Peach Tree Times

A recent survey conducted by OnePoll found that residents in Georgia and across the nation are increasingly concerned about crime. 

The poll found that 52% of Americans feel concerned about their personal safety on a daily basis, even in their own homes, as reported by Study Finds.

The top four instances that people report feeling afraid in are dark streets, unfamiliar neighborhoods, parking garages, and hailing a ride or taxi. Over 40% of people polled said they do not feel safe when they are home alone.

A Gallup poll conducted in early 2022 revealed that 72% of Americans were dissatisfied with the country's policies to reduce or control crime.

In response to these increasing fears, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced a bill that would "clarify and strengthen violent crime laws," according to a news release from his office. These crimes include murder, carjacking, bank robbery, and kidnapping. Grassley and 24 Republican colleagues recently urged Congress to pass the bill. 

"Crime is skyrocketing in communities across the country," Grassley said in the news release. "Carjackings, homicides, attacks on law enforcement are all up. We have a duty to ensure that penalties for federal offenses serve as a deterrent and that any ambiguity from split court decisions is rectified so that perpetrators can be held accountable.

"Unfortunately, we don't yet have bipartisan support to advance these modest, but meaningful, reforms. American communities are suffering under a scourge of lawlessness, so I hope we get some cooperation soon and I'll keep reaching across the aisle to get it."

Violent crime in Georgia rose at a rate of 17.4% from 2019 to 2020, according to The Center Square. The current rate "stands at 400 incidents per 100,000 people, higher than in most other states." Over 73% of all violent crimes reported during that year were incidents of aggravated assault, but the increase in violent crime rates in the southern state was led by a surge in homicide cases. There were 943 murders reported in Georgia in 2020, representing a 44.2% increase from 654 murders in 2019.