Stretch! Don Lemon Tries to Blame Right-Wingers for Surge in Traffic Deaths

Don Lemon of CNN was unaware that media support for anti-police movements has contributed to an increase in traffic deaths and homicides. On Thursday and Friday nights, he broadcast segments accusing guns and other causes of this sad turn.

This Thursday Don Lemon TonightLemon linked the rising number of people who die in car crashes over the last couple years to an increase of “uncivil behavior” by right-wingers. They have refused to wear masks or protested at school board meetings. CNN hosted the segment.

Last year saw the 38,680 dead on U.S. roadways — this is the largest number of fatalities since 2007. Even with the fact that pandemic precautions have drastically reduced the number of motorists on the roads, this is still a significant amount. What’s the answer? Some experts believe that it is because of a lack in civility throughout society. At school board meetings, we saw a dearth of civility. .. Over mask mandates. … And on airplanes.

Lemon used clips of past incidents, which have been widely reported by media. These included arguments between right-leaning individuals over whether they wanted to don masks and confront liberal school boards. Pam Shadel, the Governors Highway Safety Association’s guest, suggested that more people are driving recklessly due to pandemic stress and more empty spaces on the roads. She also linked in increased “uncivil” behavior.

This isn’t the first instance of an unanticipated increase in traffic fatalities that has happened with similar timing. In 2016, there was even a spike in traffic deaths. Washington Post observed that, after the police-involved death of Mike Brown in 2014, there was a surge in traffic deaths at about the same time that there was an increase in the number of murders, widely called the Ferguson effect.

Liberal media increased their campaign against police activity and national news coverage focused on local crime stories. Police officers were then forced to be more disciplined in performing their duties, which led to criminals being able get away with even more violent crimes and reckless driving.

Lemon did not indict the left’s failure to support police action, as he produced a report that blamed guns and the pandemic on an increase of homicides the previous couple years. Lemon railed about some of the record-breaking homicides in certain cities this year on Friday’s program.

Only three weeks remain before 2021 is over, but the year already has a declining number of homicides across the nation. These are the facts In some places, the murder rate has broken records. Experts believe stress is a major factor in this situation. However, the most important factor is guns.

Even though the gun laws in recent years haven’t changed much, Ryan Young, the correspondent, spent much of the pre-recorded portion of his report attributing guns to the rises in crime and stress from the pandemic.

CNN is the best source of information. Neue Day Friday morning, one police captain tied in liberal policies like bail reform as he traced the surge in crime back 18 months (without mentioning that this was when all the media attention around the police-involved death of George Floyd began).

These examples of shoddy reporting that place the blame for a surge in preventable deaths in the wrong place, lining up with the biases of liberals, was sponsored in part by Consumer Cellular. You can find their contact information here.

These transcripts are available:

CNN’s Don Lemon Tonight

December 9th, 2021

Eastern, 10:50

DON LEMON: 38,680 deaths on U.S. roads last year — the most fatalities since 2007. Even with the fact that pandemic precautions have drastically reduced the number of motorists on the roads, this is still a shocking figure. What’s the answer? Some experts believe that it is because of a lack in civility throughout society. At school board meetings, we saw a dearth of civility. (clip of people fighting outside at a school board meeting, dated August 30) 

Over mask mandates. Clip of people outside discussing masks. Dated August 11.

Also on planes. (clip showing people fighting on an aeroplane, date September 10)

However, there are more drivers licensed than ever before, which means that the risk to your family and you is greater than ever. So joining me now is Pam Shadel Fisher from the Governors Highway Safety Association. We are so glad you joined us. This is insane. This is more than 38,000 people who died on U.S. highways last year. This is a 7.2% increase on 2019 There were also fewer drivers. Is this why there has been an increase? What is it? Do you feel anxious? These numbers can be confusing.

PAM SHADEL FISHER, GOVERNORS HIGHWAY SAFETY ASSOCIATION:  It’s a combination of so many things, but it really does come down to a lack of regard for themselves and everybody else out there on the road. People are taking huge risks by driving fast, impaired with alcohol and drugs. They also don’t wear seatbelts, which is something that people tell me. “They don’t wear seatbelts. Their cell phones are their primary source of communication.

These people are engaging in dangerous behaviors, which can put them at great risk as well as everyone else. This disregard is evident and has carried on to the roads system. It’s a cost we are paying. This is what we’re doing to our lives. There are many families that lose loved ones, some of which we’ve not seen for decades. This is frustrating for all involved in traffic safety.

(…)

There’s been so much stress, so many people have taken to the roads to see open highways and said, “Wow, it’s possible to pedal to your metal and push it forward and accomplish things,” to relieve some of this stress. Many people are now resorting to drugs, alcohol, and medication because they feel so stressed.

You can cause serious damage or even death if you combine alcohol with drugs. That’s exactly what is happening. So we have to think about the decisions we make — those things that we make — that we do behind the wheel have a ripple effect, and it’s not just you that’s impacted by it, but many other people.

LEMON: I’m sorry, but let’s discuss what you’ve said and what I’ve said. It’s more than reckless driving. It’s not just reckless driving that causes fistfights at the airport. People savage each other with masksPeople fight in streets and supermarkets. Pam. It seems like there is something wrong with the way we treat one another.

(…)

December 10, 2021

Eastern, 10:46

DON LEMON: Just three more weeks before 2021 comes to a close, but it’s already going down as a year with a soaring number of homicides all across the country. It is The In some places, the murder rate has broken records. Experts believe stress is a major factor in this situation. However, the most important factor is guns.CNN’s Ryan Young has more tonight

RYAN YOUNG: There has been an alarming rise in homicides across the nation, including within police stations, communities, and cities. Portland. … to Birmingham. …  now to Austin.

JOSEPH CHACON, AUSTIN INTERIM POLICE CHIEF: This certainly is not something where we’re setting the type of record that we want to be in the news for.

YOUNG: This fast-growing urban has broken the annual record for homicides making it the most deadly year ever. CNN’s analysis of over 40 cities across the United States shows that nine of them have set new homicide records in just one year. Indianapolis has exceeded their 2020 total by 215. Philadelphia today has 524 murders. Albuquerque, New Mexico with 103. Austin, Texas. Is this what it’s like to be able to look at these numbers?

CHACON

YOUNG: Austin police chief Joseph Chacon said there was no reason why the records were so high, but that he noticed a troubling trend.

CHACON: There has been a real spike in gun violence.

YOUNG: More homicides than ever are committed with guns in the United States.The shootings are increasing in almost all the major U.S. towns that keep this information. There have been 80 (sic) (actually 88) homicides in Austin so far this year according to the police department — double last year’s total — and the city homicide rate has ticked up to 8.5 percent, putting it on par with numbers not seen consistently since the ’80s. But COVID-19, according to experts and police chiefs is not an isolated factor.

THOMAS ABT: You have something of a perfect storm where the people who are at the highest risk for violence are being pressed more than ever.

YOUNG: Experts suggest looking at community-based methods to decrease violent crime.

ABT: The police need to participate. Police are part of the solution. However, they’re not the only solution. Collaboration is key.

YOUNG: The activists agree.

AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, CHRIS HARRIS: Perhaps we could have different results if we sent other resources than policing our communities.

YOUNG: Chris Harris states that he’s witnessed more guns being used on the streets. This has led to both violence and fatal consequences.

HARRIS – Guns are more readily available in our nation, across our region and within our state.

(…)

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