’First Step’ to More Crime and Criminals in America

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute.

Yesterday, President Trump signaled that he would sign a so-called “First Step” criminal justice reform bill that would reduce penalties for certain crimes and shorten sentences for some felons who have perpetrated them.

The question that occurs is: First step towards what?

The more honest of this legislation’s proponents state the obvious: They intend soon to pursue further changes in the criminal code that will put still more hardened criminals back on our streets. Others, though, insist that the first step will be the last one.  

Given the stakes for public safety, any such legislative overhaul should be subjected to close scrutiny and rigorous debate. But, the First Step bill is instead being hastily blown through Congress during the lame-duck session.  If that happens, it will likely be the first step towards a much less safe America and real peril for her people.

This is Frank Gaffney.