President Trump signed into law the First Step Act, a piece of criminal justice reform legislation with bipartisan support in Congress, on Dec. 21. Among those who supported the legislation is Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Because this legislation has been called the “First Step,” some have suggested what legislative steps should follow.
Speaking with me at TPUSA’s Student Action Summit, Kirk said he believes the next step to follow criminal justice reform should be school choice.
“Why are they going to prison in the first place? Broken public schools … and it’s because of public sector teacher unions. Public sector teacher unions are the greatest threat to freedom and liberty and the individual in America — bottom line, bar none,” Kirk said.
Although Kirk believes the First Step Act addresses the prison recidivism issue, he believes lawmakers need to develop policies that afford children with quality education and create opportunities that prevent individuals from entering prison.
“Fixing our public education system by liberating school choice is the most proven method to lift the most people out of poverty and give them opportunity and hopefully bring fathers back in the home, enrich our society, and not have people go to prison,” Kirk said. “It’s not a black issue. It’s not a white issue. It’s an American issue. And so, that should be the second step. We have fixed the recidivism issue, hopefully. … Now let’s prevent the first 100,000 people from getting there in the first place.”
Anthony Leonardi is a contributor to Red Alert Politics. He’s a third-year student at the University of Florida, where he runs thinkoutsidepolitics.com.
