Women Need a Law and Order Leader
By Caroline Melear
In response to the election of Donald Trump in 2016, the Democratic party has rapidly moved further to the Left. Ideas that at one time would have been considered outlandish are now mainstream: packing the Supreme Court, The Green New Deal, reparations for slavery, and medicare for illegal immigrants, to name a few. But one proposal has stood out above others as particularly radical: the movement to Defund the Police.
Weeks of violent riots and civil unrest took over many of America's major cities this summer, and Americans looked on in horror as businesses were looted and set on fire, and livelihoods were destroyed. Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden's stance on the movement has been entirely unclear. When initially asked if he thought funds should be redirected away from police, Joe Biden responded, "yes." Listening to legacy media sources, you would believe the opposite was true. Watching them work overtime to cover for Biden's inconsistency on the issue shows just how incredibly unpopular the idea of defunding the police really is. 86% of Americans want the police presence in their neighborhoods to stay the same or increase. A whopping 81% of Black Americans feel the same way. Shockingly, Black Lives Matter still lists defunding the police as one of their top goals despite Black Americans being largely against it. The Women's March similarly promotes the idea for reasons that appear to be unrelated to women's wellbeing. In New York City, where defunding the police has become a reality to the tune of $1 billion in cuts, residents have seen a 166% increase in shootings year over year and a 47% increase in murders. Other cities that have followed suit have seen similar results.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator and Vice Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris encouraged her supporters to chip into the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a group paying bail fees for Minneapolis rioters, many of whom stand accused of committing violent crimes and destroying minority neighborhoods and businesses. More than a dozen Biden staffers boasted on social media about their donations to the organization. In September, Harris met with Jacob Blake, a man accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend in front of her young child. Senator Harris proceeded to tell him she was "proud of him." Rational minds can debate the officer's handling of Blake's detainment, and the legal system will do its job to correctly decipher the events leading up to Mr. Blake's shooting. However, it is an insult to assault victims across the country to have the Democratic party's female leader sympathize with an abuser- regardless of the circumstance.
The calls from the Left to Defund the Police, and the increasingly socially acceptable attitude of hatred and disdain for police officers, should be concerning to all Americans, especially relating to women. Women are at a greater risk of being victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, and younger; lower-income women are especially vulnerable. Although considered controversial in today's world, the reality is that women are less physically capable of protecting themselves than men. As a country, we should never stop working to improve our population's safety, but recognizing that evil will always exist, we must be rational. This is not an attempt to equate women with helplessness. We must remain vigilant, self-assured, and trusting of our instincts, as well as taking reasonable precautions to protect ourselves. But police are frequently the first and sometimes the only line of defense for the vulnerable. Women in the United States are more likely than men to initiate contact with police officers, and young women, elderly women, low-income women, single mothers, and children are all vulnerable populations at risk of domestic violence, sexual assault, burglary, home invasion, and sex trafficking. Simply stated: Women need law enforcement, and elected officials that reduce police presence not only go against the will of the people but put their lives in danger. Police maintain order and keep our communities safe. It is vital to women and their families' safety and wellbeing to have a pro-law enforcement leader willing to enforce the law.
President Donald Trump has consistently been a law and order leader. He has the National Association of Police Organizations' backing, whose President called Biden/Harris "the most radical anti-police ticket in history." This is no small endorsement- NAPO represents over 1,000 police units and associations nationwide and endorsed Obama/Biden in 2008 and 2012. Law Enforcement Today, an opinion website for law enforcement officials, made its first-ever Presidential endorsement by backing President Trump's reelection. Many other groups including the New York City Police Benevolent Association and national Fraternal Order of Police, have changed course after years of backing Democrats to endorse Trump in 2020. Law enforcement officials across the country feel abandoned, betrayed, and even hated by many in Democratic party leadership. They are making sure the people they have sworn to protect and serve are well aware.
This is not to suggest that policing in the United States is perfect. There are many examples of abuse of power and unnecessary violence in law enforcement, and mutual respect between citizens and police officers is vital. President Trump and the Republican party are well aware of this. Senator Tim Scott worked rapidly after the death of George Floyd to draft a police reform bill in June, which was ultimately filibustered by Senate Democrats. Once again, an opportunity to come together for the American people's benefit was squandered by the Left. Just days after the bill's failure, President Trump acted swiftly by signing an Executive Order on police reform to address de-escalation training and reduce unnecessary uses of force, as well as banning chokeholds unless an officer's life is in danger. Legacy media largely ignored both acts.
In response to the ramped-up anti-police rhetoric on the Left, police chiefs and officers across the country have resigned or retired early. Coupled with calls to defund, this has led and will continue to lead to a decrease in law enforcement presence in cities across the United States. This will worsen conditions for lower-income Americans and make life more dangerous for the vulnerable. The wealthy and elite can flee these communities, decreasing property values, and more despair for low-income communities who become trapped in increasingly dangerous cities. Women across America must support the safety of their communities, families, and themselves, and support those leaders who are willing to stand up and commit to being pro-law enforcement.
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