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Crime, in most cases, is to be dealt with by state and local governments. The federal government, in its legislation, judicial actions, regulations, and in its executive branch activities, is interfering with the ability of the people in their communities to apprehend, judge, and penalize accused lawbreakers, it bears complete responsibility for the climate of crime, which has grown more destructive with each passing year.
I support the right of states and localities to execute criminals convicted of capital crimes and to require restitution for the victims of criminals. Federal involvement in state and local criminal justice processes should be limited to that which is Constitutionally required.
Protecting the rights and interests of victims should be the basis of our criminal justice system. Victims should have the right to be present, consulted and heard throughout the prosecution of their case.
In addition, I support doing more than just punishing criminals. I support also making them pay restitution to their victims for the damage they've caused, including property loss, medical costs, pain, and suffering. If you are the victim of a crime, the criminal should be required to fully compensate you for your loss.
All who are accused of crimes, petty to capital, shall have a trial by jury upon request, and the jury shall be fully informed of its right to nullify the law. Furthermore, I oppose defendants being charged and tried by both state and federal jurisdictions under different laws for the same alleged criminal act, thus violating the constitutionally secured prohibition against double jeopardy.
The real result of the designation of "hate crime" is to extend federal jurisdiction to crimes which would otherwise be in the province of the states, and must be abolished.
While the government testifies to the contrary, the facts prove over and over that drug prohibition has been responsible for more crime against Americans than any other influence. When our federal government implemented alcohol prohibition, the result was the most egregious of criminals and organized crime. In similar fashion, drug prohibition has given us street gangs and drive-by shootings. The evidence is clear, America's murder rate rose about 70 percent during alcohol prohibition, then returned to previous levels after prohibition ended. Wince the supposed "War on Drugs" began, America's murder rates have doubled. The cause & effect relationship of this prohibition is clear. Prohibition is putting American's lives at risk. another side-effect od drug prohibition is the inflationary cost of drugs, leading users to crime to support their drug habits. Current estimates indicate that 25% of auto thefts, 40% of assaults & robberies, and 50% of burglaries and larcenies, are committed by drug addicts. Prohibition puts our lives and property at risk.
About half of all police efforts and resources are committed to drug trafficking, instead of fighting and preventing violent crimes. The fact is, ending drug prohibition would provide us with twice the resources available for real crime prevention and decided reduce the number of violent criminals in your community.
Nearly sixty percent of federal prison inmates are incarcerated for non-violent drug-related offenses. It's clear that drug prohibition is the number one reason for prison over-crowding. For every drug offender imprisoned, one violent criminal will be released. This released criminal will then commit an average of 40 robberies, 7 assaults, 110 burglaries and 25 auto thefts. Early release of violent criminals puts you and your family at risk. It must stop.