? To have the police NOT respond? No, the police aren’t perfect – and fairness and justice needs to be implemented – but ignoring the probable report of a serious life-threatening crime is insane!
So, what is the answer, the police won’t protect us, so, we must protect ourselves, buy more and better Guns, when someone breaks into your home, don’t shoot to injure, shoot to kill, eliminate CRIME REPEATER’S. By taking this stance, the far left will then have to come after the citizen thats protecting themselves. If they come after midnight and do not give prior notice, shoot them also, therefore you have rid the world of at least two worthless idio’t
Sound Thinking, a great name for a company, also implies Common Sense. Something liberal democrats seem to lack.
So, by screaming “it’s racist” aren’t they actually making a sideways admission these races they say are being targeted are the ones committing the crimes? If the show fits people.
In my opinion, knowing police, law enforcement and the fools who fight them, ARREST these miscreants for violating the rights and law which compells by oath for law enforceeent to enforce, and arrest and charge those who violate the law and they certainly are hindering duty.! END THIS BULL CRAP, for far, far, more want this mess cleaned up and if you do not like it, leave, and do it quick. YOU ARE NOT WANTED AS THE NAYSAYERS YOU HAVE BECOME. POLITICS SUCKS AS IT (1) shuts off citizens whom they are sworn to uphold and represent, (b) are sorry in stature, (c) have a false message, (d) many are under the cloak of illegal acts and (e-z) other stuff since reported and told by legitimate people and medica.
This is a window into what these Leftist Democrats stand for: Lawlessness, non- Christian Values, Morals, Principles and the list goes on. Democrats Religious Beliefs are Satan’s Humanism and full rejection of JESUS CHRIST and HIS Children! This is a Spiritual War between GOOD (JESUS CHRIST) vs Evil (Satan)! Who in their Right Mind would want to reside in Cities and States run by Progressive Liberal Democrats!?!
Isn’t it Racist not to have it in crime ridden neighborhoods where families need it most? Instead of asking the powers that be if they want it, ask the families who live there what they want.
“Despite this astonishing track record of success, the tool has come under criticism from left-wing groups who say that it leads to more policing in minority communities.”
Well, if you want to catch criminals….
Wow. This is the first I’ve heard of gunfire detection systems.
The sick people on the left want you to think that it’s racist to concentrate crime fighting on crime riddled areas.
Of course, we know tech cannot be “racist.” If a certain group happens to commit more crimes than their % of the population, that’s NOT the fault of the tech. Socialist just want to cover for their “special” groups!
The Democratic Party and their allies want the innocent to suffer, while the evil commits murder! That is why the true American people need to see that the Democratic Party are charged murder and stealing! It’s time the Blue States answer for their crimes against the American citizens and the Constitution!
The left is calling it racist because it “targets black and brown neighborhoods.” Well, duh.
If that’s where the majority of the shootings are, then it stands to reason this shot locater
is going to go off more frequently in these neighborhoods!
This is not a racist issue it is a safety issue. Because black and hispanice areas are feeling targeted it is because that is where the biggest issuues are crime DUH!!!
They’re right there in bed with the perpetrators. Heck, those slime are their voters or belong to the families of their voting supporters. Either way, they’re running cover for their criminal element.
This is ALL started by WHITE liberal communist/socialists then they use people like that moron in Chicago to push their agenda. These are the same racists that believe people of color can’t get ID’s, even though virtually of them somehow have ID’s. Anything to make America worse and keep the black people voting for the demons on the left. They will NEVER stop pushing this stuff, if it proves over and over again, as it does to this day, that that voting block will always back the demons from the left.
Leftists can call a glass of plain water “racist” and get away with it.
They are just protecting their voter base, the debris of our society
So basically what they are saying is they don’t want to save the black lives that were shot. While it helps catch criminals it also saved the lives of the people that were victims.
democrats are enemies of the country
This is too stupid for words. They are signaling a free-for-all to the criminals. Who will they blame when shootings and murders skyrocket?
This is the most absurd thing the liberals have ever said. Technology doesn’t know who is doing what, just what is being done. It doesn’t think, it just responds. If the “black and brown” neighborhoods are getting the most attention, then that is where the problems are detected. Period. What we can hope for is that some of nitwits ending the coverage become victims of the criminals they want to protect.
Are they also going to get rid of the “racist” licence plate reading cameras and flock cameras?
I did not enjoy this article so much as it reinforced my revile of the liberal ways and beliefs. Fifty years ago when I decided to leave the democrat party I did not tell any one because of the reprisals I would receive. I have never regretted that decision. If more people would do a deeper soul search I believe that we would have a tidal wave of party change. My.hope is that people find out that the Right has sold them short and they will change everything with their VOTE!!!!!!!! MAGA MAGA MAGA
Seems to me that SHOTSPOTTER would save the lives of those shot before they bleed out! – and maybe catch the shooter at the same time – what’s wrong with those cities! They like DEAD PEOPLE???
I wasn’t aware that the “Shot Spotter” Technology was able to determine the race of the person firing a gun. Isn’t it amazing what technology can do these days….
More communism. They are determined to see America destroyed.
Liberals define stupidity. After the RNC was in Tampa, the liberal mayor was offered to keep all the new surveillance cameras installed downtown for the convention. They made them take them down because republicans put them there. You can’t fix stupid. Nationwide epidemic!
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When one comes to accept the false religion of human intellectual arrogance Marxianity has implemented the dark strategy Ludwig von Mises termed “Planned Chaos” then the seeming madness that surrounds gains focus i.e. disrupt, disturb, disorient, dislocate, distract, destroy, disorder, dislodge, disarray, demean, displace, damage, devalue, diminish, dishearten and degrade every aspect of the Judeo-Christian American culture while disparaging and disappearing its history…discord until disgusted and dissatisfied Americans come to believe the Constitution is dead and in need of replacement with a social justice blank check like that of South Africa so admired by Obama and the fellow “progressive” travellers that surround him i.e. no solutions by design.
It is not, and never has been, about race but rather greater and lesser peoples and cultures; greater and lesser peoples and cultures with greater peoples defined as those who maintain and advance the institutions and traditions of the greater culture.
“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” Gustav Mahler
And now you know why the God of Sinai first impressed upon the chosen people that all things revolved around His existence; designed to provide a foundation and then impose the strictest civil, dietary, temple and moral laws…to create a disciplined people and culture that would defy all odds and one day reestablish Israel while at the same time guiding mankind to ascendance.
God has emphasized culture from the beginning and it comes with a ‘prime directive’; the greater peoples and cultures are to elevate the lesser but never is the greater to be lessened by contact with the lesser e.g. the entirely dysfunctional black subculture and Islam.