|
 |
Unmasking Crime: When Lawmakers Play Tug-of-War with Public Safety
General Assembly's Latest Drama: Property Rights, Mask Mandates, and Youth Crime Solutions
|
| |||||||||||||||
This week in the General Assembly, mask mandates and youth crime statistics have taken center stage, focusing on public safety and personal freedoms. The debate around mask mandates, particularly for contagious diseases, has resurfaced. The ADA already covers health conditions that can impede work, but the necessity of a separate mask mandate remains contentious.
The Senate passed a revised mask bill Thursday on a party-line vote. The bill proposes that property owners can request individuals on their property to lower their masks.
Democrats walked out of the chamber in protest.
Data on juvenile crime in North Carolina is shockingly high. A significant portion of youth crime in 2023 originates in major cities with high crime rates, like Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Durham. Not surprisingly, these cities are under the jurisdiction of the Democratic District Attorney. Crimes ranging from rape to assault with deadly weapons among 10 to 18-year-olds are on the rise.
Lawmakers passed a law in 2019 allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to be tried in juvenile court. Prosecutors could move the most violent cases to adult court. Over the past several years, the public has voiced concerns about increasing violent crimes and perceived leniency in juvenile justice.
Republican Rep. Neil Jackson answered those concerns. The legislator introduced a bill with harsher penalties for serious youth offenses. This revision to the "Raise the Age" law mandates 16- and 17-year-olds who commit violent crimes like murder, rape, and armed robbery go straight to adult court. Prosecutors and defense attorneys can agree to send cases back to juvenile court if they agree.
The bill currently sits on Governor Cooper’s desk for signature.
Specifically, there have been disturbing incidents, such as the shooting of a 21-year-old by two 15-year-olds in Gastonia. These crimes committed by teens affect the safety of local communities and create the need for stronger legislation to protect citizens.
Monitoring legislative actions and their impact on communities and individual rights is crucial as the General Assembly's short session continues.
WATCH NC Political Tea Tuesdays and Thursdays nights at 8 PM for election coverage from a grassroots conservative point of view.
NC Political Tea is free today. But if you enjoyed this post, you can tell NC Political Tea that their writing is valuable by pledging a future subscription. You won't be charged unless they enable payments.
| ||||||||||
