[00:00:01]
I SERVE AS EXECUTIVE PASTOR HERE AT WHEEL AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.WE'RE DELIGHTED TO, UH, WELCOME YOU TO THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, AND DELIGHTED TO HOST THIS GUN BUYBACK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER WITH, UH, PRECINCT ONE AND COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELLIS.
UH, WE'RE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME CHIEF FINN AND DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL CRYSTAL COR FOR HERE, UH, THIS DAY.
AND WE, UH, JUST THANK GOD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING, UH, THAT IS PRAYERFULLY, UH, OF BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, AND TO REDUCE SOME OF THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN OUR STREETS THIS, THESE DAYS.
UH, SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN THIS OVER TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HIS REMARKS.
UH, MAYOR TURNER WILL NOT BE HERE.
I KNOW HE'S WELL, BECAUSE IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT WHEN MOST REASONABLE PEOPLE WOULD'VE BEEN ASLEEP.
UH, AND HE HAD A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT THIS MORNING, HIS FINAL ONE, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THEY GAVE HIM CLEARANCE, I'M TOLD BY STAFF.
SO YOU WILL HEAR FROM HIM, HIM TOMORROW.
DON'T SOUND NEARLY AS GOOD, UH, BUT I'M GLAD TO PARTNER, UH, WITH OUR MAYOR ON THIS.
HE AND I WANTED TO GET THIS DONE BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED.
OBVIOUSLY, ALL OF US WERE TOUCHED, UM, BY WHAT HAPPENED IN UVALDE, UH, AND WE WERE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE HAD HERE.
YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF PRESS COVERAGE ABOUT, UH, THOSE YOUNG KIDS.
I THINK 17 AND TWO ADULTS WHO WERE KILLED IN UVALDE.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS BY MAY OF THIS YEAR IN HARRIS COUNTY, UH, JUST AS THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS WRAPPING UP, 19 YOUNG PEOPLE HAD LOST THEIR LIVES.
19 YOUNG PEOPLE, 15 OF THEM, HISPANIC OR AFRICAN AMERICAN, DIED BECAUSE OF GUN VIOLENCE.
A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS WALKING IN THE PARK WHEN SHE WAS SHOT TO DEATH.
A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS SHOT BY HER BROTHER AND A DOUBLE HOMICIDE.
AN 11-YEAR-OLD WAS GETTING A JACKET FROM HIS MOTHER'S CAR WHEN BULLETS FROM A NEARBY SHOOTING ENDED HIS LIFE.
A 9-YEAR-OLD RIDING IN A CAR TO A VALENTINE'S DAY DINNER GUNNED DOWN WHEN HER VEHICLE WAS MISTAKEN FOR A GETAWAY CAR.
THERE'S ONE COMMON THREAT IN ALL OF THESE STORIES.
SOMEONE HAD ACCESS TO A GUN, PLENTIFUL GUNS.
IN FACT, YOU'VE SEEN THE STATS.
WE HAVE MORE GUNS IN AMERICA THAN WE HAVE PEOPLE.
UH, THE RATIO OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COUNTRY TO THE NUMBER OF GUNS IS THE HIGHEST AMONG THAT RATIO OF ANY NATION ON THE PLANET HELD BY INDIVIDUALS, NOT GUNS HELD BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE GOVERNMENT.
WE ALL DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE IN OUR HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND PUBLIC PLACES, AND WE CAN'T FEEL SAFE WHEN GUNS OUTNUMBER THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
WHEN GUNS ARE EASIER TO GET, THAT IT IS TO GET CHILDCARE, HEALTHCARE, A COLLEGE EDUCATION, AND A DECENT JOB.
WE CAN'T CHANGE ALL THOSE SYSTEMS OVERNIGHT, AND WE KNOW THAT.
BUT WE CAN TAKE ACTION BY REMOVING GUNS FROM THE STREET.
IT HAS BECOME A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS TO HAVE SO MANY GUNS.
GUN BUYBACK PROGRAMS CREATE AN INCENTIVE FOR RESIDENTS TO TURN IN THEIR FIREARMS. I WOULD ARGUE THAT THERE ARE TWO INCENTIVES AT PLAY.
ONE IS THE GIFT CARD, AND THE OTHER IS CREATING A SAFER COMMUNITY.
THESE PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONE THE MAYOR AND I ARE LAUNCHING TODAY, ARE ONLY SUCCESSFUL AS PART OF A BROADER COMMITMENT TO VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
LIKE MOST INTERVENTIONS, THEY DO NOT WORK IN A VACUUM.
THANKFULLY, THE SEAT OF HOUSTON WITH THE MAYOR'S GREAT INITIATIVE THAT HE AND HIS TEAM WORKED ON, UH, HAVE COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS.
THE COUNTY, UH, HAS ALSO, WE HAVE MOBILIZED OUR RESOURCES WITH ABSOLUTE URGENCY IN A FULL COURT PRESS ON REDUCING VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE DEDICATED FROM THE COUNTY SIDE, $1.4 BILLION OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET TO JUSTICE IN PUBLIC SAFETY, THE LARGEST AMOUNT EVER ALLOCATED IN HARRIS COUNTY HISTORY.
BUT WE ARE NOT JUST THROWING MONEY AT THE SAME OLD STRATEGIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT, AND IT MADE THE BIG DIFFERENCE.
WE ARE ALSO ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND GETTING TO WORK ON SMART AND MEDIEVAL PROGRAMS TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF CRIME.
WE'VE IMPLEMENTED A NEW VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION PROGRAM, PARTNERING WITH THE CITY, AN INITIATIVE THAT WORKS WITH TRUSTED AND TRAINED COMMUNITY MESSAGES TO DEESCALATE LOCAL CONFLICTS, PROVIDE PATHWAYS OUTTA GANGS, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT IN TERMS OF JOBS, SUBSTANCE USE, ABUSE, UH, HEALTH AND EDUCATION.
OUR NEW HOLISTIC ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM INITIATIVE, WORKING WITH OUR CITY PARTNERS SINCE TRAINED RESPONDENTS TO ASSIST PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ISSUES RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, UH, HOMELESSNESS SO THEY CAN RECEIVE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED.
THIS ALSO EASES THE BURDEN ON LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ALLOWS THEM TO FOCUS ON SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIMES, WHICH AS A CHIEF
[00:05:01]
CAN TELL YOU, THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT DEALING WITH.WE'RE CONNECTING AT RISK INDIVIDUALS TO MENTAL HEALTH, DRUG TREATMENT, SOCIAL EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, REMOVING, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD BLIGHT AND INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR DECADES.
WE ARE ADDRESSING THE BACKLOG AND THE COURTS HELPING MORE PEOPLE REENTER AND REINTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY THROUGH HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND WORKING NOT JUST TO HELP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, BUT TO PREVENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS IS AN ALL OUT OFFENSIVE ON THE PART OF THE MAYOR, THE CHIEF, THE SHERIFF, THE COUNTY PLAYERS.
ALL OF US ARE INVOLVED IN IT, BUT IT REQUIRES THE VOICE AND CONVICTION OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
OTHER CITIES HAVE REMOVED HUNDREDS OF UNWARRANTED FIREARMS, ELIMINATING THE CHANCE OF WEAPONS.
CYCLING THROUGH ILLEGAL NETWORKS ARE BEING DISCOVERED BY CURIOUS CHILDREN OR TEENAGERS AT SOMEONE'S HOME.
SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO? FOR EVERY NON-FUNCTIONING GUN YOU RECEIVE $50 FOR EVERY RIFLE OR A SHOTGUN, $100 FOR EVERY HANDGUN, $150 FOR AN ASSAULT RIFLE, $200.
BUT THE FEELING THAT YOU'VE DONE, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE TAKEN ACTION TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY WE CALL HOME, AND TO HELP OUR CHILDREN WHO LIVE IS REALLY PRICELESS.
SO, PEOPLE WHO BRING THESE GUNS IN, I DON'T THINK ARE REALLY BRINGING A MAN TO GET THE MONEY IS BECAUSE IT'S A CHANCE FOR EVERYDAY CITIZENS TO PLAY A ROLE IN REDUCING CRIME.
IN 2016, THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES HOSTED A GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM, AND THEY RAN OUTTA GIFT CARDS, BUT THEY STILL COLLECTED OVER 800 FIREARMS. PEOPLE CONTINUED TO TURN IN WEAPONS BECAUSE THE INCENTIVE TO THEM WAS MUCH GREATER THAN A DOLLAR AMOUNT OF A GIFT OF A GIFT CARD.
THEY WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
OUR BUYBACK PROGRAM IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY, WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, JULY 30TH, AT THIS HISTORIC CHURCH AT 8:00 AM UNTIL NOON AT THE HISTORIC WILLER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, ANYONE CAN TURN IN A GUN, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
THE KEY IS TO GET THOSE WEAPONS OFF THE STREET.
ALL FIREARMS MUST BE UNLOADED AND IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR VEHICLE.
YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR TO TURN IT IN.
AND WE HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WE CAN PASS EVERY GREAT POLICY I IMAGINABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO GET WEAPONS OFF THE STREET, OUT OF THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM.
IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, WE WANT TO ASK EVERYBODY TO DO THEIR PART.
I WANT TO THANK, UH, PASTOR JOHNSON AND SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, UH, TO THE PRESIDING PASTOR, UH, OF HIS CHURCH.
UH, AND I'M GLAD HE DID NOT COME TODAY.
I WANNA THANK CHIEF NER, UH, COMMANDER GARCIA FOR BEING HERE.
UH, CRYSTAL
UH, UH, AND OF COURSE, LARRY PAYNE.
I KNOW CHIEF IS GONNA SAY SOMETHING ABOUT HIM AS WELL.
I WANNA THANK MY TEAM AS WELL.
MY, MY, MY STAFF WORKING WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.
MAYOR BENTON, I WANNA THANK YOU, UH, BY THE WAY, FOR PULLING THIS TOGETHER.
AND DEREK, WHO'S ALWAYS OUT THERE IN THE HALL, UH, WITH YOU, BUT LOOK, TO MAKE THIS WORK, WE REALLY NEED OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP.
UH, THIS IS THE ORDER YOU'RE GONNA HEAR FROM CHIEF FINN, UH, WHO'S FROM SUNNYSIDE.
UH, NEXT, AND THEN YOU WILL, UH, THERE WILL BE A VIDEO YOU WILL HEAR FROM, UH, COMMANDER GARCIA, UH, WHO WILL DO THE SPANISH INTERPRETATION.
AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM YOUR YUBA HARRIS FROM CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE'S OFFICE.
I SAW SOMEBODY LOOKING AT THEIR WATCH YUBA.
I WANNA SAY DON'T READ IT ALL.
I SPOKE WITH THE CONGRESSWOMAN LATE LAST NIGHT.
WE'VE BEEN EXCHANGING CALLS THIS MORNING.
UH, SHE AND HER FEDERAL COLLEAGUES OF WORKING TO GET US FEDERAL MONEY.
UH, SO IN FUTURE EVENTS, WE'LL TRY TO SCHEDULE THEM WHEN OUR CONGRESSIONAL PEOPLE CAN BE HERE.
BUT WE APPRECIATE THEM AND WE LOVE THEM.
BUT WE'RE GONNA SHORTEN IN THE STATEMENT, 'CAUSE I SAW SOMEBODY LOOKING AT THEIR WATCH.
CHIEF FINN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, AND I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY.
BUT I, LET ME GIVE SOME, SOME SPECIAL THANKS AND A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO, UH, PASTOR COSBY, UM, AND, AND WILL AVENUE, UM, BAPTIST CHURCH.
UH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.
AND Y'ALL GOTTA WATCH IT WHEN Y'ALL
[00:10:01]
INVITE US OVER HERE, AND IT'S SO NICE.YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT JUST DO ALL OUR PRESS CONFERENCES OVER HERE,
SO THE COMMISSIONER COVERED, UH, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING AND, BUT I, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, LARRY PAYNE, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
THAT'S THE CHAIR OF, UH, THE MAYOR'S, UH, TASK FORCE ON POLICE REFORM.
AND, UH, YOU'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE, UH, SOMEBODY WHO LOVES THIS CITY.
AND, UH, I DO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO.
UM, ALSO WANT TO THANK MY MAYOR IN HIS ABSENCE.
I SPOKE TO HIM THIS MORNING, AND I KNOW Y'ALL HADN'T SEEN HIM, BUT I, I, I'M THE MAC IS BACK.
OKAY? I TALKED TO HIM THIS MORNING, SO JUST, HE'S COMING.
SO, UH, COMMISSIONER AGAIN, THANK YOU.
UM, IT TAKES ALL OF US, OUR COMMUNITY, UM, OUR COUNTY, OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS.
I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO, UH, UH, CONGRESSMAN WOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE FOR HER SUPPORT.
BUT, UM, THE MAYOR, I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS VISION WITH ONE SAFE HOUSTON, AND, UM, THE SUCCESS WE'VE HAD.
UH, WE'RE STILL IN THE FIGHT FOR CRIME, UH, AND, AND NO MAKE NO BONES AB ABOUT IT.
UM, WE'RE STILL FIGHTING CRIME IN THIS CITY, BUT, UM, 'CAUSE OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON AND, AND THE COLLABORATION WE HAVE AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE CITIZENS, WE'VE BEEN SEEING ALL NUMBERS ON VIOLENT CRIME GO DOWN.
UM, THE, UH, MURDER, UH, RATES ARE, ARE PRETTY MUCH FLAT, UM, FROM A YEAR TO DATE.
SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
BUT AS, UH, THE COMMISSIONER SAID, UH, SATURDAY, UM, JULY THE 30TH, FROM 8:00 AM TO, UH, NOON, WE WILL DO A BUY, UH, UH, A GUN BUYBACK PROGRAM HERE.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THEM.
IT IS TOTALLY, TOTALLY, UH, VOLUNTARY AND ANONYMOUS.
UH, WE'RE GONNA KEY UP A, A VIDEO RIGHT HERE TO GO OVER SOME MORE, UH, INSTRUCTIONS ON IT.
BUT JUST KNOW YOU CAN BRING THEM IN AND, UH, PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT IF IT'S SOLUTION BASED, LET IT ROLL.
UM, WE NEED THE HELP FROM EVERYWHERE.
IF PEOPLE WANT TO BRING A GUN BACK IN AND FOR WHATEVER REASON AND GET SOME MONEY, IT HELPS IN CRIME.
UH, JUST A A, A FEW MORE POINTS.
UM, WE ARE GONNA CHECK ALL GUNS THAT'S BROUGHT IN.
IF THEY'RE STOLEN, WE'RE GONNA GET 'EM BACK TO THE RIFLE OWNERS AS WELL AS IF THEY ARE COMMITTED, UH, PART OF A CRIME.
SO, UH, IT'S, IT'S, WE, WE PLAN THIS OUT.
I WANT TO THANK COMMANDER, UH, CAMPBELL.
I WANT TO THANK MY ASSISTANT CHIEF, UH, UH, MARTIN, AND ALSO MY CHIEF OF STAFF, WHO'S GONNA, UH, TRANSLATE HERE SHORTLY.
BUT LET'S KEY UP THE, UH, VIDEO.
AND, UH, AFTER THAT, WE'RE GONNA GET TRANSLATIONS FROM COMMANDER GARCIA.
I'M NOT USED TO ALL THIS HIGH TECH.
THIS IS SOMETHING HOW IANS CAN PARTICIPATE IN MAYOR TURNER'S ONE ST.
HOUSTON DONE BUYBACK PROGRAM, WHICH HAS THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER RODNEY ELVIS.
THIS WILL GIVE EVERYONE AN IDEA OF WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN ARRIVING AT THE DROP OFF LOCATION.
FIRST, YOU ARE ARRIVING AT THE COLLECTION SITE.
PLEASE UNLOAD YOUR GUN IF YOU CAN SAFELY TISSUE AND PLACE IT IN YOUR TRUNK OR THE REAR OF YOUR DD WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE LOCATION, HPD PERSONNEL WILL GREET YOU AND DIRECT YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.
THE FIRST LOCATION WILL BE WHERE AN OFFICER COLLECTS YOUR WEAPON.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR TRUNK OR THE REAR HATCH OF YOUR SUV FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY.
DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO HAND THE OFFICER YOUR WEAPON.
THE OFFICER WILL REMOVE THE GUN FROM YOUR VEHICLE AND CLEAR THE WEAPON TO ENSURE IT IS UNLOADED AND RENDERED SAFE.
YOU'LL BE ASKED TO REMAIN IN LINE UNTIL YOU ARE PROVIDED A RECEIPT BEFORE YOU'RE DONE.
NEXT, YOU'LL EXCHANGE TO RECEIPT FOR A GIFT CARD.
A GIFT CARD AMOUNT CORRESPONDS TO THE TYPE OF GUN YOU BROUGHT.
$50 FOR A NON-FUNCTIONING GUN, $100 FOR A RIFLE OR SHOTGUN.
$150 FOR A HANDGUN, $200 FOR AN AUTOMATIC RIFLE.
ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR GIFT CARD, YOU'LL BE DIRECTED TO WHERE YOU CAN EXIT THE PARKING LOT.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR TAKING PART IN THE GUN BY THAT PROGRAM.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY ONE SAFE, HOUSTON.
[00:15:04]
I'M HAVING FLASHBACKS,TURNER, THE TURNER, SHEILA JACKSON.
THANK YOU, UM, SHEILA STAFFER, WHERE YOU COME ON UP.
I GOT A TEXT FROM HIM SAYING, CALL ME AFTER I SPOKE TO HER.
AND HE TOLD ME, DON'T GIVE A KEYNOTE.
UH, BUT HE WANTED ME TO MAKE SURE YOU, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT.
I, BUT I GAVE A KEYNOTE, SO SHORTENING IT.
I AM HERE REPRESENTING CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
WE ARE IN THE HEART OF HER DISTRICT, AND SO CERTAINLY, UH, SHE WANTED TO THANK AND EXTEND HER SUPPORT TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON, TO OUR, OUR WONDERFUL MAYOR, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, TO OUR HPD, OF COURSE, TO COMMISSIONER ELLIS, UH, AS WELL AS TO THE HISTORIC WILLER AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO JOIN IN THIS LAUNCH.
AND TO, AND I JUST WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THE CONGRESSWOMAN'S SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT.
AND TO READ A, A BRIEF PORTION OF HER STATEMENT, IT SAYS THAT THE CONGRESSWOMAN, WHO IS CHAIR OF THE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME, TERRORISM, AND HOMELAND SECURITY, WHICH HAS INTRODUCED GUN SAFETY LAWS FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, APPLAUD THE CITY'S AND THE COUNTY'S WORK TO ESTABLISH GUN BUYBACK.
THIS INITIATIVE, UH, THE CONGRESSWOMAN SPOKE WITH HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2021 AS THE STATISTICS OF GUN VIOLENCE CONTINUED TO SOAR AROUND THE NATION AND IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
THE CONGRESSWOMAN IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SPONSORING SEVERAL GUN BUYBACKS IN THE COMING MONTHS, WHICH WILL BE FUNDED WITH FEDERAL MONIES FROM THE PANDEMIC, AS WELL AS FUTURE APPROPRIATIONS.
[00:20:01]
I'M GONNA JUST CONCLUDE, UH, BY SAYING THAT GUN BACK GUN BUYBACKS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER CITIES, PARTICULARLY IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, COLORADO AND TAMPA, FLORIDA GUN BACK PROGRAM.GUN BUYBACK PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN LINKED TO REDUCED GUN RELATED SUICIDES AND A REDUCTION OF GUN RELATED CRIMES.
THESE PROGRAMS ARE ALSO GREAT PUBLIC EDUCATION TO REMIND GUN OWNERS AND OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, AS WELL AS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE FIREARMS TO REPORT ANY LOSS OR THEFT IMMEDIATELY TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE, SHE IS EXCITED TO SPONSOR TO ANNOUNCE HER SPONSORSHIP OF THIS PROGRAM, AND TO THANK THE CITY OF HOUSTON, HARRIS COUNTY, OUR MAYOR, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER, OUR COMMISSIONER, AND TO OUR HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE, WE'LL TAKE YOUR QUESTION.
SOMEBODY DID ASK ON, ON FUNDING.
UH, WE HAVE PURCHASED A LITTLE UNDER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF, UH, GIFT CARDS.
WE WILL BE PREPARED TO SPEND WHAT IT TAKES.
UH, SOMEONE ASKS, WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER SUCCESS IF WE GET ONE GUN THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO KILL SOMEONE? IT'S A SUCCESS.
I WAS ASKING THE CHIEF, HAVE WE DONE IT BEFORE? THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE FROM MY STAFF'S RESEARCH.
THE FIRST ONE WE COULD FIND IN AMERICA WAS, UH, PHILADELPHIA, LIKE 1968.
UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE OUR STAFFS TO DO SOME CUTTING AND PACING.
SEE IF HOUSTON CHIEF TOLD ME DID 'EM AROUND BY 2000.
I KNOW BEAUMONT, UH, TEXAS DID ONE RIGHT BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
AND I WAS TALKING TO, UH, BISHOP, UH, DIXON, BY THE WAY, UH, AND WONDERING IF WE COULD GET SOME PRIVATE FOUNDATION MONEY TO DO IT.
SO WE PAYING FOR THIS ONE WITH LOCAL FUNDS.
IF WE CAN GET REIMBURSED, WE'LL DO IT.
I KNOW IN PART OF THE MAYOR'S PROGRAM, THERE'S A DOLLAR AMOUNT EARMARKED FOR A LOT OF STRATEGIES INCLUDING THIS.
AND ON THE COUNTY SIDE, WE'LL DO IT.
UH, BUT WE WILL SPEND WHAT IT TAKES, SO WON'T PEOPLE TO COME OUT.
UM, LEMME SAY, CAN YOU TALK MORE ABOUT THE ASPECT OF, I KNOW CHIEFS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HOW TO GET PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT CRIME, UH, GIVING UP THEIR GUN IS NOT GIVING UP ON INSECURITY.
BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY YOUNG KIDS, FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY NEED, THEY NEED PROTECTION BECAUSE YOU DUNNO WHAT THE OTHER GUY'S GONNA DO.
SO CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT? YEAH.
THAT, YOU KNOW, AS I SAID, BECAUSE, UH, IT HAS BEEN DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE ARE NOT THE FIRST TO DO IT.
AS FAR BACK AS I CAN RESEARCH AND FIND IT, AT LEAST 1968, MIGHT HAVE BEEN SIX OR SEVEN, I THINK IT WAS 68 IN PHILADELPHIA, BALTIMORE HAS HAD SOME VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. THEY HAVE BEEN SOME GUN MANUFACTURERS, UH, WHO HAVE TRIED TO, UH, TAKE THE GOOD DEEDS FOR SEATTLE, WASHINGTON AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING NEGATIVE.
UH, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL BRING THESE GUNS IN ARE PEOPLE BRINGING THESE GUNS IN BECAUSE THEY THINK IT WILL HELP YOU JUST GO GOOGLE NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, UH, WHATEVER.
WE ARE 300 AND SOME ODD MILLION PEOPLE IN, IN THE COUNTRY, MAYBE 340 MILLION, AND WE LITTLE UNDER 400 MILLION GUNS OWNED BY INDIVIDUALS THAT DOES NOT ADD UP.
CHIEF, YOU WANNA COMMENT ON THAT? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
AND, UH, THE COMMISSIONER ALWAYS WANT TO ADOPT ME.
I'M ACTUALLY FROM FIFTH WARD RAISING HARAM CLARK, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT IF HE ADOPTS ME.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
BUT, UM, WE HAVE TO BRING SUPPORT TO THE YOUNG MEN, UM, THAT ARE DECENT INDIVIDUALS.
NOW YOU GOT SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OUT HERE THAT JUST WANT TO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIME AFTER VIOLENT CRIME.
MOST OF US HAVE NO, NO NEED FOR A GUN PACKING IT AROUND.
UM, SO WE HAVE TO BRING IN, AND THAT'S PART OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON.
UH, THE MAYOR IS BRINGING IN A HOLISTIC APPROACH, UH, UH, UM, EDUCATION, TRAINING, UH, VIABLE EMPLOYMENT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE, WE CARE FOR THEM.
AND THERE'S ANOTHER WAY AWAY FROM THE CRIME.
SO, UH, DO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THOUGH.
A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT SHOWS FEDERALLY PROGRAMS. DON'T SAY IT A LITTLE LOUDER.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESEARCH FEDERALLY THAT SHOWS THESE PROGRAMS DON'T ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL OF REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE.
SOMETIMES YOU GUYS MAY JUST BEING AN ADDICT, WHAT HAVE YOU, BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THEY CAN'T WORK.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE IT'S GONNA WORK HERE NOW? WELL, LOOK, AS I SAID, THIS IS JUST ONE STRATEGY AND THE REASON I GAVE A KEYNOTE AND WENT THROUGH ALL OF THE OTHERS AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH, WE'RE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING.
BUT THE RESEARCH I HAVE SEEN HAS BEEN MIXED.
UH, BUT LOOK, YOU CAN FIND RESEARCH THAT CRITICIZES VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING
[00:25:01]
WE DO.NO ONE WOULD SAY WE OUGHT TO NOT TRY.
UH, SO WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE SINCE AROUND ABOUT 2000.
UH, I, I THINK, WE'LL, WE'LL TRY IT AND WE'LL SEE IT.
IF IT GOES WELL, WE'LL LEARN SOME LESSONS FROM THIS ONE AND WE CAN APPLY AS WE PLAN FUTURE EVENTS.
CHIEF, YOU WANNA COMMENT? YEAH, JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE FUNDING AS WELL.
UH, THE MAYOR ALLOTTED, UH, $1 MILLION OUT OF HIS ONE SAFE HOUSTON FOR, UM, GUN BUYBACKS.
UH, I DON'T GET INTO A WHOLE LOT OF DEBATE, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT TOUCHES IN POLITICAL AREAS OF, OF WHAT'S SUCCESSFUL, WHAT'S NOT SUCCESSFUL.
EVERYBODY WILL SAY, IF, IF YOU SUPPORT SOMETHING, IT'S SUCCESSFUL AND YOU FIND THAT RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS THAT.
ALL I'M SAYING IS HERE IN HOUSTON, I WANT US TO ALL, YOU KNOW, WORK TOGETHER.
AND IF WE CAN GET ONE GUN OFF THE STREETS THAT PREVENTS A MURDER OR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, I'M ALL FOR IT AS A CHIEF.
SEVEN WEEKS AGO, THE MAYOR STOOD AT A PODIUM LIKE MS ONE TALKING ABOUT WEDNESDAY, HOUSTON GIVING US AN UPDATE AND WAS CELEBRATING THE FACT THAT THE HOMICIDE RATE WAS DOWN BY JUST 3%.
WHILE THE HOMICIDE RATE HASN'T INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, THAT DROP DIDN'T EVEN LAST JUST SIX WEEKS.
WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT ONE OUR CITY? AND TWO, WAS IT TOO EARLY TO CELEBRATE THAT? THAT'S, LET'S GET SOME STA SOME STATISTICS.
WHEN WE STARTED THE YEAR BEFORE ONE SAFE HOUSTON, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU COMPARE THE STATISTICS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THOSE NUMBERS WAS ALMOST 70%.
UH, SINCE WE STARTED ONE SAFE HOUSTON, IT'S BEEN A STEADILY DECLINE.
UM, NOW THE NUMBERS ARE FLAT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER.
AND, AND, UH, I, I, I WANT THOSE NUMBERS TO GO DOWN EVEN MORE.
UM, BUT, UM, OUR OFFICERS ARE WORKING PRETTY HARD OUT THERE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO.
UM, BUT I DO, UH, NOT CELEBRATE IT, BUT I DO WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN ON THE FRONT LINE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR CITIZENS.
BECAUSE HOMICIDE, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT POLICE DEAL WITH BY THEMSELVES.
UM, IT, IT IS MOSTLY AN A, A, A CRIME THAT THE VICTIM AND THE SUSPECT THERE IS SOME TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP, UM, AND THE MAJORITY OF 'EM.
SO, UM, NOT GIVING ALL THE CREDIT TO THE POLICE, GIVING THE CREDIT CREDIT, I MEANT TO SAY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THOSE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.
BUT ALL THE OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES, SEXUAL ASSAULTS, AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS, ROBBERIES, THOSE NUMBERS ARE DOWN.
SO, LOOK, I I, I, I JUST ADD, YOU KNOW, IT'S NEVER ONE PRESS CONFERENCE, ONE PROGRAM THAT ENDS IT ALL.
I'VE BEEN IN OFFICE, SO AS A MAYOR, I GUESS I'VE BEEN IN SINCE, UM, 1980, UH, FOUR, I THINK HE WAS ELECTED ABOUT 86.
AND WE'VE SEEN IT GO UP AND DOWN.
I MEAN, SO THIS PROGRAM WE'RE ANNOUNCING TODAY IS JUST PART OF A PACKAGE.
UH, AND THE COUNTIES WORKING WITH THE CITY, WE'RE PULLING OUR RESOURCES.
WE'RE INVESTING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT BOTH FROM THE CITY SIDE AND THE COUNTY SIDE IN TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING OTHER THINGS THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE BOX.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS NEED TO SEE IN ORDER TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THIS PROGRAM THERE'S MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IS ACTUALLY WORKING OR NOT? YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S FLAT.
WHAT DO YOU, UM, AS A CHIEF WANNA SEE IN ORDER FOR YOU TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS PROGRAM IS WORKING? THE MONEY'S, WHEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SUCCESS, YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT, UH, WHEN THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN, UH, AND, AND, AND ONE THING THAT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT AND, AND IT'S HARD TO MEASURE HOW OUR CITIZENS FEEL, THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT'S LEAVING, LIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO I WANT TO GET OUT AND, AND DO SOME SURVEYS IN THE COMMUNITIES WHERE CRIME RATES ARE PRETTY HIGH AND, AND WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME IMPROVEMENT AND, AND SOME, THERE MAY NOT BEEN, BUT LET ME, UH, TALK, UM, TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LET, WE'RE IN AN AREA SOMETIME WHERE IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT GETS POLITICAL AND PEOPLE JUST THROWING BOMBS AT ONE ANOTHER.
BUT THOSE STAKEHOLDERS, THE NUMBER ONE, OUR CITIZENS THAT WE SERVE, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE THEY FEELING? UM, AND, AND, AND WE'RE IN A CRIME, UH, UH, FIGHT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER MAJOR CITY.
AND, UH, IT'S BEEN GOING ON, UH, UH, SINCE COVID AND, UH, WE, I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE THE CRYSTAL BALL RIGHT NOW.
UM, I'M TELLING YOU, CRIMINOLOGISTS ARE GONNA BE STUDYING THIS ERA FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE MAY HAVE SOME, UH, ANSWERS.
UM, UM, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S, THAT THOSE CRIME RATES CONTINUE TO GO DOWN.
LET'S CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR CITIZENS AND LET'S HAVE THE PERCEPTION AND MOST OF THEM, IN THEIR MIND, IT'S A SAFER CITY.
SO THAT'S HOPE THAT ANSWERS IT.
UH, UH, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON CITIZENS USING GUNS AND SELF DEFENSE LIKE
[00:30:01]
A VICTIM DID IN THE PAST WEEKEND, DURING THE ATTEMPT AN A CAM ROBBERY? LOOK, EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES, BUT I'M NOT GONNA STAND UP HERE AND THE CHIEF AND SAY, HEY, ARM YOURSELF AND, AND, AND, AND, AND FIGHT BACK OR WHATNOT.BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST WEAPON THAT WE HAVE IS WORKING TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATING, UH, BEING OBSERVANT AND VIGILANT FOR YOURSELF AS WELL AS YOUR NEIGHBORS.
UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A WEAPON, UM, IT DON'T WORK OUT FOR YOU.
YOU MIGHT BE A INNOCENT CI CITIZEN OR A VICTIM, AND YOU PULL THAT WEAPON AND THAT SUSPECT ALREADY HAS A, A HAND UP ON YOU, YOU KNOW? SO IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.
UM, BUT THE BIGGEST THING IS LET'S CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE.
LET'S CONTINUE TO WATCH OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
IS THAT ONE MORE? IS THAT FOR THE COMMISSIONER, UH, FOR CHIEF COMMISSIONER, YOU MENTIONED THE 19 KIDS HAVE DIED THROUGH 19, THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP.
COUNTY, GEE, WHAT'S DRIVING IT? WHY, WHY ARE TEENAGERS ADDING SO MUCH? THEY, THEY'RE NOT IMMUNE TO WHAT'S GOING ON? UH,
BUT I, I WILL TELL YOU THIS, AND WE NEED THE, UH, SUPPORTIVE CITIZENS.
YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING WITH KIDS, OKAY? UH, WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY INTENTIONAL.
AND THAT WAS A PART OF ONE SAFE HOUSTON, UH, THE YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE REALLY BRINGING BACK AND, AND, AND, AND GETTING STRONG AND STRONGER IN THE CITY.
UH, THE COLONY IS, IS WITH US, BUT, UH, WE NEED, UM, OUR CITIZENS, OUR CORPORATIONS TO, TO INVEST IN THE YOUTH, HELP 'EM OUT.
LET'S HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE WE WORK, WHERE WE'RE HAVING, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS WHERE THEY CAN GET MEANINGFUL, RESPECTFUL EMPLOYMENT.
THAT'S WHAT PULLS 'EM AWAY, A BETTER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
SO IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT JUST A POLICE PROBLEM.
EVERYBODY HERE KNOW IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH, IT'S A SOCIAL, UH, PROBLEM.
SO, UH, WE ALL JUST GOTTA PULL IN THERE TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO SAY.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING, NOBODY CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ALL THIS OVERTIME, MONEY GOING TO THE POLICE, THE MAYOR, AND THE, THE LEADERS OF OUR CITY MADE SURE THAT THAT WASN'T THE CASE.
LOOK, I, I WOULD, I WOULD JUST ANSWER THAT THIS FOCUS IS ON HAVING TOO MANY GUNS.
WE CAN WRITE REPORT ABOUT ALL OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON CRIME, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THERE'S A RELUCTANCE TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A PROBLEM TO HAVE MORE GUNS THAN YOU HAVE PEOPLE.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT WHEN I LEAVE HERE, IF SOMEBODY PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I'M NOT GONNA BLOW MY HORN.
I'M GONNA WAVE AND SAY, I'LL GET OUTTA THE WAY.
EVERYBODY DOESN'T THINK THAT WAY.
IT'S A PROBLEM WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY GUNS, PARTICULARLY GUNS THAT ARE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP INVESTING IN THOSE TRADITIONAL THINGS, BUT WE ARE ALSO TRYING ADDITIONAL THINGS.
AND A GUN BACK BLACK PROGRAM IS JUST A PART OF IT.
LET'S TAKE MAYBE, MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE.
UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, KIDS AND YOU MENTIONED TEENAGERS.
HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM HAPPENING BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED? YOU MENTIONED THAT A LITTLE EARLIER.
THE MAYOR AND I, UH, TALKED ABOUT IT.
BE HONEST WITH YOU, CHIEF LAST CONVERSATION, I CAN THINK WAS A SIDEBAR CONVERSATION WHEN WE WERE UNVEILING THE, THE JEWISH FLOYD STATUTE, BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THE DOTS AND, AND I TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW HOW WE CAN LEGALLY USE THE FEDERAL MONEY.
AND, UH, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I, I CAN, I CAN PUT UP THE PART FROM PRECINCT ONE, MAYBE GET REIMBURSED, MAYBE NOT, BUT I, AFTER, YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS.
AND SO THAT WAS WHY WE WANTED TO DO IT.
I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE READ IT AS, AS WELL, IT CAME OUT FROM THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, AND IT'S A ONGOING PROCESS, BUT I WANT TO GIVE THE INDICATION, UH, THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING BEFORE OUR KIDS GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
MY MY KIDS ARE IN, IN COLLEGE NOW, BUT WE WANNA SEND A SIGNAL, AND IT'S A WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN PARTICIPATE.
I HOPE THAT IF WE RUN OUTTA GIFT CARDS, PEOPLE IN HARRIS COUNTY IN LOST IN HOUSTON WILL DO WHAT PEOPLE IN LA COUNTY AND LOS ANGELES CITY DID.
THEY STAYED IN LINE, WHICH INDICATED THEY TOO SENSE HAVING MORE GUNS THAN PEOPLE IS A PROBLEM.
CHIEF, YOU WANNA ADD THAT? YEAH.
UM, WE GOT A 1 MILLION, SO, UH, I, I'M SURE IT'S A WAY, AND WE, WE GOT A FEW MORE DAYS, UH, THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN LINE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE RUN OUT GIFT CARDS.
UH, WE CAN TAKE A, WE'LL TAKE A RAIN CHECK, CHECK, GET OUT.
WE'LL, WE'LL GET, WE'LL GET THAT MONEY TO 'EM OKAY.
AND THE COUNTY WILL AT LEAST SMASH IT.
WE'LL, THANK, YOU'LL SMASH THAT ME IN.