Tag: crime

3 Disasters That Legal Weed Didn’t Unleash—Despite the Forecasts

Happy 4/20 to the millions of people across the country who celebrate, including much of the Reason staff. As someone who’s never been interested in pot—save for one summer in college—or drugs in general, I’ve always found the day a bit strange. But as I’ve grown older (and more libertarian), I’ve come to appreciate it as a celebration of personal freedom. 

I’m not the only one who has changed his mind. In 2025, 64 percent of Americans thought marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational use (up from 31 percent in 2000), according to Gallup. Meanwhile, 40 states have legalized medical use of cannabis, including 24 that also allow recreational use. Late last year, President Donald Trump ordered that marijuana be reclassified from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, putting it in the same category as prescription drugs such as “ketamine, anabolic steroids, and Tylenol with codeine,” explains Reason‘s Jacob Sullum.

Prohibitionists warned that legalization would have dire consequences. Here are some of their predictions that have yet to come true. 

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Despite New Gun Controls, Homicides Are Spiking in Colorado’s Democratic Stronghold

When the FBI’s official crime stats come out later this year, we’re likely to learn that 2025 saw a record-setting decline in homicides nationwide, and that the overall homicide rate is the lowest it’s been since the FBI started keeping track in 1960. 

That welcome trend seems to be continuing in 2026, with criminologist Jeff Asher’s Real Time Crime Index showing another 22% decline in homicides through the first two months of the year. 

Still, there are some outliers, and one of them is Denver, Colorado. Last year Denver saw a 48% decrease in homicides, with Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas pointing to “a mix of faster police response, medical intervention, and long-term prevention strategies.” This year, though, homicides are trending in the wrong direction.

Data provided by police show that total crime, violent crime and reported gun-related offenses are down compared with both last year and recent averages. At the same time, homicides have risen compared with this point last year, with 17 reported so far in 2026, up from 10 during the same period in 2025.

Last year, Democrats in the Colorado legislature added several new restrictions to the spate of gun control laws that have been put in place since 2011, but they don’t appear to be having any kind of impact on homicides in the state’s biggest city. That’s hardly a surprise, though, given that violent crime overall climbed steadily over most of the past 15 years. 

In May, 2024 the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice released its report documenting crime rates between 2013 and 2022. Over that ten year period, violent crime rose by 61%, homicides increased by 94%, and aggravated assaults grew 88%. 

During that same ten-year period, Colorado instituted a number of gun control laws, starting with “universal” background checks and a ban on “large capacity” magazines in 2013. That was followed by a “red flag” law in 2019, and in 2021, new storage mandates for gun owners, a “lost or stolen” reporting requirement, and an end to the state’s firearm preemption law. 

Despite having almost a dozen anti-2A measures implemented over that time period, the homicide rate nearly doubled, and violent crime rates soared ever upward. 

Supposedly, overall violent crimes are down in Denver this year, even though homicides have increased by 70%, according to the CBS affiliate. Oddly, the Denver PD’s homicide dashboard reports 16, not 17 homicides, but even that is a 60% increase in murders. Non-fatal shootings have declined by 12% this  year, according to police, though in raw numbers we’re talking about five fewer incidents over the first 3 1/2 months of the year, which is hardly anything to write home about. 

The number of gun-involved homicides is also higher this year than at the same point in 2025, which is yet another sign that Colorado’s restrictive gun laws aren’t preventing violent offenders from getting their hands on a firearm. In the first four months of 2025 there were 10 homicides involving a firearm. We still have almost two weeks left in April, but Denver has already seen 12 homicides where a gun was involved. 

Of course, none of these statistics will matter to the anti-gun Democrats who keep ramming gun control laws through the legislature. They may use crime and public safety as a rationale for these laws, but the real goal is to prevent and prohibit lawful gun ownership. If violent crime falls at the same time, all the better, but that’s clearly not necessary for them to continue their crackdown on the exercise of our Second Amendment rights. 

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Texas Judge Imposes Media Blackout on Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial: Only 9 Reporters Allowed, No Cameras, No Livestreams — Family Spokesperson Previously Called Case a ‘Fight Against White Supremacy’

Collin County District Judge John Roach Jr. has issued sweeping new restrictions on media coverage for the upcoming murder trial of Karmelo Anthony, the teenager charged with fatally stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf during a high school track meet last year.

The order, signed Friday in the 296th District Court, severely limits press access and bans all recording devices.

Citing the intense public interest and the precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in Sheppard v. Maxwell, Judge Roach claimed that excessive media coverage could prejudice the trial.

Under the new rules, which go into effect for the trial scheduled to begin June 1:

  • The courtroom opens at 8:30 a.m. with staggered entry: credentialed media at 8:30 a.m., victims’ and defendant’s families at 8:40 a.m., and the general public at 8:50 a.m. Doors close at 9:00 a.m. with no re-entry until recess.
  • Only nine credentialed media members are permitted inside the courtroom at any time. The Collin County Public Information Office will manage all credentials and seating.
  • No photography, video, audio recording, livestreaming, or any visual/audio capture is allowed by media or the public.
  • No images or recordings of witnesses, prospective jurors, or jurors may be published.
  • Media interviews with trial participants are prohibited inside the courtroom and can only occur after the trial ends.
  • Strict decorum is required — no reactions, outbursts, talking, signs, or gestures.
  • All attendees must clear security screening.
  • Trial exhibits will not be released until after the verdict.

The Collin County Sheriff’s Office will enforce the order, with violations potentially resulting in removal, loss of credentials, or contempt charges.

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Georgia Election Workers Charged for Years-Long Healthcare Fraud Scheme

Two Georgia elections workers and other Middle Georgia women have been charged for their role in a healthcare fraud scheme.

Tarshea Fudge-Riley, elections supervisor for Macon County and Lamonica Lakes, election clerk and deputy election registrar allegedly participated in a years-long scheme to commit healthcare fraud.

The women allegedly submitted fraudulent insurance claims for mental health therapy sessions that never even happened.

“Federal prosecutors believe Fudge-Riley, who is the Chief Macon County BOE Supervisor, and Lakes, an elections clerk at the Macon County BOE, as well as Childs, were paid by James Ellis to knowingly create fake therapy session notes that were submitted to health insurance providers for “pre-payment review,”” WGXA reported.

And these are the people we are supposed to trust with elections.

Fudge-Riley and Lakes reportedly still work in the elections office.

The women received millions of dollars after submitting fraudulent claims.

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CANADA: Local Pride Organization Founder Facing Sex Trafficking Charges

The founder of a local Pride organization based in the town of Innisfil, Canada, appeared in court this week facing charges relating to the alleged sex trafficking of two women in 2021. Jake Tucker is said to have pimped two Barrie women over six-year period ending in 2021, while other charges against him include sexual assault, assault causing bodily harm, and assault.

According to a report from local outlet Innisfil Today, Tucker faces a total of 10 counts against two victims. Crown attorney Susan Orlando described to the court how Tucker groomed the women by forming a friendship with them and convincing them to enter the sex trade for him, while he slowly began to exercise more control over their lives.

Specific details regarding the nature of the charges have been withheld due to a publication ban out of concern for the safety of the victims. However, the case against Tucker alleges that he coerced the women into an “overwhelming commitment to service customers” as he gradually began to pocket an increasing portion of their earnings.

While the offenses are said to have occurred in 2021, and court proceedings began just this week, another Pride organization appears to have been aware of the charges against Tucker as early as 2022.

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Prosecutors Reveal Camera Footage that Shows Captured Tyler Robinson Going to Sniper’s Perch, Taking Shot that Killed Charlie and then Running Off to Wooded Area

The trial of alleged Charlie Kirk killer Tyler Robinson continued this wee in Utah.

The defense team for Tyler Robinson filed a motion this week asking the court to hold the Utah County Attorney and his team in contempt.

Tyler Robinson is charged with one count of aggravated murder with the victim targeting enhancement, one count of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and two counts of obstruction of justice with capital or first-degree felony conduct.

Prosecutors revealed the campus cameras captured Tyler Robinson going to the snipers perch, taking the shot at Charlie Kirk, and then running away into a wooded area.

That’s going to be evidence that will be difficult to beat in court.

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Two US citizens get combined 16 years in prison for running North Korean laptop farms — fake remote IT work scheme netted DPRK $5 million in around three years

Two individuals from New Jersey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering after their arrest in June 2025 for running laptop farms that allowed North Korean IT workers to pose as American residents and work at U.S. companies. According to the Department of Justice, the two individuals, Kejia Wang and Zhenxing Wang, were sentenced to 9 years and 7 years and 8 months of prison time, respectively, plus another three years of supervised release. Furthermore, they are required to forfeit a total of $600,000 that they were paid for during their service to North Korea, more formally known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

“For years, the defendants enriched themselves by assisting North Korean actors in a fraudulent scheme to gain employment with U.S. companies,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said in the statement. “The ruse placed North Korean IT workers on the payrolls of unwitting U.S. companies and in U.S. computer systems, thereby harming our national security. NSD will hold accountable those who facilitate North Korea’s illicit revenue generation efforts.”

Records reveal that the two defendants, plus several other co-conspirators, stole the identities of over 80 U.S. persons and used them to illicitly gain positions in over 100 U.S. companies, including several that are listed in the Fortune 500. This resulted in massive expenses for the affected businesses, where they collectively had to spend over $3 million on legal fees, computer network remediation costs, and other damages.

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CULTURE OF DEATH: Canadian Man Who Mailed Poison to People and Helped Them Kill Themselves Will Plead Guilty to Minor Charges To Avoid 14 Murder Counts

Law’s crimes are another nightmarish story in the sinking of Canada into the culture of death.

We have been reporting here on TGP about the rampant culture of death in Canada, and most specifically about the murderous saga of Kenneth Law, as you can read in Canadian Man Charged With 14 Counts of Murder for Mailing Poison to Young People, Helping Them Kill Themselves.

Today, news broke that, according to Law’s lawyer, he will plead guilty to ‘counseling or aiding suicide’.

In turn, Canadian prosecutors will withdraw no less than 14 murder charges filed against him.

Associated Press reported:

“’The plea will be to the charges of aiding suicide’, [lawyer Matthew Gourlay] said in an email. […] Law’s case is scheduled to return to a Newmarket, Ontario, court on Monday afternoon. Calls to Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General weren’t immediately answered.

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Judge Orders Colorado to Stop Throwing Prisoners in Solitary for Refusing to Work

In 2019, while incarcerated at the Centennial Correctional Facility in Colorado and assigned to shifts in the kitchen, Nadia Reed refused to work for two days in one month. All incarcerated people in Colorado are required to labor, and are typically paid mere cents an hour. Her punishment for that decision was being confined to her cell alone for 23 hours a day for 30 days, unable to interact with any other incarcerated people, not even during the hour she was allowed out for exercise and to shower. She was also denied the ability to talk to her loved ones. In court testimony, she described the isolation as “very depressing,” leading her to self-harm. 

The following year, after Reed completed her assigned shift in the kitchen, she was ordered to stay longer to do additional work. She refused, for which she was handcuffed, shackled, strip searched, put in solitary confinement and once again confined to her cell for 23 hours a day, according to her testimony. As a result of the incident, Reed was reclassified from medium security to a higher level, and she says she was sexually assaulted when she was moved into that part of the prison.

Experiences like Reed’s are common in Colorado, with Bolts reporting in 2023 that incarcerated people there are routinely subjected to solitary confinement and other punishments for refusing to work. But that could soon be a thing of the past. In a groundbreaking ruling last month in a lawsuit filed against the state by Harold Mortis and Richard Lilgerose, men who were punished for refusing to work in crowded prison kitchens during the COVID-19 pandemic, a state district court judge found that Colorado is violating incarcerated people’s rights by the way it punishes them for refusing to work. 

The judge ruled that Colorado has failed to abide by a change voters made to their state constitution in 2018 that erased language allowing “slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime.”

While the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery at the end of the Civil War, it included a carveout that sanctions it as punishment for people convicted of crimes. Many state constitutions include the same loophole, which has allowed prisons to force incarcerated people to work under threat of discipline, often for little pay; seven states don’t pay anything for most prison jobs. 

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California’s “Stop Nick Shirley Act” Would Penalize Journalism

California’s Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee voted 11-2 on April 7 to advance a bill that would let employees and volunteers at immigration service organizations demand the deletion of their images and personal information from the internet, backed by civil penalties starting at $4,000 and the threat of criminal charges.

AB 2624, authored by Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, is already being called the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.”

We obtained a copy of the bill for you here.

The bill arrives just weeks after investigative video creator Nick Shirley published a 40-minute video on alleged hospice fraud in California that racked up 42 million views on X.

Other investigations have found that a single program is causing the state to lose an alleged $6 billion in fraud annually. Shirley had already reported on over $110 million in Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota in December 2025, with empty facilities billing taxpayers while kids were nowhere to be found.

His California reporting uncovered an alleged $170 million in similar fraud in daycares and hospices, with ghost operations registered to empty lots and strip malls. Sacramento’s response to this flood of documented waste and abuse was not an audit, not an investigation into the programs themselves, but a bill to make it harder to film the people running them.

Under AB 2624, anyone affiliated with an organization providing “designated immigration support services” can send a written demand prohibiting the publication of their personal information or image online.

That demand remains effective for four years, even after the person leaves the organization. If the demand is ignored, the person can go to court for an injunction or declaratory relief.

Fines run up to three times the actual damages, with a floor of $4,000, meaning the minimum penalty triples to $12,000 in cases where a takedown demand is defied. If a journalist or anyone else is accused of posting information with the intent to incite harm, they face criminal charges and fines of $10,000.

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