Rockford Sun

After a violent Mother's Day weekend in Chicago and across northern Illinois, state Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) called for stronger support for police officers and prosecutors.

"While the Democrats and the governor say the answer is more programs and defunding the police, I must disagree," the senator said on Facebook. "We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on programs in the last 10 years, and the crime numbers go up. The answer is found in accountability. When these criminals, especially young criminals, know there are consequences to their actions, then behavior will change. For now, they know there is little consequence for their actions, so why would they change?"

The solution is to "give law enforcement the tools they need, fully prosecute criminals, especially those who are committing violent crimes with guns, and throw out state's attorneys and those politicians unwilling to do their job of protecting the public," Syverson said. "Whether at home, school, or on the streets, when they know there's consequences, then behavior changes. It really is that simple."

At least four people died and at least 18 were injured by gunfire over Mother's Day weekend, Fox News reported.

Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly sought to repeal the SAFE-T Act, which was passed in January 2021, ABC 7 reported.

Syverson is not the only Republican speaking out about the ill effects of the SAFE-T Act. Sen. Chapin Rose, Sue Rezin, Steve McClure, Terri Bryant, and Senate Minority Leader Dan McConchie also spoke out against the bill in February, WCBU reported.

"Our law enforcement officers, who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, were cut completely out of the process," Bryant said. "The governor and his legislative allies sent a clear signal that the voice of law enforcement [was] not welcome at the table."