Blue Press Journal

Tag: crime

  • The Tragic Consequences of Eliminationist Rhetoric: A Nation in Peril

    Blue Press Journal – The senseless murder of right-wing organizer Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves across the nation, and rightfully so. It is a tragic reminder that violence has no place in our political discourse. However, it is equally disturbing to note that the outrage and condemnation from the MAGA community seem to be selectively applied. When conservative figures are targeted, there is widespread outrage, but when Democratic lawmakers, schoolchildren, or other innocent lives are lost to gun violence, the response is often muted or even nonexistent.

    This dichotomy is a direct result of the “eliminationist rhetoric” perpetuated by President Donald Trump and his allies. This toxic language has created a climate where political opponents are not just deemed wrong, but evil, dangerous, and deserving of eradication. As scholars have noted, this rhetoric leaves no room for disagreement or coexistence, only destruction.

    GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s recent post on X is a perfect example of this phenomenon. While claiming to be sick of the rhetoric, she promptly blamed liberals and the media for Kirk’s murder, insisting that calling Republicans fascists “caused this.” This blatant hypocrisy is staggering, especially considering her response to the murder of a Democratic Minnesota legislator and her husband, where she blamed Gov. Tim Walz for planning to speak at an anti-Trump rally.

    In this moment, we are faced with a stark reality: the right is escalating, and the answer to disagreement cannot be to silence opposition with threats of violence. This is not democracy; it is fascism, plain and simple. Conservative activist Christopher Rufo’s demand to jail political opponents under the pretext of “chaos” is a chilling example of this trend.

    As Kirk himself admitted in 2023, “You will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry and you won’t have a single gun death. That is nonsense… But I … think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.” For Kirk, gun deaths were not a tragedy to be prevented, but a cost to be accepted. This cavalier attitude towards human life is appalling and highlights the depths of the problem we face.

    As we navigate this treacherous landscape, it is essential to remember that disagreement is not only inevitable but also necessary in a functioning democracy. However, the answer cannot be to silence opposition with violence or intimidation. We must condemn the eliminationist rhetoric that has led us to this point and work towards a more inclusive, respectful, and peaceful discourse. The future of our nation depends on it.

    Eliminationism – claims a moral purpose, holding that political opponents are ―a cancer on the body politic that must be excised—either by separation from the public at large, through censorship, or by outright extermination—in order to protect the purity of the nation.

  • The Dark Consequences of Trump’s January 6th Pardons: A Threat to Public Safety in Light of National Guard Deployments

    Blue Press Journal – On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued pardons and commutations for over 1,500 people charged or convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This move was met with widespread criticism, with many viewing it as an attempt to rewrite the history of the insurrection and a betrayal of the law enforcement officers who were assaulted that day. As it turns out, the concerns of critics have been validated, with at least 10 pardoned individuals already rearrested, charged, or sentenced for other crimes.

    According to NPR, these crimes include plotting the murder of FBI agents, child sexual assault, possession of child sexual abuse material, and reckless homicide while driving drunk. The list of offenders is disturbing, to say the least. For example, Daniel Ball, who attacked police officers with an explosive device during the insurrection, was rearrested days after Trump’s pardon for illegal gun possession, given his felony record of domestic violence and strangulation. Theodore Middendorf, who pleaded guilty to destruction of government property on January 6th, was previously sentenced to 19 years in prison for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old and remains in prison.

    As Senator Chuck Schumer noted, “These pardons are a slap in the face to the law enforcement officers who were brutally attacked on January 6th. It’s a betrayal of the trust that the American people have placed in the justice system.” The move has also been criticized by some Republicans, who point out that the pardons included many who committed violent crimes. “This is not what the American people expect from their President,” said Senator Mitt Romney. “We need to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those who break it are held accountable.”

    The rearrests of these individuals underscore the public safety threats posed by the pardoned insurrectionists. As Senator Dick Durbin stated, “The fact that these individuals have been rearrested for such heinous crimes is a clear indication that they pose a significant threat to our communities. We cannot afford to have them on our streets.” Trump’s comments on the matter have been tone-deaf, overlooking the role that the January 6 defendants’ prior criminal records played in sentencing. Federal judges take that criminal history into account when deciding a criminal defendant’s sentence, and it is clear that these individuals have a propensity for violence and lawlessness.

    The pardons handed out by President Trump have recklessly endangered the American public. The rearrests of these individuals serve as a shocking testament to the so-called “Law and Order President,” who has unleashed criminals on our streets, putting at risk the very citizens he vowed to defend. As we look ahead, his audacious threat to deploy the National Guard in American cities forces us to confront the reality that he’s released more dangerous offenders than he’s ever boasted catching about in Washington, DC.

    Sources:

    • NPR: “At Least 10 January 6th Insurrectionists Pardoned By President Trump Have Already Been Rearrested”
    • The New York Times: “Trump’s Pardons of January 6th Defendants Draw Criticism from Law Enforcement and Republicans”
    • CNN: “Trump’s Pardons of January 6th Defendants Spark Outrage and Concerns about Public Safety”

  • The Trump’s False Narrative that Democratic States have more Crime

    For years, a misguided notion has been perpetuated that Democratic states, often referred to as “blue states,” have higher crime rates than their Republican counterparts, known as “red states.” However, a closer examination of the data reveals a starkly different reality. In fact, it is clearly evident that red states have a higher crime rate than blue states. This false narrative has been exploited by Republican politicians, including President Donald Trump, to justify the expansion of authoritarian powers and the deployment of national guard troops to blue states.

    According to various sources, including Third Way, the murder rate in Trump-voting states was 33% higher than in Democratic-voting states in both 2021 and 2022. This trend is not an anomaly, as the average murder rate in red states has been 24% higher than in blue states over the period from 2000 to 2022.

    The following table highlights the disparity in murder rates between red and blue states:

    StateMurder Rate (2022)Presidential Vote (2016, 2020)
    Mississippi12.8Trump
    Louisiana12.4Trump
    Alabama12.1Trump
    New York3.4Biden
    California4.2Biden
    Massachusetts2.9Biden

    As “the data clearly indicates that the murder rate is higher in red states, and it is essential to address the root causes of this issue rather than perpetuating false narratives” . This is a critical point, as it underscores the need for policymakers to focus on evidence-based solutions rather than relying on misinformation to justify their actions.

    The fact that 8 out of the 10 states with the highest murder rates in 2022 voted for Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020 is a stark illustration of the reality of crime rates in America. Red states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama have consistently ranked among the top states with the highest murder rates for over a decade. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that Trump’s use of national guard troops and his desire to expand military powers to blue states is not only unwarranted but also misdirected. Instead, he should focus on addressing the root causes of crime in the red states that support him, as they are the ones struggling with higher crime rates.

    The notion that Democratic states have more crime is a false narrative debunked by data. It is essential to rely on facts, not misinformation, to inform policy decisions regarding crime and safety. By acknowledging actual crime rates, we can create effective solutions that benefit all communities, regardless of political affiliation.

  • Federal Takeover of DC Police Sparks Outrage and Fears of Eroding Civil Liberties

    Blue Press Journal: In a shocking move, the President of the United States has declared a state of emergency in the District of Columbia, citing a failed carjacking incident as the pretext. Despite crime rates being down significantly over the past two years and two decades, the President has announced a federal takeover of the local police, sparking widespread concern and outrage.

    The move has been met with criticism, who argue that it is an overreach of executive power and a threat to civil liberties. The fact that other cities in the United States have higher rates of violent crime has raised questions about the justification for the President’s actions. Furthermore, the Washington Post has reported that the Trump administration is considering plans to establish a “Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force” composed of hundreds of National Guard troops, which would be deployed to quell protests and unrest in American cities.

    There’s evidence suggesting that murder rates have been consistently higher in “red” states (those that voted for the Republican presidential candidates) compared to “blue” states (those that voted for the Democratic presidential candidates) in the US over the past couple of decades.

    Findings show a consistent gap, with murder rates in Trump (Republican)-voting states exceeding those in Democratic-voting states every year this century. This disparity has widened over the past two decades, from a low of 9% in 2003-2004 to a high of 44% in 2019. In both 2021 and 2022, red state murder rates were 33% higher than blue state rates, and the average red state murder rate from 2000-2022 was 24% higher than the average blue state rate. States with the highest murder rates often include red states like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. 

    The implications of this federal takeover by Trump are far-reaching and have sparked fears of a slide towards authoritarianism. The use of federal troops to quell domestic dissent would be a drastic departure from the principles of democracy and the rule of law. The fact that the President is seeking to normalize the use of military force to suppress civilian unrest has sent shockwaves through the nation’s capital.

    The President’s statement that police will be “allowed to do whatever the hell they want” to secure the streets has been particularly alarming, with many interpreting it as a tacit endorsement of police brutality. The lack of clarity on the “federal purpose” of the President’s action has also raised concerns, as the statute requires a legitimate justification for such a move.

    The United States has long been a beacon of democracy and freedom, and it is imperative that its leaders uphold these values. The question on everyone’s mind is: can it happen here? The answer, unfortunately, is that it already is. The federal takeover of the DC police is a stark reminder that the principles of democracy are not self-sustaining and require constant vigilance and defense.

    As the nation moves forward, it is essential that Americans rise to the occasion and demand that their leaders uphold the values of liberty, justice, and democracy. The alternative is a slide towards authoritarianism, and the consequences would be catastrophic. The time for hand-wringing and silence is over; it is time for Americans to come together and defend their democracy. This is 1938 Germany and we must stand for democracy and freedom!

  • Reality vs Rhetoric: Trump’s Crime False Narrative Explored

    Donald Trump positioned himself as a Law and Order candidate during his 2024 campaign, claiming that crime was rampant across the nation and asserting that only he could effectively tackle the issue. Despite being a convicted felon, he received considerable support from police unions in his bid for re-election. However, the reality was that violent crime was already on a downward trend following a spike during the COVID-19 pandemic, raising questions about the accuracy of Trump’s portrayal of crime in America.

    Now, we are left wondering what his next steps will be. The administration has recently cut approximately $500 million in grants to organizations that promote public safety, including many dedicated to preventing gun violence. In April, the U.S. Department of Justice abruptly terminated 373 grants, with a significant portion allocated for community-based violence intervention programs. These programs encompass various initiatives, from conflict resolution and de-escalation efforts to hospital-based strategies aimed at preventing retaliation among individuals who have suffered violent injuries. The termination of these grants has impacted efforts to protect children, assist victims, prevent hate crimes, and bolster law enforcement and prosecution.

    As a result of these cuts, many organizations across the country have already faced layoffs and reductions in their services. In response, five groups have filed a lawsuit on May 21 seeking to restore the grants in full.

    This situation raises the question of whether Trump is merely paying lip service to his campaign promises. His record suggests a tendency to prioritize rhetoric over tangible actions, making it difficult to take his commitments seriously to crime reduction.