Texas Republican gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines recently weighed in on increasing Texas crime rates.
The Texan has reported that every large city in Texas except for Dallas saw an increase in homicides in 2021.
Statewide, murders in Texas increased by 35.6% per 100,000 people between 2019 and 2020, according to KETK News. Aggravated assaults increased by 15% and motor vehicle thefts increased by 7.5%.
"A society that does not value law and order cannot survive," Huffines said. "Politicians in Texas have allowed our state to follow the example of the liberal cities and states by reducing penalties for crime and even refusing to prosecute violent criminals. This must stop. As governor, I will restore law and order to the state of Texas."
An Austin Police Department crime analyst has noted that only around half of the homicides committed in 2018 involved guns, but in 2021, 82% of the homicides committed involved guns, KXAN News reported.
"The one place where we’ve seen an increase is the number of homicides that involve guns," Lt. Brett Bailey with APD’s Homicide Unit told the station. "In the past two years, it’s grown exponentially."
Huffines is the CEO of Huffines Communities, a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate development firm. From 2015 to 2019 Huffines served in the Texas Senate, representing the people of Texas' 16th senate district.
Huffines joins a crowded field, along with former Florida Congressman and Texas GOP Chairman Allen West and media personality Chad Prather, challenging Gov. Greg Abbott in the Mar. 1 GOP gubernatorial primary, according to Ballotpedia.
Former El Paso City Council member and U.S. Congressman Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke leads the Democratic field for nomination to run for governor. O'Rourke previously mounted two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate and president of the United States.
Elected in 2014, Abbott is currently serving as the 48th governor of Texas. Before being elected governor, Abbott was the longest-serving attorney general of Texas.
