Image Credit: @SenBrentTaylor / X
The Tennessee Conservative [By David Seal]-
State Senator Brent Taylor made it clear that he is fed up with the “soft-on-crime” approach that city officials, judicial officials, and prosecutors are taking in Memphis, Tennessee. He attributes the exodus of Memphians, in fear for their safety, to rampant violent crime.
In his opening statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee, he gave testimony of horrific crimes, including a mass shooting, committed by offenders that were out of jail “on their own recognizance.”
After citing numerous statistics, Taylor makes the point that only a small percentage of crimes are prosecuted, even fewer result in convictions. Because of the laxed approach of Memphis officials, he favors federal intervention to clean up his city.
“If the federal agencies in the Memphis Safe Task Force can clean up Memphis the way they’ve done in Washington, D.C., then we can expect to live in a much safer and cleaner city very soon! To #MakeMemphisMatter, we must Make Memphis Safe.” – said State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis)
Taylor’s opening statement can be viewed at the following LINK.
In a statement issued by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), she described her work with Taylor and provided several weblinks concerning the senate hearing and Memphis Safe Task Force.
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke with Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Blue City Chaos and Tragedy: How the Trump Administration is Addressing the Human Cost of Soft On Crime Policies.” They discussed the launch of President Trump’s ‘Memphis Safe Task Force’ and his crime crackdown in Memphis, the dangerous consequences of radical left District Attorneys, and the issue of cargo theft. Watch the full exchange here.” – Blackburn News Release
For background, a complete set of Blackburn’s video links on the Memphis Safe Task Force is provided at the following LINK.
Senator Blackburn has a pending bill that would end cashless bail at the federal level and a separate bill that would remove federal law enforcement grants for U.S. cities that practice cashless bail.
Taylor, a strong critic of “soft-on-crime” judges responded to Blackburn’s bills as follows.
“I appreciate the bill that you’re sponsoring of withholding federal funds for cities and communities that they engage in cashless bail because that will hold these local communities accountable… In Memphis, we had these judges, I just mentioned they were letting people out on bail. They had Jaylen Lobley who was arrested on gun charges. He was released on his own recognizance, only about a month later to be found at two o’clock in the morning in south southwest Memphis by the police. He gets in a gunfight with the police and Officer Joseph McKinney was killed.”
Taylor’s exchange with Blackburn can be seen on Unmuted with Marsha at the link provided HERE.
Finally, Taylor issued the following statement for this news report.
“Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee allowed me to bring our Make Memphis Matter movement directly to our nation’s leaders. I wanted them to know more about the fight against rampant crime in our city. I shared the stark realities that over 111,000 crimes reported last year resulted in only 19,000 arrests and a shocking 56% dismissal rate, and I emphasized how soft-on-crime policies, particularly those championed by our Soros-backed District Attorney Steve Mulroy, have exacerbated the crisis, leading to population flight and endangering Shelby County’s future. The entire committee knows DA Mulroy is as weak as a kitten’s meow and that his efforts so far have been as successful as an Amish electrician. It is crucial that we build on federal initiatives like President Trump’s Memphis Safe Task Force and Operation Viper, while pushing for DOJ consent decrees to enforce accountability on local officials and ensure tough prosecutions. Ultimately, to Make Memphis Matter, we must Make Memphis Safe and position Memphis as a model for turning around America’s cities. I appreciate the invitation to address the committee at Senator Blackburn’s urging. I am just getting started. We have a city to save!” – said State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis)
For additional background on the “Make Memphis Matter” and “Memphis Safe Task Force” a link to other detailed coverage is provided here by Tennessee Conservative News Reporter Adelia Kirchner.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
