Republican Lawmakers Introduce ‘Concerned Citizens Bill of Rights Act’ to Crack Down on Crime
Republican lawmakers have introduced the “Concerned Citizens Bill of Rights Act” to increase transparency regarding crime reporting and to incentivize state and local governments to roll back cashless bail and other soft-on-crime policies.
The legislation would block Justice Department grants from going to jurisdictions that have abolished cash bail.
It would also require states and localities to report crime data to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and report policies that result in nonenforcement and/or nonprosecution of crime.
Many heavily funded far-left district attorneys have been adopting extremely soft on crime policies in the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots that called for defunding of police and being nicer to criminals. This has led to a severe uptick in crime across the nation.
The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Banks and will have an identical bill put forward in the senate by Sen. Roger Marshall.
“Cities across the nation are now plagued by violent crime because far-left officials refuse to uphold the rule of law. Every American deserves to live in a community where they feel safe and our legislation will ensure the federal government is not subsidizing and enabling the Democrats’ radical, lawless agenda,” said Rep. Banks in a statement.
Sen. Marshall shared a similar sentiment.
“Violence and disorder are sweeping the nation under President Joe Biden’s leadership. Kansans’ have seen the devastating consequences of the left’s soft on crime attitude and do not want that coming to our state” said Sen. Marshall in a statement.
“As the son of a police chief, who taught me to respect those who keep us safe, the coddling of criminals and demonization of our brave law enforcement officers is personal for me. It has gone on long enough,” Senator Marshall continued. “No Federal funds should be given to jurisdictions that push failed policies like recklessly ending cash-bail or illogically barring judges from considering a defendant’s criminal history. Americans deserve to be safe and they deserve a government that prioritizes that safety above whatever progressive agenda is being hailed by woke radicals on the internet.”
Marshall noted that “in 2020, police in Philadelphia were instructed to no longer arrest person for various crimes, included any narcotic offence, burglary, and most thefts. The following year, 2021, Philadelphia set a new all-time city high homicide record.”
Additionally, “New York City eliminated cash bail options for most crimes in 2020 and New York prevents judges from taking account the dangerousness of a defendant when making pretrial detentions decisions. During the first months of 2022, major crime was up 41%.”
“In January of 2023, the Safe-T Act goes fully in effect in Illinois which ends cash bail for most crimes included arson and second-degree murder.”
