Thursday night, Amanda Peper, a scheduler for Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), faced a terrifying ordeal when she was robbed at gunpoint in Washington, D.C. The incident occurred around 8:20 p.m. near the 1200 block of E Street NE as Peper walked to her apartment building. Armed with a handgun, the assailant demanded her purse and keys before fleeing with her belongings and car.
Sen. Britt expressed her gratitude to the police for their swift response and relief that Peper was unharmed. “We thank God that she is safe and sound after this terrifying incident, and we’re grateful to the Capitol Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department officers who quickly and professionally responded to the scene,” said Sen. Britt.
Woke politicians in DC have made even the Capitol unsafe.
Time to repeal Home Rule and send them packin’.https://t.co/46a34RJQqs
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) October 21, 2023
However, Britt didn’t mince words when addressing the crime surge in the nation’s capital. “It is infuriating and completely unacceptable that an American who is on Capitol Hill to serve her country cannot safely walk the streets of Washington, D.C. at 8:30 at night because of the out-of-control crime in this city,” she said, citing the alarming statistics from the local police department that show a 68% increase in robberies and a 102% increase in motor vehicle thefts this year.
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated event. There have been several instances of violent crime against Capitol Hill workers in recent months. In October, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was carjacked by three armed assailants. In June, a Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN) staffer was attacked but managed to escape with minor injuries. And in March, a Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) staff member was stabbed in broad daylight.
These incidents are indicative of a troubling trend. As of October 20, the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department reports a 39% increase in total violent crime this year compared to the same period in 2022, with 4,324 incidents in 2023 compared to 3,101 in 2022.
The crime wave plaguing Washington, D.C., has left many residents and workers feeling unsafe and calling for action. Sen. Britt’s statement echoed the sentiment of many when she said, “Local elected officials in the District of Columbia have the responsibility not just to their citizens, but to the country, to step up and get a hold of the crime crisis ravaging the streets of our nation’s capital.”
The incidents of violent crime on Capitol Hill serve as a stark reminder of the need for effective law enforcement and public safety measures. As the crime rate continues to climb, the pressure on local officials to take decisive action grows. The safety and security of those who work on Capitol Hill and residents and visitors to the area must be a top priority.
It is not enough to merely express outrage and frustration; concrete steps must be taken to address the root causes of this crime wave and implement strategies that will protect the public and prevent such incidents from occurring. The time for talk is over; it is time for action. The people of Washington, D.C., and the entire country deserve to feel safe in their communities and streets.
