'Stop taking money from the police': Biden spoke about how to fight crime in New York

US President Joe Biden made a statement in his column in New York Daily News, in which he spoke about the plan of action in the fight against crime and the strengthening of the police patrol in New York. We present it (in the first person) to our readers.

Last week, New York honored two of its best detectives, Wilbert More and Jason Rivera. They embodied who and how we want law enforcement officers to be: bold, idealistic and dedicated. Their bright future was interrupted by a man with a stolen pistol and a 40-round drum magazine.

This year, 6 NYPD officers were victims of gun violence (2 killed, 4 injured). Already in the coming year, nationwide, 64 children received gunshot wounds; 26 children are killed. Every day in this country 316 people are injured, 106 are killed.

It's time for all of us to say: enough is enough! There are steps we can take to turn pain into a goal. And I was in New York to announce it on Thursday (February 3rd).

Mayor Adams and I agree that the solution is not to defund our police, but to give them the tools, training and funding to be the partners and protectors our communities need. The answer is not to leave our streets. Police and society must come together to make communities safer. It is necessary to organize the work of the police so that it respects the dignity of everyone equally.

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That's why I called on Congress to pass a budget later this month that will provide cities with an additional $300 million in policing. We need more police on the streets, patrolling on foot and keeping the community safe.

I also asked Congress for $200 million in community violence programs like the one I met in Queens. There, trusted members of the community work directly with people who may commit or become victims of gun crime. These programs can reduce violence by up to 60%.

That's half a billion dollars for proven strategies that we know will reduce violent crime. Along with the increased funding I have requested for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the US Marshals, this is essential to my comprehensive nationwide firearms crime prevention strategy.

First, we are fighting the flood of firearms used for violence, which means pursuing illegal arms dealers who illegally sell them to criminals. Among other things, we are sending additional prosecutorial resources to shut down the so-called iron pipeline that brings weapons from other states to New York. Governor Hawkul created an interagency task force to stop the flow of illegal weapons. Such efforts will go a long way.

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We also go after people who use ghost weapons to commit crimes. This is a weapon that can be assembled from a kit but cannot be tracked when it is used in a crime because it does not have serial numbers. That's why we're launching an enhanced national ghost gun initiative to deter criminals from using these weapons to cover their tracks. If someone commits a crime with a ghost gun, not only will state and local prosecutors come after them, but federal charges and prosecutions are to be expected.

Second, we fund smart law enforcement and gun crime prevention efforts. New York has identified several hundred people in the city of 8,8 million who have repeatedly engaged in gun violence. Every weekday, the city gathers federal, state, and local law enforcement to share intelligence so we can get these shooters off the streets. I attended a meeting of this "Strategic Partnership to Combat Gun Violence" during my trip and saw how effective it is when everyone works together against gun violence. The US Department of Justice is going to help more cities adopt the same model.

Third, we invest in community violence intervention and prevention strategies that work, such as violence interruption tools, summer and after-school programs for teens, workplaces for young adults (idleness of mind is the mother of all vices, as they say), school counselors and nurses, and mental health and drug treatment.

Fourth, when someone is in jail, we can't just give him $25 and a bus ticket. We must ensure that they have access to vocational training, sustainable housing and a second chance at a better life.

I will continue to do everything in my power to make our communities safer, but Congress also needs to do its part. A general background check should be carried out. Prohibit military weapons and high-capacity magazines. Close loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of rapists and eliminate liability protections for gun manufacturers because there is no reason why they should be the only industry in America that is not subject to lawsuits. These are all common sense steps that will save lives.

We can never bring back those we have lost. But we can come together to fulfill the first duty of our government and our democracy: to keep each other safe. I intend to work with the people and leaders of New York to do just that.