Violent crime surges across Minnesota with record murders

In what can only be described as a surge, violent crime across the state of Minnesota has skyrocketed and murders have hit a record high. According to a new report by the Associated Press, there were 185 murders statewide during the year 2020, breaking the record previously recorded in 1995 when Minneapolis was dubbed “Murderapolis” by media outlets. Despite this chilling similarity to the 90’s when gang violence ran rampant on our streets, Governor Walz remains unwilling to take action to curb the dramatic increase in violence as he continues to largely ignore the issue. 

Our elected leaders have a responsibility to the people they serve and it’s essential to prioritize their well being and overall public safety. Murder statistics are up 58% from 2019 with 75% of incidents involving guns, an increase from 69% in 2019. It’s evident that without a leader directly informed and ready to tackle these issues head on, Minnesotans everywhere lose. 

Small businesses are being affected as many families are forgoing trips to the Twin Cities. Lower income communities have disproportionately experienced greater levels of crime and violence than in other neighborhoods. Even children haven’t been able to escape the violence with five children under the age of ten having been victims of shootings in recent months.

The alarming reality is that every day Governor Walz drags his feet to address the rise in crime, is another day that an innocent Minnesotan’s life could be significantly impacted. “This is why you can’t go soft on crime,” Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, said in a statement. “It’s hard to see these numbers for arson, theft, and assaults on police and wonder: Would it have been better if Gov. Walz stopped the riots right away last year?”