DPD arrests of Black people for the nonviolent offense of carrying a concealed weapon have quadrupled during the pandemic while arrests of non-Black people for the same offense have decreased. Concealed carry charges are felonies that have massive impacts on lives.

Carrying a concealed weapon is a nonviolent offense that can be charged for things as minor as having a clearly visible gun that is partially covered by clothing. In the vast majority of cases, concealed carry arrests by DPD are for legally-owned guns. Concealed carry violations would be legal with a license. However, Wayne County has almost totally stopped processing concealed pistol licenses.

This shows just how much of a political institution the police are. When the police are given impunity to enforce gun control, they disproportionately target Black gun owners, most of whom did nothing wrong except a license technicality. This is racially and politically motivated criminalization of working class Black gun ownership. Stop and frisk arrests on this scale for gun carrying would never happen to people who live in wealthy areas. City Council must pressure DPD to stop these arrests and release full arrest data, and pressure Kym Worthy to drop these charges.