Senators to Hold Hearings On Baltimore Homicides As City Set to Surpass New York
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Wcbm
State lawmakers are holding a marathon hearing Tuesday on Baltimore’s gun violence, the launch of what could be a months-long debate on how the General Assembly could help.
Baltimore’s per-capita homicide rate is on pace to break records for the third year in a row. In response, state senators have scheduled hours of testimony Tuesday, when they will hear from Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, Police Chief Kevin Davis, schools CEO Sonja Santelises, health officials, state law enforcement, child advocates, public defenders, religious leaders and nearly two dozen others.
The public is also invited to attend and offer ideas. Leaders expect the session to go late into the night.
“The degree of violence has gotten outrageous,” said Sen. Bobby Zirkin, chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, which convened the 1 p.m. hearing in Annapolis. “Any violence is too much, but this is out of control. We’re going to be looking at solutions, short-term and long-term.”
