Hello, I'm Herb Peters Candidate for US Representative, 35^th Congressional District Primary Election scheduled June 3, 2008
A New Approach to the Solution of California's and America’s Crime Problem An approach to criminal justice and crime control that is smart, compassionate and tough. An approach that will make our streets safe again. Californian’s suffer from crimes at the following average rates: · six murders per day, · 25 forcible rapes per day, and · 2.6 thefts per minute. Despite decades of tough talk, the anti-crime policies have clearly failed. A fresh approach is needed; please check out this five-point plan for making California’s and America’s streets safe again: Step 1. Protect Victims' Rights Protecting the rights and interests of victims should be the basis of our criminal justice system. Victims should have the right to be present, consulted and heard throughout the prosecution of their case. Step 2. End Prohibition Drug prohibition does more to make us unsafe than any other factor. Just as alcohol prohibition gave us Al Capone and the mafia, drug prohibition has given us the Crips, the Bloods and drive-by shootings. Consider the historical evidence: America's murder rate rose nearly 70% during alcohol prohibition, but returned to its previous levels after prohibition ended. Now, since the War on Drugs began, America's murder rates have doubled. The cause/effect relationship is clear. Prohibition is putting innocent lives at risk. What's more, drug prohibition also inflates the cost of drugs, leading users to steal to support their high priced habits. It is estimated that drug addicts commit 25% of all auto thefts, 40% of robberies and assaults, and 50% of burglaries and larcenies. Prohibition puts your property at risk. Finally, nearly one half of all police resources are devoted to stopping drug trafficking, instead of preventing violent (real) crime. The bottom line? By ending drug prohibition we would double the resources available for crime prevention, and significantly reduce the number of violent criminals at work in your neighborhood. Step 3. Get Tough on Real Crime I believe in personal responsibility. I believe that anyone who harms another person should be held responsible for that action. But - we have created a system where criminals can get away with almost anything. For instance: sentences seldom mean what they say. Fewer than one out of every four violent felons serves more than four years. We should dramatically reduce the number of these early releases by eliminating their root cause - prison over-crowding. Since nearly six out of every ten federal prison inmates are there for non-violent drug-related offenses, it's clear that drug prohibition is the primary source of this over-crowding. It has been estimated that every drug offender imprisoned results in the release of one violent criminal, who then commits an average of 40 robberies, 7 assaults, 110 burglaries and 25 auto thefts. Early release of violent criminals puts you and your family at risk. It must stop. Step 4. Restore the Right to Self-Defense I believe that the private ownership of firearms is part of the solution to our crime epidemic, not part of the problem. Evidence: law-abiding citizens in Florida have been able to carry concealed weapons since 1987. During that time, the murder rate in Florida has declined 21% while the national murder rate has increased 12%. In addition, evidence shows that self-defense with guns is the safest response to violent crime. It results in fewer injuries to the defender (17.4% injury rate) than any other response, including not resisting at all (24.7% injury rate). I would work to repeal waiting periods, concealed carry laws, and other restrictions that make it difficult for victims to defend themselves, and end the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. Step 5. Address the Root Causes of Crime Any society that lets kids grow up dependent on government welfare, attending government schools that fail to teach, and entering an economy where government policy has crushed opportunity, will be a society that breeds criminals. No permanent solution to crime will be found until we address these root causes of crime. I would work to increase employment opportunities by slashing taxes and government red tape. I would also work to get the government out of providing welfare. We MUST HAVE A SAFETY NET! The government is incompetent to provide that safety net and I would work to get the government out of this failed system. Churches, private charities; financed by voluntary donations and private businesses should be he source of the SAFETY NET! I would work to end the welfare system with its culture of dependence and hopelessness. Most important of all, I would promote low-cost private alternatives to the failed government school system. Conclusion Respect the victim's rights. Hold all criminals responsible for their actions. Double the police resources available for crime prevention without any additional government spending. Reduce the number of criminals at large on our streets. Defend the most effective crime deterrent available, the private ownership of guns. Create jobs, end welfare dependence, and improve education. This program would help make OUR STREETS SAFE AGAIN. For more background on these issues, please visit the following: Briefing Paper I'm asking for your help to make a difference!
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