Attorney General Jeff Sessions Wednesday laid out an aggressive campaign to curb a “dangerous new trend” upward in violent crime by vowing to jail criminals who use guns and end the nation’s “fashionable” acceptance of legalizing marijuana.
In Richmond, Va., where the city’s success fighting violence is in jeopardy, the nation’s top prosecutor also expressed strong support for police and pledged to help restore respect for the men and women in blue.
At an event focused on violent crime, Sessions said that a decade-long drop in murder and violence has turned into a spike up over the last two years. For example, the murder rate has jumped 10 percent, the largest increase since 1968.
“My fear is that this surge in violent crime is not a ‘blip,’ but the start of a dangerous new trend. I worry that we risk losing the hard-won gains that have made America a safer and more prosperous place,” said the former Alabama senator and federal prosecutor.
His cure is strong medicine, including a pledge to reverse course on marijuana legalization which he said feeds the drug crisis in many cities and towns.
“I realize this may be an unfashionable belief in a time of growing tolerance of drug use. But too many lives are at stake to worry about being fashionable. I reject the idea that America will be a better place if marijuana is sold in every corner store,” he said in his prepared remarks.
“I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana — so people can trade one life-wrecking dependency for another that’s only slightly less awful. Our nation needs to say clearly once again that using drugs will destroy your life,” he added.
Sessions also said he planned to crack down on south of the border drug gangs, part of the administration’s fight against illegal immigration.
He also promised to reverse the recent trend in courts of short sentences for crimes involving guns, typically illegally owned.
“In recent years, we have seen a significant shift in the priority given to prosecuting firearms offenders at the federal level. This trend will end. This Department of Justice will systematically prosecute criminals who use guns in committing crimes,” Sessions promised.
The attorney general, speaking to an audience filled with law enforcement, said the administration will work to support police.
“In recent years law enforcement as a whole has been unfairly maligned and blamed for the unacceptable deeds of a few bad actors. Too many of our officers, deputies, and troopers believed the political leadership of this country abandoned them,” he said.
“To turn back rising crime, we must rely heavily on all of you in state and local law enforcement to lead the way — and you must know that you have our steadfast support. The federal government should use its money, research, and expertise to help you figure out what is happening and determine the best ways to fight crime. We should strengthen partnerships between federal and state and local officers. And we should encourage the proactive policing that keeps our neighborhoods safe. This Department of Justice will do just that,” he concluded.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
