Feingold's Crime Solution

Russ Feingold is celebrating his anti-crime measure getting out of committee.

Washington, D.C. -- An anti-crime bill authored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, which helps law enforcement agencies determine which crime prevention programs are most effective, has cleared its first hurdle. The bipartisan PRECAUTION Act of 2007, introduced with Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and supported by a host of law enforcement and research organizations, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee as part of a broader anti-crime measure. Feingold’s legislation would identify the most effective anti-crime programs from the sea of information available on crime prevention strategies. The legislation would also offer direct and accessible guidance to state and local law enforcement and community organizations on how to implement those programs.

...“The statistics reflecting the national rise in crime are troubling, but the human toll is truly heartbreaking,” Feingold said. “The city of Milwaukee has witnessed some horrific crimes this year, including the murder of four-year-old Jasmine Owens by a drive-by shooter....

...Feingold’s legislation also creates a grant program through the National Institute of Justice that will fund new, promising and innovative crime fighting techniques that need federal dollars to be further developed.

I give Feingold credit for drawing attention to the crime problem and taking some action to address the issue.

I certainly won't criticize his goal of preventing crime.

However, I think his legislation lacks a sense of urgency. His approach is far too slow, inadequately managing the current crisis.

We don't need a bill to fund a bunch of studies to figure out the best ways to prevent crime. That's taking a very roundabout way to achieve public safety.

Why not get more law enforcement officers on the streets now?

Don't we already know that's an effective crime prevention tactic?

Using funds to discover what's effective and then using funds to help community organizations implement those programs seems like a waste.

While all this studying and training is being done, people are being victimized.

Let's cut to the chase. No need to take such a circuitous route.

Apply funds to putting more cops in high crime areas.

Feingold is calling for a middle man here that's uncalled for.

When there's a fire raging, I don't think it's prudent to initiate a study to identify the most effective ways to extinguish the blaze.

Just douse the fire.