September 14, 2023
In recent times, there has been a concerted effort by some political groups and media outlets to paint a picture that the surge in violent crime is a problem rooted in Republican-controlled states. This narrative is not only misleading but also a disservice to the American people who deserve to know the truth. Here at Texas Gun Rights, we believe in presenting facts, and the fact is that the spike in violent crime is predominantly a problem in Democrat-controlled cities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), New Hampshire, a pro-Second Amendment state with Republican governance, had the lowest homicide rate in the nation in 2020 and 2021. On the flip side, states like New York and California, which are often lauded by gun control advocates like Everytown for Gun Safety, had homicide rates that were 5 to 7 times higher than New Hampshire’s.
Marc A. Thiessen of the American Enterprise Institute has pointed out that the high murder rates in red states are primarily driven by lethal violence in their blue cities. Take Missouri, for example. While it is a red state, it is home to two of the most dangerous U.S. cities—St. Louis and Kansas City—both of which are run by Democrats. The vast majority of homicides in Missouri occur in these Democrat-controlled cities.
It’s worth noting that many of these cities have prosecutors who have received significant support from billionaire George Soros. Soros has been actively involved in reshaping the U.S. criminal justice system by electing activist prosecutors. These prosecutors often implement policies that are soft on crime, contributing to the rise in violent criminal activities.
A recent report from the Heritage Foundation titled “The Blue City Murder Problem” found that 27 of the 30 cities with the highest homicide rates in the nation have Democratic mayors. The report also highlighted the impact of removing high-crime, Democrat-dominated cities from state statistics. For instance, removing St. Louis City and St. Louis County from Missouri’s statistics would drop the state’s homicide ranking from fifth to 20th in the nation.
It’s crucial to look beyond political narratives and focus on the data. The surge in violent crime is not a red state issue; it’s a crisis occurring in Democrat-controlled cities. As defenders of the Second Amendment and advocates for responsible governance, we at Texas Gun Rights urge everyone to scrutinize the facts before jumping to conclusions.
