Attorneys General from the District, Virginia, and Maryland Hold First-Ever Regional Meeting on Gun Violence Reduction

AGs Pledge to Work Collaboratively, Increase Information Sharing and Cooperation across State Lines to Address Illegal Guns and Reduce Gun Violence in Region

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Attorney General Karl A. Racine hosted Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring and Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh for a first-of-its-kind meeting to discuss opportunities for collaboration and cooperation to prevent and reduce gun violence in the national capital region and throughout the three states. This was the first time Attorneys General Racine, Herring and Frosh have held a joint meeting, and the first time the chief legal officers of the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland have ever met to discuss gun violence prevention and reduction.

During the hour-long meeting, each attorney general discussed ongoing efforts in their offices and states to reduce the availability of illegal guns, to prevent guns from getting into the hands of criminals and dangerous individuals, and to reduce gun violence. Each attorney general committed to:

  • Designating a point person from their office who will work with their counterparts in the other states to establish a timeline and structure for regular interaction;
  • Sharing strategies, criminal information, and opportunities to collaborate on initiatives that will prevent and reduce gun violence in the national capital region.

“Gun violence takes a terrible toll not only on families in the District, but on families across the Washington region,”Attorney General Racine said. “My colleagues are here because we all want to be good neighbors to each other in this region, and we want to reduce the gun violence that results from the illegal gun trade. All of our jurisdictions have to live with the consequences of the proliferation of illegal guns – and the trade in guns is regional, so we believe any solutions must be regional.”

“Too many families in Virginia, Maryland, and the District have been touched by gun violence. They unfortunately know what it’s like to have a loved one in the wrong place at the wrong time, and how quickly an act of gun violence can change a life forever,” said Attorney General Herring. “In 2014, there were more than 4,200 gun crimes in Virginia, and the ATF traced more than 2,600 guns used in crimes around the country back to Virginia. We can and should do more to enforce our existing gun laws, even while advocating for additional measures like universal background checks. This partnership with Attorney General Frosh and Attorney General Racine is going to allow us to work regionally to reduce gun violence and illegal gun sales and possession. I’m really excited about the work and the opportunities in front of us.”

“Crime doesn’t respect boundaries, and our crime-fighting strategies need to cross jurisdictions as well,” said Attorney General Frosh. “I applaud my colleagues for their commitment to ending gun violence and illegal gun trafficking. We might have different laws, but we have the same goals.”

MPD Gun Tips Rewards and Hotline
The Metropolitan Police Department offers rewards and a hotline for tips leading to the arrest and seizure of illegal guns. Tips are completely anonymous, and tipsters will be eligible for a reward of up to $2,500. Call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411 if you know someone who has a gun or you know where illegal guns are being hidden in your community.