New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton on Monday refuted GOP candidates’ recent remarks about the dangers of immigrants coming into the U.S. and explained that the biggest threat to Americans comes from the country’s own citizens.
Speaking to Don Lemon on CNN Monday night, Mr. Bratton said he disagreed with businessman Donald Trump’s assessment that America was unsafe because of a surge of Muslims coming into the country.
“America is a very safe place,” Mr. Bratton said, Mediaite reported. “But we have had our incidences, as we know. We’ve had more than our fair share of mass killings, some committed by terrorists, but the vast majority committed by American citizens living here who have access to firearms.”
“The bigger threat at the moment is from our own citizens than from those abroad,” Mr. Bratton added.
He said that the threat may change over time as the world becomes ‘“less stable” but said that since 9/11, U.S. law enforcement has put in place significant counterterrorism measures to ensure the safety of Americans.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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