A group of Republican lawmakers from North Carolina has asked Gov. Josh Stein to bring the National Guard into Charlotte, arguing the city’s crime surge demands urgent action. They point to recent spikes in violent incidents, backing from the Fraternal Order of Police, and examples of prior Guard deployments in other cities as proof this move can make a difference. Lawmakers say the effort is meant to create breathing room for local police to do their jobs, while pressing for tougher local policies to keep violent offenders off the streets. The request lands amid mixed local crime stats and resistance from city leaders who prefer other strategies.
The letter from the three lawmakers lays out stark numbers and local frustrations, and it does not mince words about the trend they see unfolding. “Recently, the city faced eight homicides in seven days. The murder rate in uptown Charlotte is now than it was a year ago,” the letter states. They also cite the Fraternal Order of Police to show this is not just a political stunt but a plea from officers on the ground.
Representative Mark Harris, who signed the letter, was careful to underline that he’s carrying a broader demand. “This is not just my idea. This is the Fraternal Order of Police that had come, saying that they believed this is important and asking the governor and mayor to step up and do it,” Harris said. That comment makes clear the request is tied to law enforcement concerns, not just to lawmakers seeking headlines.
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The North Carolina push leans heavily on the precedent set by President Trump’s past deployments, framing them as examples of decisive action that produced results. “Other cities have deployed the National Guard and seen positive results. In Washington, D.C., when President Trump deployed troops under his lawful authority, the city promptly saw a reduction in crime, including twelve consecutive days without a single homicide,” the letter states. For Republicans, that track record is proof the Guard can be part of a fast, targeted response.
House GOP leaders have echoed the view that a visible federal response can help restore safety in hard-hit areas, and they’ve praised the North Carolina delegation for stepping up. “Millions of Americans don’t feel safe in many once-great cities, and President Trump is working with House Republicans to change that. As we’ve seen in D.C. and Memphis, President Trump took decisive action, cleaned up our streets, and made those cities safer,” Scalise said. “I commend my colleagues from North Carolina for calling out the violent crime in Charlotte and working to make the city safer for residents and visitors, and encourage more leaders to do the same,” he added.
Charlotte’s own police data tells a mixed story, with some categories rising and others falling, but the perception of danger is real to residents and visitors alike. Local reports show increases in aggravated assaults and certain robberies alongside declines in other crime types compared with last year. For people who walk uptown at night and run businesses downtown, trends and perceptions both matter when deciding whether their city feels safe.
Harris has said he views a National Guard deployment as temporary, a way to stabilize streets while police rebuild momentum and public pressure grows for change. “What I hope comes out of it is that in that time, the police are able to go after whoever these bad guys are, that are threatening this environment of crime. And then, at the end of the day, it’s going to create a hope, an outcry from the public that says, ‘We’re not going to accept our crime-ridden city anymore.’” That framing stresses the Guard as a catalyst, not a permanent occupation.
The lawmakers also use recent tragedies to press home the urgency of policy changes paired with any deployment. “After the murder of Iryna Zarutska, it brought to light a real issue with not keeping criminals behind bars,” Harris said, pointing to cases where repeat offenders were back on the street. “In her case, the guy had been arrested 14 times, been put out on the street. These are things that have a lot of issues to be addressed. That’s a judiciary issue.”
Opponents of federal or state troop deployments often argue about civil liberties or optics, but supporters here argue those concerns cannot eclipse the immediate need to protect citizens. Lawmakers say a short-term Guard presence can give police space to arrest violent offenders and reduce immediate harm while local leaders fix sentencing and release policies. The request to Gov. Stein now sits with his office as residents and officials wait to see whether the state will act.
Gov. Stein’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving the debate to simmer as the city watches crime numbers and political leaders trade arguments over the right way to restore safety. Republicans pressing the case say their priority is straightforward: reduce violence, back the police, and make Charlotte a place people can live and work without fear.
