Democrats destroy everything they touch. You’ve heard me say it before because it’s true. Livelihoods, lives, all grist for the political mill. And the summer of protests to defund the police were no different. While Dems were rushing to defund the police, US cities saw an unprecedented 30% spike in homicides.
Related: Ruling: Minneapolis Residents Don’t Have to Get Shot to Sue City for Lack of Policing
Last year, cities across the country suffered from what I will call the Great 2020 Homicide Spike. Homicide rates were 30% higher than in 2019—an historic increase representing more than 1,268 additional murders (in a sample of 34 cities), according to an important new report released today by Professor Richard Rosenfeld and two colleagues. The new Rosenfeld report explains that this is a “large and troubling increase that has no modern precedent.” The previous largest single-year increase in the United States was 12.7%, back in 1968.
Some folks want to blame covid, but that seems a bit odd to me. An as yet underreported spike in suicides, perhaps but homicides?
What factors might contribute to a 30% spike in homicides? How about the increased opportunity to get away with murder?
Literally.
And that seems to be the case.
Regardless of what you may think about policing’s modern role, and there is ample room for debate, pulling back funding and presence in high crime areas has resulted in higher crime. Even Minneapolis, which tossed its force under the bus and rapidly voted for defunding, discovered the error of its ways, too late, and at the cost of lives and livelihoods.
Exactly what we claim Democrats do.
Paul Cassell has the detailed breakdown here if you want to get into the weeds, and I suggest you do. It is worth the time.
