Tindell provided information to legislators last week as part his budget request for fiscal year. He included statistics that showed that the state’s murder rate had increased by 41% over the past five years, making it the highest in the country. The DPS document stated that “it is expected that there would be more than 500 homicides within the state in 2020.” Rep. Trey Lamar (R-Senatobia), House Ways and Means chair, asked: “What in the hell is going on?” This information is contrary to much of the Republican political rhetoric and President Donald Trump’s constant refrain that the majority of crime in America occurs in blue states and cities. During last week’s heated presidential debate, Trump stated that “the places we have problems were in Democratic-run states and cities.” Trump said later that “I believe it is a party problem,” referring to the rising crime rate in certain areas. However, it should be noted that it is still lower than it was at its highest point in the 1990s. Even Gov. Tate Reeves is the governor of the most dangerous state in America based on these stats. He enjoys parroting the president about this topic. Lori Lightfoot, Chicago’s mayor, cited a steady supply from Mississippi of guns in mid-August. Mississippi has lax gun laws. Reeves responded on social media by saying that it was a “pathetic excuse for left-wing experiments undermining police and letting crime run free”. There is no doubt that Chicago has a problem with crime. The president and his supporters discuss it almost every day. Mississippi has had a long history of crime problems. According to the 2018 National Center for Health Statistics data, Mississippi ranked first in the country for the number of homicides per 100 residents at 13.4. The top 10 states with the highest homicide rate in 2018 were seven — sorry President Trump and Governor. Reeves — red States Mississippi, Louisiana Arkansas, Missouri, New Mexico were the top five. New Mexico is the only state that could be called blue in this group. Number 10 was Illinois, the home of the notoriously violent Chicago. Based on 2018 data, four red states ranked among the top 10 states with the lowest murder rates. The 10th-lowest murder rate was recorded in Oregon, which is also home to Portland, a city that has been criticized often by the president. New York had the 15th lowest rate. While most crime is committed in areas with higher populations, it’s true that urban areas are home to the majority of crimes. Although not all large American cities are run by Democrats, most of them are. Is it fair to blame all of the crime on local officials, whether Republicans or Democrats? Experts on crime point out that poverty and lack of opportunities are major factors in crime. These issues are best addressed by the federal and state governments. According to the National Center for Health Statistics in 2018, Mississippi was the country’s leader in gun deaths. Most of the other top states on that list were Southern states with the most restrictive gun laws. Tindell spoke out about Mississippi’s high murder rate to legislators. He said that people are “coming up in a universe where the taking of human lives does not matter to them.” Tindell stated that his agency would expand these efforts. The majority of Mississippi’s murder rate is attributed to Jackson, which is the state’s biggest city. It is also run by Democratic officials. Horhn is a member of a task force of the Mississippi Department of Health dealing with violent deaths. He said Hinds County is the “epicenter” of murders in the state, while Harrison County, on the Coast, is the epicenter of suicides. He said that murder should, in many cases, be treated as a mental health problem. Horhn stated, “It’s very difficult.” Horhn stated that there are socioeconomic problems, a shortage of opportunities, and a lack in resources that contribute to criminality. The solution to the problem might not require much political rhetoric, but more collaboration across the aisle at the federal, state, and local levels.