North Egypt News

State Rep. Dave Severin (R-Marion) is reigniting his call for the repeal of the Illinois Safety Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act.

“Today is the one-year anniversary of House Democrats passing sweeping legislation to defund, disarm, and disrespect our police,” Severin recently posted on Facebook. “House Democrats voted yes, House Republicans voted no. Violent crime is up, police retirements are increasing and our communities are less safe. House Republicans are sponsoring legislation that would repeal the so-called ‘SAFE-T Act.’ Support HR 598 --- repeal the SAFE-T Act now.”

Severin recently joined other Republican lawmakers at a press conference where they outlined what they see as the merits of HR 598.

“I was a member of the House last year when it passed and I currently serve as the House Republican ranking member on the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee,” Severin said in a post to his website. “I am a co-sponsor of HR 598 and I support the full repeal of the law.”

Severin says everything that’s happened since the bill passed demands change.

“Chicago has seen the most homicides in 25 years, smash-and-grab robberies are costing businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars, and carjackings are way up in the city of Chicago and its suburbs,” he said. “The overall concept of hampering our police’s ability to do their job is bad and the overall bill was terrible. We have to do more to protect our communities and businesses in the face of rising crime. Criminals need to know Illinois is serious about punishing perpetrators of violent crime. We can and must do better.”

Among other changes, SAFE-T Act established a new process to decertify abusive officers, required body cameras for all Illinois cops and limited when police can use deadly force. The Pretrial Fairness Act part of the legislation is also slated to end the state’s cash bond system by the year 2023, along with limiting pretrial detention to people accused of specific felonies and only if a judge determines that their release poses a specific threat to another individual.

While law enforcement groups and police unions alike have protested the bill, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has come out in support of it.

Groups from both sides of the issue have told Injustice Watch that they expect debate and discussion about the bill to continue into the foreseeable future

Severin recently announced his run for re-election in the 117th District, stressing in a post to Facebook, "I have worked to rid this state of the corrupt influence of Chicago politicians, stop the radical abortion agenda, and protect our God-given constitutional freedoms in the face of an out-of-control Governor.”

He posted, “JB Pritzker has used COVID-19 to destroy businesses and control every aspect of our lives through Executive Order. Enough is enough."

Severin also recently voted against changes to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, which he highlighted in the Facebook post that announced his run.

"My voting record reflects my strong conservative Republican principles," he posted. "I have opposed all of the Democrats' gun-grabbing attempts, I voted no on repealing a parent's right to know if their minor child is going to have an abortion, I voted against JB Pritzker's plan to limit religious freedoms in health care matters, and I voted against the Democrats' ridiculous gerrymandered legislative maps. I have a long conservative legislative record that puts me in the strongest position to continue representing the people of Southern Illinois in a new district."