Submission by Dr. Glenn Mollette
I would love to go back to Washington, D.C., and feel like my wife and I could safely stroll the city at 9:00 or 10:00 at night. Honestly, I would even like to feel safe walking through the city at 10:00 in the morning. I am grateful that President Trump is taking a proactive approach to making D.C. as safe as possible.
In 2024, there were over 14 million criminal offenses reported in the United States (U.S. Crime Statistics, Bing.com).
How many cities, towns, or even rural areas do you truly feel safe in today? A few years ago, my son and I were in New York City. After touring the Empire State Building, it was nearly 1:00 a.m. when we left in search of New York pizza. We walked back to Times Square. There were still people out, but not that many. The entire time, I found myself constantly looking around, wondering if we were safe. We had a good evening, but it was aggravating to feel that kind of concern.
What town or community in America can we visit today without being on guard? Even in the smallest villages, who knows if there is a mentally unstable person roaming around, looking to cause harm? Drunk drivers and drug users are on our roads. People battling mental illness sometimes choose unpredictable times to unleash violence on unsuspecting victims.
Recent events remind us that danger can strike anywhere—whether you’re shopping at Target, sitting in a classroom, worshiping in church, or simply walking down the street. No one is completely immune in today’s America.
It hasn’t always been this way. I remember being a child when my parents first began locking our doors. There was a time we never bothered. That was another era. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live again in a country where you didn’t have to lock your doors, even during the day? Where you didn’t need to keep a loaded gun nearby or lock your car?
Car thefts highlight this decline. Criminals stole 2,969 cars in D.C. in 2024, and nearly as many—2,944—so far in 2025. This is devastating not only for victims but also for insurance companies and the city itself.
God bless President Trump for working to make America, and D.C. in particular, safe again. My prayer is that God enables him to make every town in America a place where we can once again feel secure.
