{"id":254203,"date":"2026-07-27T14:24:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T19:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=254203"},"modified":"2026-07-27T14:51:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T19:51:56","slug":"who-needs-prisons-democrats-abolish-prisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/who-needs-prisons-democrats-abolish-prisons\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Needs Prisons? Democrats Flirt With a Once-Unthinkable Idea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There was a time when “defund the police” was considered one of the most controversial ideas in American politics. Now, at least among some on the political left, the conversation appears to be moving even further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forget defunding police. Why not abolish prisons altogether?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That question found its way into the national spotlight a few weeks ago after New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani was asked about his endorsement of Darializa Avila Chevalier<\/a>, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 15th Congressional District. Chevalier has advocated abolishing prisons, and ABC’s<\/em> Jonathan Karl wanted to know whether Mamdani was comfortable supporting someone with that position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a fair question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, prisons exist for a reason. Society generally agrees that people who commit murder, rape, armed robbery<\/a>, child abuse, and other violent crimes should be separated from the public. Whether prison sentences are too long, too short, or in need of reform is one debate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether prisons should exist at all is another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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