Last week, the House passed two important bills to get tough on crime right here in Washington, D.C. For too long, the nation’s capital has been run by soft-on-crime politicians who seem more concerned with protecting criminals than protecting American families.
These new bills take a step toward bringing the same brand of common sense, tough on crime policy found in Alabama to Washington.
The first measure, the DC CRIMES Act, lowers the age for “youth offender” status from 24 down to 18. That means if you’re a 20-year-old carjacker, you don’t get treated like a child – you get treated like the adult criminal you are.
The bill also requires the D.C. Attorney General to publish crime data online so citizens can finally see the truth about what’s happening in their neighborhoods.
The second, the D.C. Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act, says that if you’re 14 years old and commit violent crimes like murder, armed robbery, or first-degree sexual abuse, you can be tried as an adult.
Actions have consequences, and no community can survive if repeat violent offenders are back on the street the next day.
That’s how we do it in Alabama. We back the blue, we hold criminals accountable, and we put victims first.
Senator Tommy Tuberville recently said he would welcome the National Guard to Alabama cities if that’s what it took to keep our people safe. That’s not because Alabama is lawless – it’s because we refuse to let it become lawless. Folks in Washington can learn a lot from that mindset.
This is exactly the kind of leadership President Trump has called for.
Since he brought the National Guard to D.C., violent crime has fallen, police finally have the resources and backing they needed to do their job, and law-abiding citizens – not criminals – are the priority.
It’s no wonder local businesses in Memphis are already voicing support for his decision to send the National Guard there next.
If D.C. officials want to continue to have safer streets, they need to start taking cues from Alabama. I will continue to support policies that ensure our Nation’s capital becomes a safer place to live and visit.
Whether you are walking the streets of Mobile or the National Mall, every American deserves to enjoy their community without fear.
Barry Moore serves as the U.S. Representative for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District. First elected to the U.S. House in 2020, he served for two terms as Alabama’s 2nd District Congressional representative. He is a former state legislator, businessman, and U.S. Army National Guard veteran. He is also a candidate for U.S. Senate in the 2026 Alabama Republican Party primary election.
