Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has voiced her concern about the violence in Baltimore while praising the police department.
“One of the things I am grateful to the Baltimore city police department for is increasing their closure rate around this criminal activity. That sends a message to those out there that are committing these crimes, that we will do everything we can to solve these murders and to solve this kind of criminal behavior," said Pugh.
So far this year, there have been 178 homicides. Baltimore is on track to reach 340 for the year which is 22 more than last year’s total.
The city is also on pace to be even with 2015, which saw 344 homicides, the worst year in Baltimore since 1993.
Next January police commissioner Kevin Davis and Pugh will go to the general assembly with what the mayor is calling emergency legislation.
They will be asking lawmakers to make carrying an illegal gun in the city a felony.
