U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said repeat offenders in recent cases like that of retired Auburn University professor Julie Gard Schnuelle and Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was randomly stabbed to death on a light rail in Charlotte, N.C., would not still be on the streets under his watch as Alabama governor.
In a Wednesday interview with Sirius XM Radio's Breitbart News, Tuberville emphasized the importance of removing lawlessness from the streets by implementing mandatory sentences for individuals with a criminal history.
"It's absolutely disgraceful what this country's turned into," Tuberville said of the two cases, which he noted both alleged offenders had long rap sheets.
Tuberville was asked what his solution as governor would be to deal with those with a criminal history.
"Well, you've got to have a mandatory sentence after the first time," he outlined. "Now, if somebody goes in a second time — now, I'm not talking about speeding or shoplifting, something like that, but I'm talking some kind of sexual crime or something higher than a misdemeanor, you've got six months to a year, and then you have to have people in these prisons that actually work with these prisoners. Now, there's a difference between murderers and sexual predators — you're never going to — I mean, something's wrong with them. But, you know, when it comes to stealing or some kind of juvenile offense, you've got to try to help them."
Tuberville highlighted that Alabama was building two new prisons and asserted he was willing to build two more if necessary to get criminals off the streets.
"We're not going to allow lawlessness on the streets," he declared. "It's not going to happen. And you have got to put a foot down sooner or later, and it better be sooner than later because we are losing police right and left. Would you do it? Would you get out there with a badge on your chest and a uniform on, knowing these crazies are out there? It's absolutely insane what's going on out there."
"You can't turn them out on the streets," Tuberville later added.
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