Crime

Proposed VI Office of Gun Violence Prevention Passed its First Hurdle, But Questions Remain About Cost and Duplication of VIPD Work

A bill that would create a new bureaucracy to collect data and issue regular reports on gun violence in the territory passed its first major hurdle Wednesday, receiving approval from the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, Justice, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs.  Securing adequate funding for the office is another question. The committee gave a favorable nod to Bill No. 33-0126, amending Title 3, Chapter 1 of the V.I. Code to establish the Virgin Islands Office of Gun Violence Prevention. The office would be under the auspices of the Office of the Governor. It provides for a $700,000 appropriation from the fiscal year 2020 budget. “The bill is offered for the countless lives lost to gun violence in the territory,” said sponsor Sen. Myron Jackson. “This is a comprehensive approach to address the root cause of gun violence.”  The measure lays out the overall duties, objectives, and employee responsibilities for the new department. The Office of Gun Violence Prevention will, amon...