Letter to the editor: Soft-on-crime policies have tragic consequences

The senseless killing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, is a tragic consequence of the Democratic Party’s failed policies. She fled her war-torn homeland seeking safety, only to be brutally stabbed on Charlotte’s light rail. 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.

This is the stark reality of the Democratic Party’s “soft on crime” agenda. Their disastrous polices allow repeated career criminals back onto the streets to further commit act of violence. While Zarutska and countless others pay the price, repeat offenders continue to be released back into our communities. This pattern of negligence is evident in cities controlled by Democrats across the country.

President Trump has been clear: We must back our police, end the revolving door of crime and put victims first. Zarutska deserved to live in safety, just as we all do. If we don’t change course, more families will suffer the devastating consequences of these misguided policies.

We need to hold the Democratic Party accountable for the tragic outcomes of their approach to crime. This November please vote for Republican judges to keep us safe in our communities.

Dennis Traeger

Murrysville