An earmark from three state Democrats would track gunshots in North Carolina cities.
Reps. Mike McIntyre of Lumberton, G.K. Butterfield of Wilson and Bob Etheridge of Lillington have all requested federal appropriations for the SpotShotter GLS system, which uses sensors on buildings and telephone poles to detect gunshots.
The data is then used by police to rapidly track down criminals.
McIntyre asked for $950,000 for the Wilmington Police Department to buy a system, while Butterfield and Etheridge sought a similar amount for Rocky Mount.
"Agencies using ShotSpotter systems have seen gunfire related violent crime rates fall by at least 30 percent, and have a more than a 50 percent increase in gunfire arrests," Etheridge wrote in his request.
McIntyre noted local problems with gunfire.
"In 2008, Wilmington Police responded to 1374 calls for shots fired, with a notably high volume in Houston Moore housing area and The Village at Greenfield apartments, which comprise the proposed ShotSpotter coverage area," he wrote.
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