LAKE BARRINGTON… State Representative Martin McLaughlin (R-Barrington Hills) from the 52ND House District released the following statement after reading the Illinois Supreme Court opinion reversing the circuit court’s decision that now upholds the “no cash bail” provision of the SAFE-T Act.
Rep. McLaughlin said, “I am not surprised the Illinois Supreme Court just eliminated protections for the general population. Are we safer now with this decision?
“Thanks to this progressive Democrat policy and Democrat judges, of course we are not. A partisan politically drawn map has doubled down on poorly made public policy, and our jails will now release many violent criminal defendants awaiting trial.
“I wonder if these defendants who are released will head over to the local library or perhaps the neighborhood church? Maybe we will see them out volunteering at hospitals or youth groups?
“We all know the answers. These career criminals will most likely be back out in the community, posing danger to you and your family.
“Despite the Safe-T act being current law and having been amended three different times since it was passed in January 2021, it has done nothing to reduce violent crime affecting neighborhoods across our state.
“The Constitution of the United States will find this law, and many of the other laws recklessly passed by this Democratic majority, unconstitutional. Until then, we as individuals must be responsible and protect and defend our own families.”