2022 State of America’s Safety

2022 State of America

The State of America’s Safety – No Law and No Order

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Joe Biden will deliver the 2022 State of the Union Address tomorrow. The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) continues its “2022 State of America” series today, focusing on the devastating effects of soft-on-crime policies and dangerous rhetoric denigrating law enforcement, which have unleashed a crime wave across the country.

“Americans deserve to live in safe communities,” said Matthew Whitaker, Co-Chairman of the Center for Law and Justice (CLJ). “Liberal policies have allowed crime to run rampant and for criminals to rule the streets. Throughout this administration, we have seen the results of dangerous rhetoric that have created policies emboldening criminals and straining law enforcement.”

By the Numbers:

12 major cities, including notable ones listed below, broke annual homicide rates this past year. Many worked to defund their police:

$15 million cut from Washington, D.C.’s police department

15% increase in homicides in 2021 from 2020

$16 million cut from Portland’s police department

                        63% increase in homicides in 2021 from 2020

$33 million cut from Philadelphia’s police department

                        11% increase in homicides in 2021 from 2020

$120 million cut from San Francisco’s police department

                        16% increase in homicides in 2021 from 2020

$150 million from Los Angeles’ police department

                        12% increase in homicides in 2021 from 2020

$1 billion cut from New York’s police department

                        52% increase in homicides in 2021 from 2019

Pam Bondi, Co-Chairman of the Center for Law and Justice, also stated, “Fortunately, many cities have begun to reverse course and have halted their efforts to eliminate law enforcement. But so much of this was avoidable, and many people who have suffered did not have to.” Bondi commented on the state of the border, “Human trafficking is not being addressed by this administration. Not only have they not prioritized the issue like the Trump Administration, but they have exacerbated it through open borders policies.” 

Among the founding pillars of the America First Policy Institute are law and order. AFPI’s CLJ team strives to advance the rule of law and freedom, the bedrocks of our Republic.

More information about the Center for Law and Justice’s policy proposals may be found here.