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WEBVTT LOT OF LEGAL HURDLESTHAT HAVE TO BE CLEARED BEFORE ATEST RUN IS STARTED.MO THAN 100 15 PEOPLE HAVEBEEN MURDERED ON BALTIMORE CITYSTREETS TODAY.BALTIMORE CITY COUNCILMANBRANDON SCOTT WANTS TO EXPLORE AGUNS PREVAIL PROGRAM SAYING, ITIS TIME TO GET CREATIVE.HE INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION ATMONDAY'S MEETING.>> THIS IS A WAY TO TRY TO GETGUNS OFF OUR STREETS.OFFENDERS WILL NOT GIVE UPTHEIR GUNS UNTIL THERE ISSOMETHING IN IT FOR THEM.VANESSA: GUNS FOR BERYL IS THEBRAINCHILD OF TREVOR BROOKS.>> THE REASON THERE ARE SO MANYKILLINGS IS THAT THERE ARE SOMANY GUNS.IF Y REDUCE THE NUMBER OF GUNSFROM CRIMINAL OFFENDERS HANDS,THAT WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER OFGU CRIMES -- GUN CRIMES.VANESS THE MUNICIPALITY WILLDETERMINE WHICH NONVIOLENTOFFENDERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THEPROGRAM.THE OFFENDERS LOVED ONES WILLSECURE THE FIREARM, PACKET ANDDROP IT OFF AT A LOCAL FACILITY.NORMALLY THEY SAY BRINGMONEY, WE SAY BRING A GUN THATCOULD BE USED IN THE NEXT CRIME.VANESSA: BROOK AND FORMERBALTIMORE RAVENS, RAY LEWISINTRODUCED THE IDEA IN MARCH.HE IS HOPING TO MAKE BALTIMORETHE FIRST PILOT CITY AND LAUNCHA 90 TO 180 DAY PROGRAM THISSUMMER.>> WITH TICKET IS WORTHY OF AHEARING AND TAKING A STRONG LOOKAT DOING A PILOT PROGRAM HERE.VANESSA: A REQUEST THATLAW-ENFORCEMENT MEET WITH THECITY COUNCIL TO DISCUSS THEPROGRAM.BROOKS TELLS ME HE HAS ALL READYMET WITH THE BALTIMORE POLICEDEPARTMENT AND THE OFFICES OFTHE STATE'S ATTORNEY ANDMARYLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL.>> EVERYONE SEEMS OPEN TO IT.I THINK IT IS FIGURING OUT A WAYTO MAKE IT WORK INSIDE OF THECURRENT SYSTEM.VANESS FOUR MEMBERS OF CITYCOUNCI COSPONSORED IT WHICHHAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED YET.A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BALTIMOREPOLICE DEPARTMENT DECLINED TOCOMMENT ON THE PROGRAM.

Advertisement Baltimore councilman proposes guns-for-bail program Concept is latest effort to reduce violence in city

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Trading guns for bail is being proposed as a way to cut down on gun violence in Baltimore. A Baltimore City councilman hopes his fellow lawmakers will consider implementing the program. The program's creator envisions guns for bail as a mashup of a gun buyback program and a bail bonds service. Download the WBAL app. However, a lot of legal hurdles will have to be cleared before a test run. More than 100 people have been murdered on Baltimore City streets this year. “I think we all know that we have a gun problem in Baltimore,” Councilman Brandon Scott said. Scott wants to explore a guns-for-bail program, saying it is time to get creative. He introduced a resolution at Monday's Baltimore City Council meeting that would explore the guns-for-bail proposal. “This is about an innovative way to try to get guns off our streets through bail,” Scott said. Baltimore native Trevor Brooks is the founder of Gunbail. He believes this concept could be successful if implemented properly. “The offenders will not give up their guns until there's something in it for them,” Brooks said. “The reason why there's so many killings is there's so many guns. If you reduce the number of guns in criminal offenders’ hands then that will reduce the number of gun crimes." Brooks said that for the program to work, the municipality will determine which nonviolent offenders are eligible to participate. The offender's family or representative would secure the firearm, pack it in a "gun-bail" box and drop it off at a local facility. “(It's) sort of like a bail bondsman,” Brooks said. “Normally they say, 'Bring money.' We're saying, 'Bring in a gun that could be used in the next crime.'” Brooks and former Baltimore Raven Ray Lewis introduced the guns-for-bail concept to state lawmakers in March. Brooks is hoping to make Baltimore the first pilot city and launch a 90- to 180-day program this summer. “We do think it's worthy of a hearing and us taking a strong look at trying to do a pilot program here in Baltimore,” Scott said. Scott's resolution requests that law enforcement and other stakeholders meet with the City Council to discuss the program. Brooks said he has already met with the Baltimore Police Department, the city State Attorney’s Office and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office. "Everyone seems open to it,” Brooks said. “I think it's just figuring out a way to make it work inside of the current system.” Four members of the City Council co-sponsored the resolution, which hasn't yet been adopted. A spokesman for city police declined to comment on the program.