Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) decided to play the fear card on Tuesday by suggesting that crime in the United States is out of control and that the country has a “major under-incarceration problem.”
In a tweet referencing a CNN article showing that crime rose in major American cities during 2020, Cotton called for putting more people in prison:
We have a major under-incarceration problem in America.
And it’s only getting worse. https://t.co/guYdE7aHdb
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) April 6, 2021
But as HuffPost reports, Cotton neglected to mention the underlying causes of the numbers he cited:
“The article explores a 33% increase in homicides last year, which could be attributable to any number of combined factors, including the deadly global pandemic, a devastated economy, high unemployment, entrenched poverty, civil unrest, changes in policing and distrust of police, rising homelessness and surging gun sales.”
Also, let’s not forget that the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with 655 prisoners per 100,000 people. That’s light years ahead of the other nations that also put large numbers of their citizens in jail: El Salvador, Turkemenistan, and Thailand. Black and brown people make up a high percentage of the Americans currently serving time:
“Black Americans are significantly over-represented in prison based on population. Latinx Americans also make up larger shares of the prison population compared with the U.S. population as a whole.”
Cotton’s tweet drew harsh criticism on social media:
America has 25% of the world’s prisoners, but only 5% of the world’s population. https://t.co/brCSHwmLgZ
— Max Berger (@maxberger) April 7, 2021
The only “under-incarcerated” in America are GOP traitors like Tom Cotton, who should be in prison right now.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) April 6, 2021
Man, what? We have 4% of the world population and over 20% of its prisoners. We also have the highest incarceration rate and the worst recidivism.
Maybe stop using corrections and policing as punishment and start pumping that money into rehabilitation, for people and community.
— Sara from Michigan (@SarafromMI) April 6, 2021
CNN: “Its impossible to attribute any single reason.”
Bootlicking elitist treason-weasel Tom Cotton: “We haven’t made enough people felons who will struggle to earn a livable wage for the rest of their lives.” pic.twitter.com/fmhKh4YnZY
— Michael Drake (@mikedrake178) April 6, 2021
We’re #1 in the world for incarceration per Capita, and that’s not good enough for him?
— Allan Creasy (@ServeThe901) April 6, 2021
Tell us, Sen. Cotton, should Donald Trump be one of those we lock up for his many crimes, or are you willing to give him a pass for being a seditious traitor?
Featured Image Via NBC News