Lawlessness Rises as an Election Issue

New York Times: “Homicide rates are tumbling from pandemic highs in most cities, funding for law enforcement is rising, and tensions between the police and communities of color, while still significant, are no longer at a boiling point. But property crime, carjackings and smash-and-grab burglaries are up, adding to a sense of lawlessness, amplified on social media and local online message boards.”

“Mr. Trump is re-upping his blunt, visceral appeal to voter anxieties. He declared recently that ‘crime is rampant and out of control like never before,’ promised to shoot shoplifters, embraced the “back the blue” slogan against liberal changes to police departments — and even falsely accused the F.B.I. of fabricating positive crime data to bolster Mr. Biden.”