McHenry Times

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) is hoping a dose of reality will be enough to shock anti-police protesters back to their senses in the growing defund the police debate.

“We are already getting a glimpse of life without police,” Skillicorn told the McHenry Times. “There are parts of Chicago that have simply been abandoned. Groceries have burned to the ground and families cannot get to a grocery store to get the food and medicine they need. There is real suffering as a result of the lawlessness we are seeing on the streets of Chicago.”

The great debate stems from the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day that sparked protests and violence across the country. Minneapolis City Council members were among the early supporters of the push to permanently do away with their city's police department, and the idea quickly gained the support of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and the leaders of the Chicago Public Schools.

Again, Skillicorn fails to see the logic

“We should not treat defunding police departments as a credible position,” he said. “This is a radical notion that we all know on its face is a terrible idea. Defunding the police is impractical, illogical and an affront to reasonable people. Not only is there a danger in increased violent crime with reduced police presence in our neighborhoods, but there are other public safety concerns we need to think about.”

Skillicorn argues it isn’t just coincidence that Chicago recently experienced its bloodiest day on record with 18 homicides.

“Because of the riots, the Chicago P.D. is overwhelmed,” he said. “We are seeing what life without police is really like and I don’t think we want any part of it.”