In the land of liberal cities plagued by skyrocketing crime rates, President Trump is proving once again that a strong stance against crime works. While ongoing debates rage about policing and its role, numbers out of Washington, D.C. tell an entirely different story. Crimes related to property are down 20%, while violent crimes, often involving robbery, are down by a staggering 60%. Homicides have plummeted by 71% this year over the same two-week period compared to last year. Assaults with dangerous weapons are also seeing a decline. But you wouldn’t know it if you listened to the critics from the Democratic side of the aisle. They are too busy with hyperbolic comparisons and historical inaccuracies to acknowledge the progress made through effective policing.
There is a certain irony in Democrats’ response to increased law enforcement efforts. It’s almost as if, instead of celebrating fewer victims and safer communities, some politicians choose to raise the specter of fascism and militarization. To hear them tell it, sending additional police onto the streets somehow equals tyranny. But could it be that their definition of tyranny is a bit selective? After all, residents in cities like Oakland, where crime is out of control, might say the real tyranny is the constant fear of violent crime and theft washing over their communities.
In places like Oakland, California—recently labeled the second most dangerous city in the U.S.—and Boston, where homicides have surged by 67% compared to previous years, the consequences of lax policies are undeniable. Motor vehicle theft in Chicago has increased by 78% over a few years. Yet the Democrats running these cities continue to downplay the problem. Meanwhile, Republican policymakers and leaders like Riverside County’s Sheriff Chad Bianco are stressing what all should already know: more police presence can reduce crime, and ignoring this truth is akin to denying a basic principle of law and order.
It’s baffling to consider how some politicians speak about policing like it’s a criminal act in itself. Law enforcement personnel face a tough job as it stands, made nearly impossible by the rhetoric suggesting their efforts are oppressive. Yet everyday officers keep communities from descending into chaos. Thankfully, in places like California, there’s been a shift in public sentiment, with residents increasingly vocal in their support for law enforcement. They are waking up to the notion that robust police presence is not a threat—it’s a safeguard against actual threats.
In a time when political leaders should be rallying to address the surge in crime, many seem more interested in ideological battles than practical solutions. Calling everything they disagree with “fascist” does little more than distract from their own policy shortcomings. It’s high time these leaders acknowledge what their constituents crave: safer streets and a return to common sense on crime. The rest of America, watching places like Oakland and San Francisco, wonders if and when these cities will also welcome the change they so desperately need. And perhaps, just perhaps, it’s a lesson that could resonate across the nation if more people would only dare to listen.
