Demuth to Detail New Violent Crime Proposals Monday

(KNSI) — Minnesota House Speaker and GOP gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth and her running mate, Ryan Wilson, are holding a press conference Monday morning to discuss new proposals to combat violent crime. It follows a public safety roundtable late last week with more than two dozen local community members and law enforcement officials.

“Between the ISIS-inspired terrorist plot at the Mall of America and the wave of Somali gang violence, people are rightfully concerned about safety in their communities. The message I am hearing again and again is, ‘enough is enough,’” Demuth says.

Demuth’s public safety plan includes increased sentences, no early release and consecutive sentences for those who commit a third or subsequent violent crime. It also boosts school safety funding that each district would direct, and increases resources and training for first responders.

Members of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis are also joining Demuth and Wilson today. Demuth received the federation’s endorsement last week.

On Friday, current and former U.S. and county attorneys joined Demuth’s DFL challenger, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, to discuss her public safety plan. It overlaps with much of what Demuth is proposing, including establishing a Regional Gang Violence Task Force, helping police departments recruit and retain more officers, and potentially stiffening sentences for violent crimes.

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