Democrat mayor admits crime wave being fuelled by Covid masks
Democrat mayor admits crime wave being fuelled by Covid masks
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The Mayor of Washington DC has proposed to restore the anti-mask law after crime sweeps the city.
Muriel Bowser addressed reporters at a new conference on Monday, where she discussed new legislation aimed at reducing crime.
The mayor appeared to be worried about the crime wave sweeping the district, particularly in teenage criminals.
Washington DC has seen a 39 per cent increase in violent crime compared to last year.
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Bowser announced the Addressing Crime Trends Now Act, or the ACT Now plan, which aims to tackle recent crime trends.
The anti-mask law was terminated in 2020 at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the new bill, it will be unlawful to wear a mask for the purpose of “committing criminal acts or threatening people or causing fear,” Bowser said.
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The mayor cited a recent video that showed masked people getting out of a car whilst wielding a gun.
“We need to act now, and we need to send the strong message that violence is not acceptable in our city — and this perception that people have, that you can commit a brazen crime and get away with it, has got to stop,” Bowser said.
“This legislation will help change that.”
“You should be proud in your city that we give people one chance, two chances, three chances, but your chances can affect my safety, and that's what we're here to talk about,” Bowser added.
A former FBI agent and criminology professor, Bryanna Fox, stated: “Being anonymized has always been associated with more deviant and criminal behaviour.”
In the new legislation, the act of being masked while committing a crime would become illegal again
Pexels“People who wear masks feel more enabled and empowered to do things that they normally wouldn’t have done if their face was seen in public,” she continued.
The mask law won’t apply to those who are wearing them for medical reasons.
Justice Lindsey Appiah said the new bill gives officers the opportunity to interrupt potential criminal activity.
“This gives MPD the opportunity to even engage. If an officer saw someone approaching, walking up the sidewalk now in July with a ski mask, they have no tool to engage, even if they believe that is based upon the totality of circumstance,” Appiah said.