Lawler, GOP Continue to Scare Voters About Crime Despite Falling Rates
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
This came to mind when reading Congressman Mike Lawler’s recent newsletter. He cited a Siena College poll finding that 61 percent of New Yorkers are worried about becoming victims of crime. I have no reason to doubt the integrity of the poll, but the findings are curious given that all the available data show that the crime rate, which has always been well below the national average in our congressional district, has been going down. It’s down in Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. It’s even down in New York City. So why do so many New Yorkers feel afraid?
Fear mongering about crime was a major talking point among GOP candidates last year, and Mike Lawler was no exception. Hype crime, cast blame (without evidence) on bail reform, pledge to support the police. Rinse and repeat. After enough robo calls and mailers telling us to be afraid, people start to believe it.
Rep. Lawler’s newsletter went on to say that in response to this great crime scourge that has people living in fear, he is proud to co-sponsor a bill that will remedy the situation. In other words, create a problem and then come to the rescue.
If Rep. Lawler were actually concerned about public safety, he would sponsor legislation to ban assault weapons. Guns are now the number one cause of death for children in this country. Now, that’s something to be afraid of.
Celeste Theis
Croton-on-Hudson
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