Rantz: Democrats want lighter sentences for violent felons, citing too many Black offenders

Washington Democrats are pushing another so-called “reform” bill that lessens penalties on violent felons with guns because, they argue, too many black Washingtonians are breaking the law. If the law passes, thanks to lighter sentences, dangerous felons will walk out of prison earlier than they should.

House Bill 1178 eliminates key sentencing enhancements, including mandatory stacking of firearm and deadly weapon enhancements, reduces penalties for drug-related crimes in protected areas and allows convicted offenders to serve these enhanced sentences concurrently, ensuring they get out sooner than their sentence would normally allow. Sentencing enhancements would also be eligible for earned release time under the bill, including firearm and deadly weapons, impaired driving and sexual motivation enhancements, allowing violent criminals to leave prison early. This is not the first time the soft-on-crime bill sponsor, Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland, has introduced legislation like this.

Proponents argue it’s necessary to address racial disparities, but this legislation is nothing more than another soft-on-crime policy masquerading as justice reform. It’s a “reform” bill that does everything but reform crime — it coddles criminals.

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Democrats argue sentence enhancements are racist but don’t have any proof — they just want lighter sentences

At the heart of HB 1178’s support is the claim that sentencing enhancements disproportionately affect black offenders.

Dr. Lauren Knoth Peterson testified, citing her study showing black defendants accounted for 29% of all firearm enhancements, despite being only 14% of the state’s population​. Her solution? Remove the enhancements altogether. That logic is baffling. If the problem is racial bias, wouldn’t the logical step be to ensure enhancements are applied fairly, rather than abandoning them? But she’s only implying racial bias, not proving it. She admits in her study that she doesn’t know why there’s disproportionately.

Anthony Powers of the American Equity and Justice Group added that firearm enhancements are supposedly rooted in systemic inequity, baselessly arguing that “these disparities do not align with any increase in violent behavior or firearm use among minority populations.” He does not cite any data to back up his claim. But even he acknowledges that these crimes are happening, he just doesn’t like the racial demographics of the felons.

No one disputes the data showing higher conviction rates among black offenders, but not a single supporter of this bill claims black offenders are innocent. The crimes are real. If white, Latino or Asian criminals are getting off easy, the solution isn’t to lower the bar; it’s to enforce laws fairly and hold all offenders accountable.

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Judicial discretion is a red herring for lighter sentences

Supporters repeatedly invoke “judicial discretion” as a solution to so-called unfair sentencing, as if lighter sentences wouldn’t be a guarantee.

Adam Haman, a public defender, laughably claimed, “Judges sometimes want to go higher than the sentencing allows … all we’re asking for is discretion.” If there was any evidence that judges routinely want higher sentences in Washington, Haman wouldn’t support the bill. Despite record-high crimes over the last five years, Washington’s felony prison and jail sentences fell by 47% because Democrats in the state legislature and on the bench chose to stop jailing criminals.

Discretion consistently translates to leniency, especially in progressive King and Pierce Counties, where many judges are politically aligned with policies that favor offenders over victims. HB 1178 effectively prioritizes the plight of criminals over the safety of their victims.

Downplaying crimes

HB 1178 eliminates enhancements for crimes involving minors and those committed in protected zones, like near schools. Prosecutors and law enforcement are rightly concerned.

James McMahon, representing Washington’s Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, reminded the committee that firearm violence disproportionately affects communities of color, the very communities Democrats claim to protect. His argument is simple: reducing penalties does not deter crime — it enables it.

What’s more, research cited by HB 1178’s proponents fails to prove that mandatory enhancements don’t deter crime. While long sentences may not deter all criminals, they certainly prevent repeat offenses. As McMahon pointed out, “If they are being managed (in prison), it certainly does stop them from committing more crimes while they are incarcerated.”

Another soft-on-crime bill from Democrats

What’s truly alarming is that HB 1178 isn’t just about lighter sentencing. It’s about redefining justice to accommodate criminals at the expense of public safety.

Supporters argue for reduced penalties and early release, framing these changes as steps toward rehabilitation. But what about the victims? Where’s the justice for families devastated by violent crime, drug offenses and gang activity?

HB 1178 signals to criminals that Washington is more interested in addressing their feelings than enforcing laws. It undermines law enforcement, reduces accountability and emboldens offenders. Democrats claim this is about fairness, but fairness doesn’t mean tipping the scales in favor of criminals — it means protecting the public and ensuring justice for victims.

Washingtonians deserve better than the soft-on-crime policies, in the form of lighter sentences, in HB 1178. We should focus on protecting victims, supporting law enforcement and holding offenders accountable. Anything less is a betrayal of justice.

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