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Op-Ed: U.S. natural gas is critical to
strengthening America’s national security
[The Center Square] William Haupt III
"Blessed are the peacekeepers, for they shall be called
the children of God." – Matthew 5:9
In the wake of last year's civil unrest riots and
violent public protests, local and federal progressives orchestrated a
year long anti-police campaign. Morbid hostility toward police left law
enforcement demoralized, debilitated, and many defunded. Even the most
virtuous officers now feel pressure to "pull back" since doing their job
or defending themselves could get them sued, jailed, fired or killed. |
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 Throughout America, liberal prosecutors sent petulant messages
to police. If you make an arrest for a violent crime that is plea bargained
down, or thrown out of court, those officers involved will face disciplinary
action, including criminal prosecution. To mitigate these risks, police officers
have gone into self-protect mode. This has resulted in the largest increase in
violent crime in American history.
The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project (ACLED) is a
non-partisan monitor of protests and violence in the Middle East, Asia, Europe
and Latin America. In July last year, they launched a U.S. Crisis Monitor to
track the rapid increase in the U.S. hate crimes and violent political protests.
Last years BLM and Antifa protests resulted in 574 riots with $2 billion in
arson and looting. At least 25 people died and 2,500 police officers were
injured. When liberal prosecutors in Portland and New York City dismissed most
charges against rioters and looters, other liberal states followed. After years
of declining crime, the U.S. is headed back to the 1970s when a crime wave
gripped the nation for three decades.
"Why the cops play by the rules when we criminals don't is so stupid." – Charles
Manson
After the George Floyd violent protests and resulting riots, Minneapolis shifted
$8 million of the police budget to programs focused on community mental health
and violence prevention. Soon afterward, an unprecedented number of officers
retired, quit or went on extended medical leave.
According to data released by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, by the
end of last year, violent crime surged over 17% across the state of Minnesota.
That state recorded 185 murders, up 58% from the previous year. They saw a 55%
increase in arson over the previous year. And amid a surge in violent car-jackings,
motor vehicle thefts rose over 20% to 13,662 – the most since 2005.
In response to violent anti-police riots and looting, Portland, Oregon, cut
their police budget by 4%. They ordered police to avoid conflicts with activists
and not to respond to any misdemeanor crimes. Last year Portland, police records
show homicides increased 530% and crime skyrocketed 680%.
In 2021, St. Louis hit a 50-year homicide high rate of 87 per
100,000 residents. That is three times higher than any nation in Central
America. When Milwaukee slashed 120 officers from its force, the city saw a 98%
increase in killings. After the ACLU convinced a Chicago judge to limit the
police’s ability to stop suspects for reasonable cause, killings jumped 58% when
routine street stops fell 82%.
“This was not a crime wave. This was a tsunami of lethal violence!" – Philip
Cook, Duke criminologist
According to the National Crime Data Base, the rapid increase in crime across
America correlates precisely with the violent George Floyd protests. Violent
crime continued to mushroom with police trying to control the largest violent
protests in American history. They were forced to curtail normal policing also
in response to liberal political pressure, which empowered criminals across the
U.S.
Late last month, the National Fraternal Order of Police revealed a graphic
showing that the largest increases in the homicide rate in 2021 were in
Portland, Oregon, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia and
Washington, D.C. – all cities currently led by progressive Democrats.
"Leadership in these cities turned the keys over to the 'Defund the Police'
mob." – Lt. Allen Logan
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The intersection where George Floyd met his demise
has become an enclave for mayhem. Many delivery drivers, postal
workers and service workers refuse to go there due to regular gun
battles.
On the anniversary of the death of George Floyd, dozens of gunshots
rang out in the middle of the day at "George Floyd Square" in
Minneapolis, forcing reporters and bystanders to duck for cover.
Donald Trump made law and order a defining issue in
2020. But progressive politicians denounced his efforts and
exploited the violent George Floyd rioting for political gain. By
Election Day, 13 members on Biden’s staff and running mate Kamala
Harris had donated money to bail rioters and looters out of jail.
"If you can chip in to help bail these people out, please do so
now." – Kamala Harris
After a year of increased violent crime, Democrats can no longer
blame Donald Trump for violence in Democratic-run cities. They can't
blame him for defunding police forces and the low moral and cutbacks
on policing caused by continual activist and progressive criticism
of law enforcement.
Recently when asked what Biden is doing to address this epic
increase in violent crime, Press Secretary Jen Psaki evasively
responded: "We are looking into better federal gun control now."
With midterms around the corner, Democrats will be facing a problem
they created themselves by allying with leftist activists and
radical members of ethnic identity groups who blame their failure to
succeed on systematic racism. These are the same people that
demanded they defund the police.
"Suck it up! Defunding the police has to happen. Let's defund the
police now!" – Cori Bysh, D-MO
Attorney Robert Zoellick told us, "Our biggest sin is not learning
from our mistakes." Progressives fueled this crime wave from
government soapboxes and many are still chastising the police while
their own districts are riddled with violent crime. Sticking with
this toxic agenda will be a hard-sell to Americans who enjoyed
decades of declining crime and were safe in their streets and their
towns.
Black Lives Matter is rapidly losing support, and
trust in the police is increasing. The increase in violent crime is
now a central issue for the first time since the 1970s. Having safe
streets are an uncompromising expectation from all voters. That's
why Ronald Reagan's "responsible law and order" promise to America
in 1984 delivered him the highest number of electoral votes in
history.
Author Irving Kristol wrote, "A neoconservative is a liberal who has
been mugged by reality." If progressive politicians don't wake up
and admit they "blew it" by attacking the police and blaming them
for every problem that their liberal identity groups have, then they
will be dodging bullets in their own districts from gangsters – as
well as voters while campaigning for reelection this year.
The most salient issue law-abiding citizens want is a fiscally
responsible nation that is a safe place to live.
"When people live in fear and don't dare go out at night, there is
something wrong with our politicians or police departments. One has
to be replaced. I say the politicians." – Tony Blair
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