[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 213 (Thursday, December 9, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H7618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HOLIDAY SHOPPING IN LIBERAL CITIES

  (Mr. BURCHETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BURCHETT. Madam Speaker, this holiday season, most Americans are 
using the conventional shopping method. They choose their item in the 
store and pay for it at the checkout.
  However, this year, others are going with a different approach: smash 
and grab robberies. Thugs are ambushing stores, breaking windows, and 
destroying store property, then walking out with all the merchandise 
they can carry. Robberies at pharmacies and retail stores are on the 
rise this year, mostly in liberal cities like San Francisco, Chicago, 
and New York City. There is a clear pattern here.
  Store robberies are up in Democrat-run cities that push defund the 
police agendas and refrain from punishing criminals in the name of 
equity. Criminals in these cities figured out there is no consequence 
for busting up a Gucci store and walking out with thousands of dollars 
of merchandise.
  For example, in California, people can steal up to $950 worth of 
merchandise without being charged with a felony. Many looters in 
California cities who get arrested are quickly released because they 
don't even have to pay bail.
  Unfortunately, many Democrats are willingly ignorant of this trend. 
They even attribute the rise in smash-and-grab robberies to the 
coronavirus or deny the problem exists at all. They keep pushing their 
antipolice, procriminal policies, and it is hardworking businessowners 
and employees who end up paying the price.
  Madam Speaker, I always remember what my parents told me: Let's not 
close the barn door after the cows have already left.

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