It should not have taken the horrific murder of Augusta University student Laken Riley to jolt our society awake to the consequences of a weak, if not completely neutered system of justice.
For a moment, let’s take the fact that the perpetrator of Riley’s murder is in the country illegally off of the table; his immigration status has little to do with the fact that the justice system in America is broken.
This is not the fault of one presidential administration or any one of the scores of current left-leaning prosecutors; the whole of America has been on this destructive path since before the Reagan administration.
The mentality that every criminal can be reformed has morphed into the mentality that criminals are somehow victims themselves.
Some of these criminal apologists even had the gall to suggest that Riley might be alive today had she simply not fought back.
Lawlessness in America has led to simple items like toothpaste and nail polish to be kept under lock and key until the point of purchase.
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In some circumstances, those that are apprehended for petty crime are given a court date and turned out on the streets to commit more mayhem. If caught committing another petty crime, they are released on a no-cash bail and given another court date.
The catch-and-release policies only emboldens the criminals to commit more crimes.
The unthinkable has now happened in our own backyard and we must now come to the understanding that if the politicians and prosecutors are not going to protect us, then we must take active steps to protect ourselves.
Augusta, Columbia County and North Augusta are communities known for offering wonderful outdoor recreational activities, and we all think those areas are relatively safe.
The campus of UGA was also once deemed a safe place.
It doesn’t matter who you are or how strong you might be, 911 is of little help to someone encountering a bear on the Appalachian Trail or an ambush on the Augusta Canal towpath.
Those who prefer to jog or bike alone are advised to be vigilant and carry personal protection of some kind.
