They used the Bill Clinton approach: redefine the English language.  From the Washington Times:

When is a gang not a gang? When it’s based in the District.

D.C. officials insist on describing groups of young males as “crews,” rather than gangs, even when they are held responsible for violent acts such as the wave of killings in the city last weekend. But police officials in other cities say the distinction is counterproductive.

“The very first step in dealing with gangs is denial,” said Capt. Charles Bloom of the Philadelphia Police Department. “Then you get to the point that you can’t deny it any more.”

D.C. police, lawmakers and community activists say the groups are not gangs because their members are mostly teens who band together for personal protection. That, they say, distinguished them from conventional gangs, which are created for a criminal enterprise such as drug dealing.

I don’t know why I never thought of that!  From now on, I won’t be paying any of my bills.  Why not?  Because I’m going to call them “letters of monetary solicitation”, that’s why!  Hot dang, I’m 100% debt-free now!

Exit question: Since Washington, D.C.’s gun ban is about to be overturned by the Supreme Court, can D.C. wipe out gun violence by redefining guns (e.g. “metal projectile dispensers”)?  “How many gun deaths did you have, D.C.?” “None!”

Liberal mecca Washington, D.C., is all about Big Government and economic ignorance, and stories like this just emphasize that fact.  From WJLA:

Three streetcars purchased by the District of Columbia for about $10 million are being held in the Czech Republic until the city builds tracks for the cars.

D.C. Department of Transportation Director Emeka Moneme say that although the streetcars were purchased three years ago, there is no timetable for when a rail line will be built.

Moneme says he would like to have the streetcars in D.C. this summer. Plans call for the cars to run from Bolling Air Force Base in southeast Washington to the Anacostia Metro Station.

The streetcars are being maintained by Skoda-Inekon, a company that manufactures streetcars in the Czech Republic.

“We have NO idea if or when a rail line will be built.  Hey, I’ve got a great idea!  Let’s pilfer $10 million of the taxpayers’ money to buy a streetcar that won’t be running on anything!”  Friggin’ brilliant.  What, did Marion Barry come up with that crackpot (pun intended) idea?

Police: “Hey, can we come in and take your guns and drugs?  We won’t arrest you.  Scout’s honor!”  I’m sure that’s about as effective as a fart in a tornado.  Considering that the district is about to have their gun ban overturned by the Supreme Court, it seems clear that DC is hoping to clear out as many soon-to-be-lawful guns as possible, out of blind fear that the residents may actually exercise their Second Amendment rights.  Anywho, from DC:

D.C. police are going door-to-door Monday in one of the city’s crime-plagued neighborhoods, asking residents for permission to search their homes for guns and other illegal contraband.

The program, called the Safe Homes Initiative, will offer homeowners and renters limited amnesty for possessing any contraband found by police.

The program is aimed at removing guns and drugs kept by children and young adults in their parents’ homes. The homeowners will be asked to sign a form, consenting to the search…

Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry supports the initiative’s aims, but has some problems with it.

“I don’t understand it. In fact we will fight against it until we find out what will be the end point,” says Barry. “That’s a parental responsibility. Not the government’s responsibility to know what kids are doing, when they come home, who their friends are and what they have in the house.” 

It’s a sad state of affairs when you have a convicted crackhead making the most sense in this situation.

Hat tip to Michelle Malkin. Just how effective is D.C.’s total gun ban (which, by the way, was recently ruled unconstitutional by a federal court)? It’s so effective that their deputy mayor for education was held up by two armed (i.e. with guns) robbers. Details here.

The NRA rubs salt in the wound by accurately observing the following:

Just how worthless is Washington, D.C.’s gun ban? It’s so bad in our nation’s capitol that a deputy mayor was recently robbed at gunpoint.

Victor Reinoso is lucky to be alive today, but do you think he’ll be speaking out about the pointlessness of D.C.’s gun ban? Not if he wants to keep his job, he won’t.

Criminals don’t care about gun laws … anymore than they care about D.C.’s complete gun ban.

Ultimately, Victor Reinoso’s robbery probably won’t mean much when it comes to public policy in Washington, D.C. After all, they’ve already stuck with the ban for 30 years- what’s one more innocent victim?

Ouch.