Keeping Us Safe
America is facing new threats to our safety at home and overseas. It's critical we invest in the institutions that keep Americans safe and rein in our military.
"Safety is the most basic task of all. Without a sense of safety, no growth can take place. Without safety, all energy goes to defense.”
- Author Torey Hayden
The issue
Americans own more guns than any other country per capita, and commit the most homicides with them. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children in the US. We have a gun problem. In 2020, the number of hate crimes in the US surged to its highest level in 12 years; 64% of these crimes were based on the victim’s race. We have a hate problem. Meanwhile, the DHS argues that cybersecurity threats abroad pose “the greatest long term threat to our nation’s ideas, innovation, and economic or national security.” We have a security problem. America needs to implement innovative solutions to keep us safe at home, and to defend our interests abroad.
Read the detailed policy fact sheet:
How we fix it:
🔫 Enforce stricter gun control
Mandate comprehensive background checks
Current federal laws contain loopholes in which unlicensed gun dealers can sell firearms without having to run any background check. 88% of Americans support background checks on all gun sales. Legislative options are outlined in the policy fact sheet.
Regulate gun sales
Restrict the possession of guns in public
Per Giffords, “historically almost every state strictly limited the carrying of loaded weapons in public places... however many states have in recent years substantially weakened these standards." We need federal legislation to prohibit citizens from roaming public spaces needlessly armed.
Prevent children from accessing guns
Firearms are now the #1 cause of death for children in the US. Researchers estimate that nearly a third of youth gun deaths could be prevented with just minor increases in the number of American homes safely storing firearms.
Ban civilian use of assault weapons
Assault weapons are military-grade firearms designed to kill large numbers of people within seconds. Assault weapons have been used in every major US mass shooting. There is no reason civilians should be carrying them.
👊 Crack down on hate crime
Fight race-based hate crimes
The Department of Homeland Security reported that “white supremacist extremists remain the most persistent and lethal threat in the Homeland." The Center for American Progress outlines a policy roadmap to combat race-based crime, focused on equipping government agencies with the research and regulatory capacities to enforce existing statutes against these crimes.
Implement greater protections for gender- and sex-related hate crimes
Only 16 states have laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, and only 34 have prohibitions against gender/sex discrimination. Only 54% of LGBTQ Americans are protected under these laws today. We need federal laws that dictate all states enforce protections around gender and sexual orientation.
🦠 Confront cyberthreats abroad
Protect America's intellectual property
Chinese theft of American intellectual property costs US firms between $225 billion and $600 billion every year. FBI Director Christopher Wray describes these operations as "the greatest long-term threat to our nation’s information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitality." We must strengthen security provisions to combat these efforts.
Eliminate foreign interference in US elections
The National Intelligence Council notes that “foreign governments or other foreign actors often try to influence the politics of other countries,” but recently “a broader array of foreign actors are taking steps to influence US elections than in the past.” The Fighting Foreign Influence Act will limit corrupt actors' ability to do so.
Fight disinformation from foreign governments
Per MIT, “disinformation and propaganda are tools of warfare with an ancient pedigree. However, today’s Internet environment enables hostile actors to conduct such campaigns with immense scale and speed." We must invest in research and education to fight these campaigns (read more in our policy fact sheet).
🕹️ Operate our military responsibly
Rein in the "military industrial complex"
The phrase 'military industrial complex' describes the cozy relationship between our Defense department and the weapons contractors that supply it. They are both mutually invested in military intervention because the more military activity the US engages in, the more money they get. We must rein in their extreme budget and lust for war.
Stop unsolicited military interventions
America’s interventionist foreign policy has destabilized nations and cost us a lot of money. The marquee example is spending $2 trillion on the Afghanistan War, a conflict that has resulted in 243,000 deaths and failed to end Taliban control over the region. We need to take a more measured approach to military intervention abroad.
Outlaw drone strikes
Drone strikes have killed 900-2,000 civilians (including 300-500 children) across Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, and Yemen. These are families with dreams we just snuff out of existence. Research shows that drone strikes have been ineffective in key regions, and can "have strong negative impacts if unsuccessful."
Ban JROTC auto-enrollment
Per an NYT report, “students are being placed in military classes without electing them on their own. ‘The only word I can think of is ‘indoctrination,’ one parent said.” If our military can't recruit students of their own volition, they shouldn't be allowed to force students into it.