Crime
As an attorney, I know all too well how dysfunctional the criminal justice system is in Philadelphia. Public safety must be the number one priority of all public officials.
I support District Attorney Seth Williams’ plan to examine how successfully the DA’s office prosecutes crimes. I also support efforts from the Unified Judicial System to make pre-trial procedures more efficient and reduce the likelihood of witness intimidation.
Common-sense gun control is a must in our city. First, the loophole that allows those ineligible to purchase weapons in Pennsylvania to purchase them in Florida must be closed. Next, handgun sales must be limited to one per month. And Philadelphia should have the authority to enact its own gun control legislation.
A true crime-fighting agenda also includes education, job programs, and reintegration programs. If jobs exist and kids have the education to obtain them, they are less likely to commit violent crimes. And those who have committed crimes must be afforded the opportunity to become productive members of society once again. Not every criminal is a life-long criminal. Re-integration programs aren’t just less expensive for the state to pursue, they are the right thing to do.