Rep. Amy Elik strongly dismisses claims by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) charging that studies show enhancing a penalty for a crime doesn't reduce that crime. | repelik.com
Rep. Amy Elik strongly dismisses claims by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) charging that studies show enhancing a penalty for a crime doesn't reduce that crime. | repelik.com
With the number of attacks on police officers on the rise across the country, Republican state Rep. Amy Elik is cosponsoring legislation that would make violence against police officers a Class 3 felony hate crime.
“I cosponsored this legislation to help protect our law enforcement as they are on the front lines doing all they can to keep our communities safe,” Elik told the Metro East Sun of the so-called Police Protection Act that focuses on “officer targeting.”
“Crime against our police officers on the street is on the rise,” she added. “This legislation sends a message to criminals that we support law and order, we back our men and women in blue.”
With recent FBI data pointing to upwards of 60,000 law enforcement officers being injured in the line of duty across the country in 2021, the Washington News Post adds that the bill brands any offense where an individual attacks or stalks an officer as a hate crime.
Elik strongly dismisses claims by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) charging that studies show enhancing a penalty for a crime doesn't reduce that crime.
“I disagree, criminals will think twice about committing a crime if they fear the consequences of committing that crime,” she said. “Take a look at what is going on in Chicago for example, the Cook County prosecutor will not arrest criminals for shoplifting as long as they don’t steal more than $1,000 in merchandise. Since the prosecutors’ announcement, shoplifting has increased in Cook County.”
In sponsoring the bill, state Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) points to a July 2020 episode in Grant Park, where upwards of 1,000 people rushed the Christopher Columbus statue in an attempt to overthrow it as proof the legislation is needed. Moylan’s bill also asks for $100 million for modernize police departments throughout Illinois, according to Illinois News Today.
Elik wouldn’t stop at just that.
We must fund the police at the local level,” she added. “Defunding the police is not the solution. Defunding the police puts our officers into harm’s way and makes it easier for criminals to get away with committing their crimes.”
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