Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has called on President Trump to implement a ban on assault rifles to combat rising crime, especially following the recent deployment of National Guard soldiers in Washington. During an appearance on CNN, Scott mentioned that the president could take simple steps to help cities like Baltimore, not just elsewhere in the country.
Scott argued that the president shouldn’t be able to legally purchase an AR-15 and emphasized the need to address issues related to “Glock switches” that allow regular firearms to function as automatic weapons. His remarks came on the heels of Trump criticizing local governance in Baltimore during a press conference about the troop deployment.
In his statements, Trump suggested that crime in cities like Baltimore and Chicago poses significant concerns for the entire country. He pointed out that these cities are often led by Democrats, which has sparked controversy. Scott, who has been proactive in highlighting Baltimore’s reduced crime rates and successful gun removal efforts, has recently engaged with various cable news platforms to discuss the importance of diverse leadership.
“What he’s doing is essentially perpetuating harmful narratives about us,” Scott remarked on another CNN segment, criticizing Trump’s approach as alignment with right-wing propaganda. He suggested that the narratives being spun are not reflective of reality.
In response, a White House spokesperson dismissed Scott’s comments, asserting that the mayor should not weigh in on the president’s actions aimed at reducing crime in the capital. The spokesperson described Baltimore as one of the most dangerous cities in America, urging focus on local crime issues instead of federal critiques.
Some analysts interpret Trump’s rhetoric as a strategy to convince the public that crime isn’t a problem in major cities, with one commentator noting that he seems to be trying to create an image of D.C. as a safe space.
