Today, the Republican Governors Association launched the third video in its Red State Recovery series highlighting Republican governors’ efforts to combat rises in crime across the nation and support law enforcement as Democrats pushed to defund the police and release criminals back onto the street.
Republican governors quickly took action following the outbreak of crime during and after the pandemic by strongly supporting local law enforcement and ensuring they had the resources needed to protect their communities. Yet, Democrats deemphasized the role of law enforcement and continued supporting soft on crime policies, which led to sharp increases in crime in Democrat-led cities and states.
Today’s installment features Governors Brian Kemp (GA), Greg Abbott (TX), Mike Dunleavy (AK), Tate Reeves (MS), and Kim Reynolds (IA).
“Americans can see a clear contrast between the Democrats’ soft on crime policies and defund the police rhetoric and the Republican governors who want to fund law enforcement and keep their states safe,” said RGA Communications Director Jesse Hunt. “Part of why the Red State Recovery has been so successful is because Republican governors have continually fought for law and order and ensured the individuals and small businesses that call their states home can feel safe.”
While Democrats have supported defunding the police and soft on crime policies, Republican governors took action to protect and secure their states from criminals and stood with law enforcement officers to keep communities safe. pic.twitter.com/PPo0iA8lIR
— The RGA (@GOPGovs) August 18, 2022
Transcript
Governor Brian Kemp: “When you can’t send your kids to pump gas or go to the mall or people are getting shot when they are walking down the sidewalk or stabbed when they’re walking in the neighborhood park. People are very frustrated.”
Governor Greg Abbott: “In communities across the country like in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, so many other places, is this remarkable, incredible outbreak of crime.”
Governor Mike Dunleavy: “With some dismay over the past year and a half to two years we watched as some of our great cities have been allowed to burn or be looted. All kinds of criminal activities happening.”
Abbott: “And you typically see where these crimes are taking place, there has been a de-emphasis of the role that law enforcement plays. It could be defunding law enforcement; it could be a reduction in law enforcement.”
Governor Tate Reeves: “There is no doubt that the defund the police movement certainly gave criminals more and more incentives to get out and do what they do, which is wreak havoc.”
Abbott: “One of the most important things in our country, as well as in our states, is public safety. If people don’t feel safe in their homes or their communities, they cannot operate and function the way they need to.”
Kemp: “And the whole defund the police movement, the whole get out of jail free movement by the Democrats is not working around the country and is something they have been talking about well over a year ago.”
Abbott: “That’s why in Texas I signed a law to make sure that our law enforcement will not be defunded because we support our law enforcement officers.”
Reeves: “We’re trying to not defund the police, but increase funding.”
Governor Kim Reynolds: “We’re keeping our communities safe by backing our law enforcement.”
Dunleavy: “We support our police. We support our corrections officers.”
Reeves: “We are committed to making sure that there is a law enforcement presence.”
Reynolds: “Americans are paying attention. They recognize the stark contrast between Republican leadership and the failed policies that are coming out of Democratic governors that are leading in states across this country.”
