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D.C. Council Rams Through Radical Crime Bill

Posted on Monday, January 23, 2023
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by Andrew Abbott
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67 Comments
D.C.

AMAC Exclusive – By Andrew Abbott

America’s capital city is set to become even more of a haven for criminals after the Washington, D.C., City Council resoundingly voted last week to override Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser’s veto of a bill slashing prison sentences and virtually stopping prosecution of many crimes. The overhaul of the criminal justice system is an ominous sign for the city as residents suffer through a dramatic spike in crimes like carjackings and robberies, along with the highest number of murders in decades.

The new law, officially called the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, was billed to the public as a measure to fix “outdated language,” clarify “proportional penalties,” and “define crimes” in the district. The bill was sold by advocates as a way to “modernize” D.C.’s criminal code, which had not undergone a full overhaul in more than 100 years.

In reality, however, the bill is effectively a handbook of policies pushed by radical left-wing criminal justice “reform” activists. In addition to nearly eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing and reducing maximum penalties for crimes like robbery and carjacking, the law also gives a break to incarcerated sex offenders, granting them a shot at early release.

Moreover, the law provides the right to a jury trial to everyone charged with any crimes, even misdemeanors. Court officials say the policy will overwhelm an already strained system and inhibit justice for victims of more serious crimes like rape and murder. The measure also legalizes nuisance and unsanitary behaviors like public consumption of alcohol and urination, raises the requirements for noise complaints, and makes it more difficult for police to enforce unauthorized use of vehicle offenses.

The 13-member D.C. City Council passed the law unanimously in November over strong objections from both court and law enforcement leaders. The law was too extreme even for Bowser, who has garnered a reputation as one of the most far-left mayors of any major U.S. city. Bowser vetoed the law, writing in a letter to City Council Chairman Phil Mendelson that “this bill does not make us safer.”

“I hear from DC residents daily who are most concerned about being attacked in their home, car, or on our streets,” Bowser continued. “Reducing the current legal penalties for these violent offenses sends the wrong message to our residents when we are using every resource in our government to drive down crime.” Bowser also specifically noted in her letter how, under the new revised code, the maximum prison sentence for arrestees possessing a gun with previous convictions for violent crimes will be reduced from 15 years to four years. The provision reveals a seeming inconsistency in progressive orthodoxy, as Democrats have historically crusaded on anti-gun policies. But now, ostensibly to advance “racial justice,” the D.C. City Council is enacting more lenient penalties for gun crimes.

Passage of the bill couldn’t come at a worse time for the capital city, which has experienced a devastating crime surge in recent years. The number of murders crossed the 200 mark for the third straight year in 2022, a sharp uptick from the 166 murders the city saw in 2019. Carjackings also rose for the fifth straight year in 2022, up 14% over 2021 and 26% over 2020.

The bill has met intense public backlash, yet the D.C. Council remains unfazed. They even have gone so far as to criticize Mayor Bower for her letter, suggesting her concerns are unfounded and will be used as right-wing talking points. Mendelson called Bowser’s rhetoric “irresponsible,” stating that “it plays into folks like the Freedom Caucus in Congress who are going to use the mayor’s veto and her rhetoric against us when this bill goes up towards Congress.”

Mendelson’s statement alludes to the fact that all D.C. city government legislation can be struck down by Congress. While House Republicans have already hinted that they may pass such a resolution, it would still require a majority vote in the Senate and a signature from President Joe Biden – an unlikely prospect given the prior support for just such policies shown by both Biden and Senate Democrats.

It seems that the residents of – and visitors to – America’s capital should brace themselves for another crime-ridden year ahead. Until city leaders reverse course, criminals will continue to enjoy short sentences and no accountability in Washington, D.C.

Andrew Abbott is the pen name of a writer and public affairs consultant with over a decade of experience in DC at the intersection of politics and culture.

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Letts Brandon
Letts Brandon
1 year ago

So now there are 13 in DC with no protection from any crime or criminal. Should be interesting.

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

When things like this come up I just shake my and wonder why the police don’t quit.

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

Time to gun and ammo up as we all will need it. Protect your loved ones no one else will. Good locks cost money but give time to gain protection.Two years more of Biden and his click. Need 20 to repair. Don’t be a victim your family is counting on you!!!!

Terry White
Terry White
1 year ago

This is more fodder for the people who are saying “STAY AWAY FROM D.C.” as a tourist destination. Same as CA. Who in their right minds would go to either with the politics, and massive crime waves hitting both?

edward
edward
1 year ago

What do you expect from the “city” that reelected marion berry(sounds like a pie to me). The former mayor who was caught snorting cocaine and had hookers in his room. As long as he is democrat and black the useful idiots will elect these people(marxists). YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE AND DONT EXPECT TAXPAYERS IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY TO BAIL YOUR DEADASS OUT!!!!!

JKHero
JKHero
1 year ago

So, according to the end of paragraph 7,
Carjackings in DC are up 14% from 2022 to 2022.
LOLOLOL
That’s a big increase from 2022 to 2022 !

Theo Oule
Theo Oule
1 year ago

What galls me is that this is the culmination of half a century of the hijacking of the liberal tradition to ensure that The People are enslaved by the elites either through draconian laws like this justice reform bill or through the the mobs that they enable.

Bob Olden
Bob Olden
1 year ago

Pretty soon the only crime that will get you in jail will be protesting election fraud.

BAE
BAE
1 year ago

It is so sad, but the only thing we can do is VOTE. Can’t get these bad politicians out with a crowbar. They’re in it for the money, power, status and only want to be reelected. Democrats are useless and Republicans disappointing!

Smili'in Jack
Smili'in Jack
1 year ago

No problem for me, I have no intention of ever going to DC ever again, not in this life. I have been there many times, saw all the museums and monuments and been to Arlington National Cemetary. A truly once beautiful place with so much to offer. The Smithsonian alone is more than enough. It has long been controlled by cretins and savages and nothing will bring it back to its former greatness. What a shame.

Andrew Seymour
Andrew Seymour
1 year ago

Why would house Republicans support such reckless & harmful legislation to
Law biding citizens of DC? And can you share which Republicans support this?

joe mchugh
joe mchugh
1 year ago

I should be bored to hear about the degradation of life in Washington, D.C. Instead, I find an certain amusement in reading about the living conditions in that District of Columbia Perdition.
This article is just one more testament about the results of putting Democrats in power at any level of government.

Wait, ……….. maybe some producer will think about tapping into all of the video cameras in that city so a ongoing montage of what is happening can be broadcast on the Internet. Such a show would make people in communities run by Republican mayors glad that they are not residing in Washington, D.C. ……….. or any other Democrat run infernal pit.

Any law-abiding citizen who voted for a Democrat dominated city government, deserves to get what always transpires in such cities, ……. a life of misery.

David Millikan
David Millikan
1 year ago

Criminals in Office protecting Criminals.
See if they change their minds when their criminal buddies are in their homes like Hunter biden, MS 13, and ILLEGAL ALIENS without Police protection.

Ken
Ken
1 year ago

Why not let the peon criminals in DC go unpunished for their crimes? After all, they never punished other major criminals in that city who are much worse, such as Hillary, the Bidens, etc.

Nick
Nick
1 year ago

Isn’t it amazing what they’ll do for criminals? And they want to take away guns from private citizens. If you live there make sure you have several guns and are stocked up on ammo.

Carl
Carl
1 year ago

Now is our chance to have some REAL fun in DC. RAPE< PILLAGE< BLUNDER. We probably won’t get caught, but even if we do, we’ll be out by morning. There are some beautiful LIBERAL homes to visit.

Reese
Reese
1 year ago

The 21st century criminal justice system is something you do NOT want to be exposed to.

jocko
jocko
1 year ago

HOPE ALL CRIME VICTIMS ARE liberals, ONLY

Marc
Marc
1 year ago

They vote for the city council so live with it. Some day they will wake up and say enough. Only then will things change.

Rebecca
Rebecca
1 year ago

This action is just sad. Now the criminals are running the city. Hopefully this virus won’t spread too far before a cure is found. Hopefully the innocents will find some type of protection…somewhere.

Tim Toroian
Tim Toroian
1 year ago

I hope the city blows up and takes a few stupid council people with it. I want to see criminals do damage to them. Physical damage to be remembered. For a long time.

phoenix
phoenix
1 year ago

boot them all out. Make the city for the federal government only as intended. Barring that get rid of every vistage of “home rule” which should not exist.

Jimmyc
Jimmyc
1 year ago

There goes my trip to DC to enjoy the museums.

Dennis
Dennis
1 year ago

Disgusting, revolting! Us citizens must demand the government does its actual job, which the left is determined to prevent it from doing! Criminals need prosecuting, the citizens must demand protection – our lives and property should be safeguarded! Let the criminals EARN a living –

TOMASD
TOMASD
1 year ago

Let them destroy themselves, they’re idiots anyway. Anyone that believes these things and elects people that vote for these things, especially when your own democratic mayor was opposed to it, just shows how unintelligent the people running D.C. really are.

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

“PROOF YOU CAN’T FIX STUPID”

Pcar
Pcar
1 year ago

I wonder how much Soros paid for this?

Texas Resister 64
Texas Resister 64
1 year ago

Here the scariest thing for those of us who will never visit DC without armored car conveyance is that these madmen and women want that little territory to become a state with two senators.

Pete from St Pete
Pete from St Pete
1 year ago

The inane actions of insane progressives.

Tony
Tony
1 year ago

I always say, until one of their family members gets carjacked, murdered, raped or beat to a pulp, Demoncraps never understand a damn thing…

Nobody’s Business
Nobody’s Business
1 year ago

Just not as bad as you might think, If the murder rate goes up in Washington by the law of averages sooner or later Democrat congressman will be the ones getting murdered, and that will take a while but they will maybe figure out that’s not good, if they don’t see the light a few less congressman is always a good thing.

Teresa
Teresa
1 year ago

It simply sounds like there is too much STUPID in DC!

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
1 year ago

DC Wants more crime I guess

DenvilleSr
DenvilleSr
1 year ago

When a crime defined by law is committed and the criminal faces no consequences, then the crimnal statute might as well not exist. In NYC there is no punishment for shoplifting anymore. Sure it’s a crime, but there is no punishment. Today a man on a NYC subway tried to stop a group of teenage thugs from harassing an elderly man and got beaten by the thugs. He has bruises on his face and arms. Four of the young punks were arrested and released. Since no one got killed, there will be no trial, there will be no penalty of significance to punks because DAs in NYC don’t want to stigmatize these future outstanding citizens. And the guy beaten up is an on-camera reporter for Fox Weather Channel. I’m guessing he will be off camera for a while, but the punks will keep being punks.

Philip Hammersley
Philip Hammersley
1 year ago

The House, who provides DC funding, should ZERO out their funds and see what they’d do then!

Ann S
Ann S
1 year ago

Equity for criminals at the cost of DC residents.
Are we having fun yet?

CurtisJB
CurtisJB
1 year ago

The idiocy of the left knows no bounds!!

legally present
legally present
1 year ago

Just wait till they carjack, murder, or rape a congress person, be it Senator OR a member of the house. THEN you will see something better happen. I would be out of that city like yesterday!

Linda Baker
Linda Baker
1 year ago

Disgraceful.

Ralph
Ralph
1 year ago

For Real

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