Clark Ray on Mass Shootings in Southeast: “This Tragedy Strikes at Neighborhoods and People Close to My Heart”
Clark Ray, candidate for DC City Council, At-Large, and former Reserve Officer with the DC Metropolitan Police Department, made the following statement today in response to the tragic mass shooting last night in Southeast: “Having spent many days and nights over many years in SE, this tragedy strikes at neighborhoods and people close to my heart.
“Crime will be a key issue across DC this year, and only one candidate stands out for his ability to ignore this: Phil Mendelson. He recently wrote to concerned residents that ‘violence in Shaw is not a legislative problem.’ He was forced to back peddle, but crime doesn’t back peddle. You have to chase it, and win. Phil has tripped up in that chase for years.
“Mendelson opposed gang provisions in the last Omnibus Crime Bill, instead of working with community leaders and law enforcement to craft a solution that deals with gang violence while ensuring innocent persons aren’t targeted.
“In that same Council debate, Phil questioned the need for stricter pretrial detention guidelines. He actually said: ‘It’s not clear how real that revolving door is.’ That statement betrays a lack of understanding of the recidivism that churns dangerous criminals back onto our streets.
“No wonder The Washington Post has editorialized that Phil’s chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee was ‘indecisive’ and ‘timid.’
“Gangs are not timid, nor indecisive, nor do they back peddle. Violence in DC is a community and legislative problem, the revolving door is real, and DC can implement gang provisions that are both tough and fair, as other cities have done.
“While murders may be down in DC, last night’s shootings remind us that violence still shatters communities and families.”
