We Need a Solution to Violent Crime
Today’s shooting at Weather Tech warehouse is a tragedy. I pray for the victims and their families as they are going through this difficult time. Violent crime, such as this shooting, is an all to common occurrence in our communities here in the great state of Illinois and we are all effected by it. I want to fight to reduce violent crime in our state and make it a safer place to live. I am not going to promise an end to violent crime that is an impossible promise to keep. I am going to explain how I will help reduce violent crime in our state when I am elected as house representative of district 85.
I want to support policy that is support by research. I also want that research to be of high quality so I know that what i am doing is actually going to help. Often this means looking to how the research was done and how the data that they used is collected. This is a time consuming process but one that is important if we are going to get real solutions to the problems facing our communities. While much talk is devoted to gun control and how this will save us from violent crime the research doesn’t back this up. Much of the research sited to support these policy positions have many flaws that make their finding suspect and unreliable to truly bring about a reduction in violent crime. The research that has the best data show that stand your ground laws reduce violent crime. In my opinion this makes sense, very few people are going to risk attacking someone if the state has made it clear that people are allowed to defend themselves. It also helps law abiding citizens know exactly in what situations the state approves of exercising their right to self defense. Will this stop all violent crime, no, but I will feel much better about my wife walking the streets at night knowing she will have the means and a clear right to defend herself against anyone who would use violence against her.
Here is a link to the research that backs this policy position.
