MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There is no sugar coating it. Memphis – like many other cities – is in the grips of a serious violent crime problem. With roughly 140 homicides so far this year, the Bluff City is well ahead of last year’s pace, which ended up with a record 332 homicides.
Something clearly has to be done. So, I applaud Mayor Jim Strickland for deciding to use millions in federal dollars and other public funds to boost violent crime intervention programs.
The federal money is from the American Rescue Plan, which was originally aimed at helping the country recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. But the spike in crime nationwide has led the White House to approve allowing cities such as Memphis to use Rescue Pan funds to tackle the violence.
All of this comes at a precarious time for Memphis. As police chief C. J. Davis pointed out Wednesday, some of the federal funds will be used for increased training – in preparation for a new state law allowing citizens to openly carry handguns without a permit.
It still baffles me that state lawmakers thought this ridiculous law was a good idea. All it will do is put more pressure on police at a time when violent crime is skyrocketing.
The good news is the president gets it. So do our city leaders, including our new police chief. Too bad I can’t say the same for legislators. And that’s my point of view.