The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, now known as Brady: United Against Gun Violence, has publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s federal crime initiative in Washington, D.C., even as the city faces a notable surge in violent incidents.
Local leaders, law enforcement and business representatives have repeatedly voiced concern over the growing threats to residents and commercial areas.
In a statement released on Monday, Brady President Kris Brown argued that federal intervention is unnecessary, claiming that violent crime “has fallen precipitously since 2023 and were at a 30-year low the day the president returned to the Oval Office.”
The organization credited policies from the Biden administration for the decline.
Independent sources, however, note that D.C.’s murder rate remains among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, highlighting a discrepancy between Brady’s narrative and reported crime data.
Brown also warned that federalized policing could put citizens at greater risk, particularly in minority communities.
“We cannot allow the president to suggest that federalized police is an appropriate response to any and all challenges; or that federalized police do not further endanger the public,” Brown stated.
The group’s opposition arrives amid mounting concerns from residents and businesses about personal safety in the capital.
As of 2025, at least 99 murders have been recorded in D.C., underscoring a stark contrast with isolated incidents such as the Jan. 6 riot death of Ashli Babbitt, BizPac Review reports.
In 2024, a coalition of city-based businesses sent a letter to Mayor Muriel Bowser, warning that “D.C. is quickly becoming a national outlier in rising crime, and the trends are alarming.”
The letter detailed robberies, carjackings and random acts of violence affecting both employees and visitors.
D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton echoed these concerns in a recent Fox News appearance.
“We stand with the President in recognizing that Washington, D.C., cannot continue on this trajectory,” he said, emphasizing the strain on local law enforcement amid a challenging crime environment.
“Crime is out of control, and our officers are stretched beyond their limits.”
Brady’s stance has faced scrutiny for its broader opposition to civilian self-defense measures.
The organization has previously claimed that guns “are rarely used successfully in self-defense,” a statement challenged by research from criminologist Gary Kleck, who estimates that firearms are used to protect life and property over 760,000 times per year, per Breitbart.
This contrast underscores the ongoing debate between gun control advocacy and practical safety concerns.
The current discussion reflects a wider divide over approaches to public safety in the nation’s capital.
While Brady focuses on restricting firearms and questioning federal police intervention, local officials, law enforcement and business groups emphasize proactive enforcement to address violent crime that affects residents, commuters, and visitors.
Balancing gun control policy with public safety realities remains a persistent challenge in D.C., where crime rates continue to exceed those in many major cities globally.
Officials and citizens alike continue to call for comprehensive strategies to reduce violent incidents and restore confidence in the city’s security.
