Author: George Brauchler
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COLUMN: Colorado’s Dems decriminalize — crime | George Brauchler
They are at it again. Our offender-friendly General Assembly is poised to take another step toward further decriminalization by prohibiting law enforcement from arresting lawbreakers, including repeat offenders, for numerous crimes. Rep. Jennifer Bacon’s House Bill 1169 bizarrely declares that “nonprosecution of low-level offenses has been shown to reduce reoffending….” Re-read that. She is not…
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COLUMN: Colorado’s Dems decriminalize — crime | George Brauchler
They are at it again. Our offender-friendly General Assembly is poised to take another step toward further decriminalization by prohibiting law enforcement from arresting lawbreakers, including repeat offenders, for numerous crimes. Rep. Jennifer Bacon’s House Bill 1169 bizarrely declares that “non-prosecution of low-level offenses has been shown to reduce reoffending….” Re-read that. She is not…
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COLUMN: Assault on arms only curbs the law-abiding | George Brauchler
Four separate gun control measures recently launched in the Legislature will do little to impact violent crime or suicides. They are a product of the emotional and reactive “gotta do anything” mindset that drives discussions of firearms under the Gold Dome. SB 169 seeks to increase the age at which any firearm can be purchased…
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COLUMN: Assault on arms only curbs the law-abiding | George Brauchler
Four separate gun control measures recently launched in the legislature will do little to impact violent crime or suicides. They are a product of the emotional and reactive “gotta do anything” mindset that drives all discussions of firearms under the Gold Dome. SB 169 seeks to increase the age at which any firearm can be…
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What does public defender office do with all that cash? | George Brauchler
Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) is seeking to expand one of the fastest growing budgets in all of state government by an additional $17.7 million in taxpayer funds — and legislators would be wise to say to scrutinize the request and say “no.” OSPD’s budget has exploded over the past decade, but…
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COLUMN: What does public defender office do with all that cash? | George Brauchler
Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) is seeking to expand one of the fastest growing budgets in all of state government by an additional $17.7 million in taxpayer funds — and legislators would be wise to say to scrutinize the request and say “no.” OSPD’s budget has exploded over the past decade, but…
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Will Colorado’s legislature fix what it broke? | George Brauchler
Events reported in just the past few days remind us of how the “we know best” philosophy of criminal justice reform under the Gold Dome can work predictable injustices in the real world. On Aug. 5, 2020, 17-year-old Dillon Siebert and two other teenagers murdered a Senegalese family of five by burning them to death…
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COLUMN: Will Colorado’s legislature fix what it broke? | George Brauchler
Events reported in just the past few days remind us of how the “we know best” philosophy of criminal justice reform under the Gold Dome can work predictable injustices in the real world. On Aug. 5, 2020, 17-year-old Dillon Siebert and two other teenagers murdered a Senegalese family of five by burning them to death…
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COLUMN: No to make-my-shopping-day — but I get it | George Brauchler
The news this week that Denver’s homicide rate is the third fastest-growing in the U.S. surprises few. Our state policymakers’ ongoing failure to protect us from expanding crime is encouraging Coloradans to look to themselves for protection. The latest effort to expand when lethal force can be used with legal impunity to include businesses is…
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COLUMN: State of the State falls short on fixes of crime | George Brauchler
“Every person deserves a safe home and a safe community, and in three years I want Colorado to be closing in on our goal of becoming one of the top 10 safest states.” Agreed. Polis should be applauded for using some of his 8,100-word and 70-minute State of the State address to touch upon one…