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Greater public outrage in the appropriate response
THEIR VIEW
South Carolina ranks at the top of the nation in violent crime, according to the FBI. Spartanburg Solicitor Trey Gowdy is right that greater public outrage is the appropriate response. South Carolinians must demand more aggressive law enforcement and a more effective justice system. The causes are many: Officials point to a sinking economy, budget cuts, easy access to guns and a populace too accustomed to solving problems with knives and bullets, according to a recent story by Greenville News writer Tim Smith. ... South Carolinians do need to raise their voices against violence. We should require, for instance, that city and county councils make sure police departments and sheriff's offices are fully staffed. The same goes for state law enforcement agencies. The state, unfortunately, is going in the opposite direction. Recent budget cuts have reduced funding for the State Law Enforcement Division by 14 percent and the Department of Public Safety by 10 percent. State prosecutors were cut by 13 percent while the state's judiciary system was slashed by 14 percent. ... Certainly, it's penny-wise and pound-foolish to cut local and state public safety agencies when the economy is weakening. South Carolinians must do their part by sending a message to state and local officials: Being No. 1 in violent crime is unacceptable. The Greenville News |
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