They're trying to get handle on city's guns
PHILADELPHIA. With the general election four weeks away, public safety officials and analysts say the winner of the DA's race between heavy Democratic favorite Seth Williams and Republican Michael Untermeyer will have their hands full.
"Given the limits of the law, given the limited resources, given the context, it’s hard to believe that the DA’s office by itself can have much impact," said Randall Miller, a professor at St. Joseph's University and longtime political observer.
While the number of murders is down 9 percent this year compared to 2008, the number of shooting victims is down less than 0.5 percent, according to police. The number of robberies and assaults committed with a gun has also dropped in the past year, but is still a serious problem in neighborhoods across the city.
Williams plans to focus more time on prosecuting those with guns and less on cases that won't hold up, while Untermeyer says he would eliminate plea deals for those shooting up the streets.
"Guns kills cops, guns kill members of the community," said John McNesby, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, which has already endorsed Williams. "That’s the number one thing that’s gotta be addressed."
What is your plan to reduce gun violence?
Seth Williams: I would address [gun violence] through a holistic approach of both supply and demand. I will aggressively prosecute those who traffic handguns, selling them illegally, and those that illegally possess and use firearms in Philadelphia, and [work] hard to prevent young men from the desire of using those guns.
Michael Untermeyer: I'm going to have a policy of zero tolerance on illegal, unlicensed handguns in Philadelphia. As district attorney, on day one, I can implement that policy and say we are not longer to going to negotiate plea bargain in gun deals.
How do you get more cooperation from witnesses to shootings?
Williams: I think the first step is the DA is going out to the community, so the more we talk about this "Don’t snitch" culture, one of those things will be of course we will prosecute people who intimidate witnesses.
Untermeyer: By prosecuting cases vertically, people will see that someone is representing them. There will be someone handling their case from start to finish so that victims feel more comfortable opening up.