WASHINGTON D.C. (WLS) -- More than 30 cities across the country, including Chicago, were represented in Washington D.C. Monday at a summit aimed at tackling the gun violence epidemic in America.
Monday's meeting follows another deadly weekend in Chicago, in which three people were killed and 37 others were injured in shootings. The summit was organized to help cities compare incidences of gun violence and come up with solutions as violent crime appears to be spiking across the nation.
Chicago police say while shootings are up from this time last year, overall crime is down 9 percent and McCarthy says criminals are being held accountable.
"In the city of Chicago we seize more guns then any city in the country every single year," Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said. "Three to one in comparison to Los Angeles and seven to one in comparison to New York City."
McCarthy was in D.C. representing Chicago as he met with other police chiefs to talk about how to reduce gun violence.
"Until the priorities of the criminal justice system come in line with what the policing world is doing this is going to continue," McCarthy said.
For the first time, the summit invited mayors and prosecutors to take part, including Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.
"It's also disheartening to know that so many of our major cities, including Chicago, have experienced this spike and experience the violent crime. We as prosecutors know that we cannot cure everything," Alvarez said in a press conference about the summit.
Among the topics on the agenda were gun control and the prevalence of synthetic drugs, but at the top of the list was addressing the challenges posed by repeat violent gun offenders.
Police chiefs are calling for the issue to be addressed at a federal level, not just a local one.
"We had this meeting as an urgent summit because we felt the sense of urgency because people are dying," said Washington D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier.
The chiefs involved in the summit also want to see increased penalties for people using high powered magazines in shootings and another National Crime Commission to look at the entire criminal justice system. The last time a study was done was in the late 1960's.