A new strike unit will be unveiled by the US Justice Department to primarily target illegal firearms trafficking, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on Tuesday.
In an activity backed by the Police Executive Research Forum, Monaco said that the force will center its attention in cracking down violent crime through focusing its move in “significant gun trafficking corridors” that include the city of New York, along with San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington DC.
In the mentioned areas, the US Attorney’s offices will work with the federal, state and local law enforcement to pay attention as to “where the guns are originating, where they’re used in violent crime… and going after the entire network”.
“The department is taking another concrete step to address violent crime and illegal firearms trafficking. Our firearms trafficking strike forces will investigate and disrupt the networks that channel crime guns into our communities with tragic consequences,” Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland exclaimed in a statement.
The move of the Justice Department follows Wednesday’s statement of President Joe Biden on addressing the latest increase in shooting and violent crimes.
The country’s Gun Violence Archive showed that 297 mass shootings have been recorded as of June 22. Increase on homicides were also reported by local police departments from main cities in the US.
The spike in crime poses a serious worry on the people, most especially in huge areas like New York City, which started mayoral polls.
Both Republican and Democrat politicians bidding for New York’s mayoral post said they backed the effort to reduce crime and boost the budget for the police.
The president, meanwhile, also released move to suppress the spread of “ghost guns” which are purchased as set that can be assembled into a firearm.
