PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY
“The prioritizing of social justice over criminal justice has left the people living and working in major urban centers with criminals and gangs running the show.” – Peggy
PROBLEM: violent repeat offenders are hurting and killing people
Failure to prosecute, downward charging, and weak sentencing have emboldened violent criminals. Repeat violent crimes are rampant. Judges and attorneys should be accountable for their actions. My voting history as a state legislator is rightly readily accessible to the public but elected judges and attorney’s records are not. They should be. Voters deserve transparency so they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. Stop prioritizing offenders over public safety!
SOLUTION:
- Create a “Judicial Transparency Act” to require the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to publicly post information on judicial departures from sentencing guidelines.
- Require the Sentencing Guidelines Commission to publicly post information on judicial departures from sentencing guidelines. Do the same for prosecuting attorneys.
- Set up a process to give citizens the option to recall judges who frequently issue sentences outside the laws and guidelines established by the legislature.
PROBLEM: Gun Violence
Our current gun laws are frequently not prosecuted or pled down to a lesser crime. There are those who claim they are tough on guns, but the truth is they are not. What’s another law going to do? Nothing!
If someone commits a crime with a gun, the penalty should be significant. Just like we’re tough on drunk driving, we should be tough on gun crime. Stop penalizing law abiding gun owners and start placing the accountability where it belongs: on individuals who actually commit the violence. We don’t need more gun laws. We need to start enforcing and prosecuting the gun laws we have.
SOLUTION:
- Increased minimum sentences for repeat gun crime offenders.
- No cashless bail allowed if a gun is used while committing a crime.
- More focus on exposing judges and prosecutors who repeatedly go soft on criminals who commit gun crimes.
PROBLEM: Rampant crime
No one should fear being mugged or carjacked when driving to the grocery store or bringing their kids to the library. Minnesotans have a right to safe communities, and police should have the numbers and resources they need to do their jobs well and go home safely to their families every day. Crime requires consequences and criminals must be held accountable.
SOLUTION:
- No more defunding police. If a city chooses to receive state dollars for Local Government Aid, that city must maintain, or be in the process of meeting, an agreed upon ratio of law enforcement officers based upon population.
- Increased penalties for violent and repeat offenders
- No cashless bail for violent or repeat offenders. Data shows that repeat offenders are disproportionately responsible for violent crime.
PROBLEM: Untreated mental health issues leading to crime and homelessness.
Many of the homeless people on the streets are not there due to lack of money or housing; they are there because of mental health and substance abuse problems. Our jails are housing offenders who require mental health treatment, but no beds are available.
SOLUTION:
- More funding for mental health beds.
- Regional mental health facilities.
Make Your Voice COunt!
Your voice matters—and it can help shape the future of Minnesota. By getting involved or supporting our efforts with a contribution, you’re standing up for honest leadership, common-sense solutions, and a state that truly works for its people. Together, we can bring real change to Minnesota.