Baltimore’s skyrocketing gun violence has made residents more than twice as likely to be shot to death than Chicagoans, according to current 2017 crime statistics.
Chicago has suffered 503 gun homicides so far in 2017. With a population of over 2.7 million, the gun homicide rate is at just over 18 people per 100,000 residents.
Baltimore, however, has suffered 275 gun homicides with a population of just over 621,000, putting the homicide rate at more than 44 per 100,000. The city is on track to break its all-time murder record originally set in 1992, when Baltimore had 100,000 more residents.
Both cities are long-standing Democratic strongholds. Baltimore hasn’t had a Republican mayor since 1947 and hasn’t voted Republican in a presidential election since 1956. All of the city’s state senators and delegates are Democrats as well.
Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh announced a plan in August to reduce crime with better training for police officers, better drug policies, and better education for residents. Her plan came just days after private groups attempted a “nobody kill anybody” weekend which failed after barely 24 hours. (RELATED: WATCH: Baltimore Police Officer Plants Drugs On Crime Scene)
Similar to Chicago, Baltimore’s police department is under heavy scrutiny for misconduct, with eight officers implicated in schemes to falsify evidence by planting drugs at crime scenes. As a result, State Attorney Marilyn Mosby has thrown out more than 100 cases connected with the officers and is reviewing 850 more.
“As prosecutors, we will remain vigilant in our pursuit of justice and we will continue to do our part to restore public trust and build confidence in the criminal justice system,” Mosby said in a statement.
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