Manhattan DA Brings Big-City Experience to Fight Interstate Gun Trafficking
As gun violence grips the nation, Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, has taken on a new challenge: combating interstate gun trafficking with the help of his peers. As part of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence (PAGV), a national group dedicated to addressing and preventing gun violence through prosecutions, safe firearm storage, and targeting traffickers, Bragg aims to bring his "big city experience" to the table.
A former resident of Harlem in the 80s, Bragg knows firsthand the devastating effects of gun violence. He recounts being pointed at with a semiautomatic weapon and having bullets flying around him during his youth. This personal experience has fueled his crusade against gun violence, which he believes is a national issue.
Joining Bragg on this mission are fellow prosecutors from across the country, including Darcel Clark of Bronx County and Zach Klein of Columbus, Ohio. Together, they will focus on addressing the interstate flow of guns that fuels many shootings.
The statistics are sobering: in 2023, nearly 23,000 people were killed in the US, with 18,000 victims losing their lives to gunshots, according to the CDC. In a nation where firearms account for most homicides, prosecutors like Bragg play a crucial role in driving down these numbers by convicting shooters and targeting traffickers.
Bragg's office has been at the forefront of tackling ghost guns – unregistered firearms manufactured with 3D printers or bought as kits and assembled at home. In recent years, he has introduced legislation to ban their manufacturing and pressured YouTube to alter its algorithm to prevent the platform from suggesting tutorials on assembling these deadly devices.
In partnership with local non-profits and community groups, Bragg's office has also launched summer programs for teenagers during the peak gun violence season. The $300,000 grant his office provided last year aimed to incentivize collaboration among like-minded organizations in Harlem, where shootings have been a persistent problem.
However, the Trump administration's decision to cut over $150 million in funding for local organizations working to prevent and respond to gun violence has put a strain on these partnerships. As Bragg noted, "We're aware of the cuts...What we've seen is groups doing more with less."
As the fight against interstate gun trafficking continues, Bragg remains hopeful that sharing strategies and learning from each other's experiences will lead to meaningful change. With his appointment to PAGV, he's taking a crucial step towards understanding this national issue and finding ways to address it effectively.
While there is no silver bullet to eradicate gun violence entirely, the collective efforts of prosecutors like Bragg, community leaders, and social workers can make a significant difference. By tackling the root causes of this epidemic – poverty, trauma, and lack of resources – they may one day help create safer communities for all Americans.
As gun violence grips the nation, Alvin Bragg, Manhattan District Attorney, has taken on a new challenge: combating interstate gun trafficking with the help of his peers. As part of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence (PAGV), a national group dedicated to addressing and preventing gun violence through prosecutions, safe firearm storage, and targeting traffickers, Bragg aims to bring his "big city experience" to the table.
A former resident of Harlem in the 80s, Bragg knows firsthand the devastating effects of gun violence. He recounts being pointed at with a semiautomatic weapon and having bullets flying around him during his youth. This personal experience has fueled his crusade against gun violence, which he believes is a national issue.
Joining Bragg on this mission are fellow prosecutors from across the country, including Darcel Clark of Bronx County and Zach Klein of Columbus, Ohio. Together, they will focus on addressing the interstate flow of guns that fuels many shootings.
The statistics are sobering: in 2023, nearly 23,000 people were killed in the US, with 18,000 victims losing their lives to gunshots, according to the CDC. In a nation where firearms account for most homicides, prosecutors like Bragg play a crucial role in driving down these numbers by convicting shooters and targeting traffickers.
Bragg's office has been at the forefront of tackling ghost guns – unregistered firearms manufactured with 3D printers or bought as kits and assembled at home. In recent years, he has introduced legislation to ban their manufacturing and pressured YouTube to alter its algorithm to prevent the platform from suggesting tutorials on assembling these deadly devices.
In partnership with local non-profits and community groups, Bragg's office has also launched summer programs for teenagers during the peak gun violence season. The $300,000 grant his office provided last year aimed to incentivize collaboration among like-minded organizations in Harlem, where shootings have been a persistent problem.
However, the Trump administration's decision to cut over $150 million in funding for local organizations working to prevent and respond to gun violence has put a strain on these partnerships. As Bragg noted, "We're aware of the cuts...What we've seen is groups doing more with less."
As the fight against interstate gun trafficking continues, Bragg remains hopeful that sharing strategies and learning from each other's experiences will lead to meaningful change. With his appointment to PAGV, he's taking a crucial step towards understanding this national issue and finding ways to address it effectively.
While there is no silver bullet to eradicate gun violence entirely, the collective efforts of prosecutors like Bragg, community leaders, and social workers can make a significant difference. By tackling the root causes of this epidemic – poverty, trauma, and lack of resources – they may one day help create safer communities for all Americans.
he's got that big city experience but also knows the impact it has in harlem where he grew up...it's about time we tackle this epidemic like he's doing 
300k grant to orgs helping teens? let's see more of that $$$ being invested in our communities 
and yeah, cut funding from gov is whack...but sharing strategies with other prosecutors sounds like a solid plan 
hope it leads to some real change soon 
. But seriously, 23k people killed in the US last year? That's crazy talk! You'd think we'd be like "hey, can't we all just get along...with our guns?" 
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. I wish more people would come together to address the root causes of gun violence like poverty and lack of resources instead of just focusing on the symptoms (like stricter gun laws). We need a holistic approach to this problem if we wanna make real progress 
Yaaas, finally someone is taking gun violence seriously! 
He's got the "big city experience" and he's not afraid to use it 
. And I'm all about him partnering with other prosecutors across the country to share strategies and learn from each other's experiences 
But what really gets me is Bragg's determination to tackle the root causes of gun violence - poverty, trauma, and lack of resources 
my heart goes out to the families who've lost loved ones to gun violence... it's just so senseless & heartbreaking 
23,000 people in 2023 alone... that's just crazy 
we need more people like him fighting for change! 
They're bringing in big city prosecutors to fight interstate gun trafficking because it's a national crisis right? 
And it's not just the numbers, but the fact that guns are still being trafficked across states like it's no big deal 
We need more people like Alvin Bragg fighting for change, sharing their expertise and learning from each other to get to the root of this problem. I'm hopeful that together we can make a difference, but it's gonna take some serious effort 
According to the CDC, 70% of homicides involve firearms. It's a national crisis.
They're all on the same page when it comes to tackling this issue. And let's be real, ghost guns are a wild card - they're unregistered and can be printed at home 
They've got $300k in grants to make it happen. It's all about community-led solutions.
. And I like that he's working with local non-profits and community groups to get teenagers involved in prevention programs 
. Maybe if we all do our part, we can make a difference and create safer communities for everyone 
it's not just about cutting funding or increasing sentences, it's about investing in the people who are most affected by gun violence 
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. We need more folks like him who are willin' to take on this issue head-on 
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. But for now, I'm just gonna keep it movin' and supportin' all the good work that Bragg and his team are doin' 
. Bragg knows firsthand the devastating effects of gun violence, having grown up in Harlem in the 80s and being pointed at with a semiautomatic weapon himself. This personal connection fuels his crusade against gun violence.
. By sharing strategies and learning from each other's experiences, we can tackle the root causes of gun violence like poverty, trauma, and lack of resources. It won't be easy, but if we're willing to put in the work, I'm hopeful that we can create safer communities for all Americans 
. It's a tough battle, but if anyone can do it, it's people like Alvin Bragg fighting for safer communities 
️ he knows the struggle firsthand and now he's tryna help others with similar stories. i'm all for it!