The senseless killing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, is a tragic stain on the Democratic Party’s failed policies of not holding criminals responsible for their actions. She fled her war-torn homeland seeking safety, only to be brutally stabbed to death on Charlotte’s light rail public transit system.

The man charged in her death, who has a lengthy criminal record and mental health issues, was released 14 times, allowing him to roam free due to a system that Democrats have championed — one that prioritizes leniency for criminals over the safety of innocent citizens.

In America, our laws are specific, as are consequences for disobeying them. It appears that Zarutska was killed because the man was not punished for his 14 previous crimes.

Until judges are held accountable for releasing repeat offenders, innocent people will continue to be harmed and killed. Isn’t it time to stop the slaughter? Imprison criminals for crimes! If judges allow lawbreakers to go free, they should be immediately removed from the bench if and when the criminal commits his or her next crime.

The only one way to get rid of “soft on crime” is to get rid of the “soft on crime judges.” President Donald Trump and others have been clear: We must back our police, end the revolving door of crime and put potential victims first. Iryna Zarutska deserved to live in safety — we all do!

Maury Fey

Murrysville

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