By JIM BUTLER 

Johnny Cash perhaps said it best – don’t take your guns to town, son, leave your guns at home. 

Phrased another way – don’t take anger to the streets; bad things can happen, and often do. 

Those guns, more precisely illegal guns, are a dominant factor in crime statistics shared by Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy and police officials at a public briefing. 

In the wake of a horrific weekend of violence they shared the following: 

18 separate murder cases have occurred this year in the city of about 50,000 residents, a number that counters a false impression some have or have preached; 

16 had been cleared (suspect/suspects arrested) as of briefing; 

17 of 18 cases involved firearms, the other was a stabbing; 30% were domestic; Of the other 70%, one-fifth were retaliatory, two-fifths involved suspects with past gun violation issues, two-thirds of suspects were on probation and two-thirds were out on bail on pending charges. 

Statistical demographic, victims and suspects – African-American, male, ages 22-30. 

Totals on shootings that resulted in attempted murder 2nd degree charges were not available. 

Counting crime after the fact is not what Roy and his team want. 

They reinforced commitment to community policing that builds on shared responsibility and accountability for keeping a community safe. 

Who’s looking for trouble? Who’s taking guns to town? 

Knowing before the fact can head off tragedy. That is the premise the administration is committed to.