Kerby Anderson

Amy Swearer is a legal fellow with the Heritage Foundation and has been testifying in Congress about crime and gun violence. She has been challenging progressive policies that begin with the assumption that the increase in crime is due to guns. She identifies four major reasons for the crime increase.

Refusing to prosecute and punish violent offenders is her first reason. She explains that most violent crimes (including crimes involving firearms) are perpetrated by a small and predictable number of offenders. One very effective way of combating violent crime is to focus on deterring and incapacitating these serial offenders.

A second reason for crime increase is due to releasing violent offenders under ill-conceived bail-reform policies. These changes in policy affect which criminal defendants will be released back into society while awaiting trial. Increasing the percentage of offenders eligible for pre-trial release endangers society.

Demoralizing and defunding police departments is also a significant reason for crime increase. Americans are significantly under-policed, especially in urban areas where many of the crimes take place. Changing regulations also hamstring law enforcement officers trying to do their job in the community.

A final reason for the crime increase has been the imposition of significant burdens on the Second Amendment rights of citizens. Progressive gun control restrictions prevent law-abiding citizens from being able to defend themselves. Almost every major study on the issue has concluded that Americans use their firearms to defend themselves and others between 500,000 and several million times a year.

Any serious debate and discussion about crime and gun violence needs to consider these four reasons for the crime increase.