Public weighs in on Republican presidential nominee's campaign promise

Donald Trump: 'Crime and violence ... will soon come to an end'

SAN ANTONIO – Visitors made it a point to see the Alamo Friday, but relatively few said they had watched Donald Trump’s acceptance speech at the Republican Convention where he made quite a campaign promise.

“The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end,” said the newly-minted Republican presidential nominee, already looking ahead to inauguration day. “Beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, safety will be restored.”

When told about the speech, Emilio Colon of La Grange, Texas said, “Oh, really? I don’t think so. He’s just saying that. I don’t think he can do it.”

“We do need some measures taken to restore safety in our country. I’m not sure he can do it that quickly,” said Catherine Ruebuse, of Deming, New Mexico.

Richard Adelberg from Florida said he believes Trump will get it done, even the candidate offered no specifics on how he’s going to do it.

“Everything that Donald Trump has really done in his life has not been easy, but he’s an achiever,” Adelberg said.

A political scientist and associate professor at the University of Texas San Antonio, Dr. Walter Wilson, said, “Those are big promises given that crime rates respond to much more than who’s in the White House.”

Wilson said crime rates are lower for the most part, despite a tragic string of recent high profile shootings involving civilians and police, some caught on cell phone video.

“These kinds of compelling visual narratives can be very useful in the political sphere,” Wilson said.

As for bringing an end to crime and violence already deeply embedded into society, Wilson said, “Suggesting that the problem can be solved overnight I think is naive at best.”


About the Author:

Jessie Degollado has been with KSAT since 1984. She is a general assignments reporter who covers a wide variety of stories. Raised in Laredo and as an anchor/reporter at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley, Jessie is especially familiar with border and immigration issues. In 2007, Jessie also was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.