William Martini: “I rise today as a former Federal prosecutor to discuss a topic that this body will soon debate: crime reform. Crime in…”

“I rise today as a former Federal prosecutor to discuss a topic that this body will soon debate: crime reform. Crime in this country has reached epidemic proportions. It is time we as a body get serious about restoring the rule of law to our society. Alexander Bickel of Yale University once said: No society will long remain open and attached to peaceable politics and the decent and controlled use of public force if fear for personal safety is the ordinary experience for large numbers. Yet sadly, today 8 out of every 10 Americans can expect to be the victim of a violent crime at least once in their lives. It is apparent that the debate over these crime bills embroils us in more than simply an exchange of competing partisan ideas. The coming debates will engage us in a struggle that affects the very core and future of American society. As the discussions begin, I urge my colleagues to take swift and strong action on behalf of the well-being and safety of a nation's people.”