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In a Wall Street Journal column, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned that “leftist extremists are waging war on the rule of law, liberty, and our way of life.”
It might sound dramatic – but she’s not wrong.
Across the country, gangs, radicals, and so-called “activists” have targeted federal law enforcement officers.
They’ve been shot at, stalked online, even had bounties put on their heads.
In one recent case, a Chicago member of the Latin Kings gang was charged with offering cash for the murder of Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, according to federal court filings.
These officers are the ones risking their lives to keep drugs, guns, and violent criminals out of our neighborhoods.
And now they have to watch their backs 24/7 (maybe 25/8, considering what they already had to look out for) for some radical who wants to score points with their “movement.”
Crime Stats Don’t Lie – But Politicians Do
According to a 2025 public safety report, Nevada’s violent crime rate remains about 11 to 12 percent higher than the national average.
In 2023, the state reported 417 violent crimes per 100,000 residents compared to 374 nationally.
And in Las Vegas, police have been warning about rising gang activity tied to out-of-state offenders, particularly involving organized retail and vehicle theft rings.
While D.C. debates “criminal justice reform,” our officers are dealing with the fallout.
When the system stops holding criminals accountable, everyday people pay the price.
As Noem put it, “This climate of political violence is against everything our founders wanted.”
She’s right.
The rule of law isn’t just about courtrooms and legal papers – it’s about whether your family can walk to the park without fear.
Politicians Are Making It Harder to Wear the Badge
In some blue states, governors have gone so far as to restrict federal agents from wearing masks to protect their identities.
That’s both foolish and dangerous.
California’s Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 627 this fall, limiting face coverings for law enforcement, including ICE officers, with narrow exceptions.
The law takes effect in January 2026 and is already facing legal challenges over federal preemption.
Imagine being an ICE agent, doing your job, and getting punished for it by your own government.
Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, city leaders cut the police budget while rioters attacked officers and federal buildings.
When Noem asked the mayor to step up security, he wrote an op-ed attacking her instead.
Nevada Still Backs the Badge
Here in the Silver State, most folks still believe in common sense.
When Gov. Joe Lombardo was Clark County Sheriff, he pushed back against anti-police rhetoric and fought to boost recruitment.
That’s the kind of leadership we need more of, especially as other states crumble under soft-on-crime policies.
We can’t let Nevada go the way of Portland or Chicago.
Law and Order vs Lawlessness
If we don’t stand up for the people who keep order, chaos fills the void.
The left likes to talk about “justice,” but justice means protecting innocent people, not coddling criminals.
It means defending the men and women who wear the badge, not making them the enemy.
Nevadans know the difference. We’ve seen what happens when cities let lawlessness run wild.
Businesses close. Families move. Communities fall apart.
So yes – when Kristi Noem says it’s time to take the rule of law seriously again, she’s absolutely right.
Once you lose it, you don’t get it back easily.
And Nevada should never be the kind of place that finds that out the hard way.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
