CJ Pearson: Lawmakers should address retail theft at the scene of the crime, not online
Smash and grab robberies are not only plaguing Alabama, but the country as a whole. It’s up to Alabama’s lawmakers to make sure they respond with policy that is tough on crime. However, the only parties bills like HB 318 will be tough on are our local small business community. While the intent behind HB 318 is admirable, there’s little evidence to suggest that it will actually be effective in halting the wave of organized retail crime in its tracks. It’s not the fix we need. Amid the pandemic, many craftsmen, artisans, and entrepreneurs have moved their businesses online and are working from the comfort and security of their home rather than a traditional storefront. If HB 318 becomes law, it will force small businesses to provide a home address and other personal information for the entire internet to see, undermining the very reason many sellers choose to work from home in the first place. Exposing online sellers’ personal information won’t curb in-store organized retail crime, but it could lead to home break-ins, stalking, identity theft, and other forms of harassment. Not to mention, home invasions are a growing concern these days. Handing such sensitive details over to bad actors is just plain irresponsible. Small business owners shouldn’t have to worry about putting their families’ privacy and safety at risk just to make an honest living—this isn’t a choice our legislators should force them to make. During challenging times like these, we should be supporting the people of Alabama, not tying them up with more regulations and red tape. More rules mean less freedom for our Virtual Main Street to thrive and survive in an economy that is already suffocating under sky-high inflation and a supply chain crisis. Instead, let’s address the problem at its source: the stores organized retail crime bandits are targeting in the first place. What we really need are common-sense legislative solutions that are tough on crime. This is an opportunity for Alabama to be leaders in empowering our law enforcement amid a clarion call to defund the police. Let’s make sure our men and women in blue are rich in the resources they need to do their job to crack down on actual crooks, not hardworking business owners. Retail theft needs to be addressed at the scene of the crime, not online. Lawmakers aren’t elected to make life more difficult for Alabama small businesses. If safety truly is the priority here, let’s not put Alabama businesses at risk in a misguided attempt to address retail crime. There’s a better solution to the in-store retail theft problem—supporting our local law enforcement. Alabama legislators should vote no on HB 318. CJ Pearson is the Founder of the Free Thinker Project and a student at the University of Alabama.
