Government has a duty to protect our citizens. North Carolinians deserve safe streets, safe homes, and safe schools. I believe in strict laws that protect our communities and I believe in supporting the law enforcement officials who administer these laws. We also must ensure that once criminals are tried and convicted in our courts they serve out their full sentence. By 2012 we are expected to have a prison shortage of close to 5,000 beds. That is unacceptable. Reducing sentences and letting criminals back into society puts law-abiding North Carolinians in danger and undermines the rule of law. State government must focus on prioritizing spending to address this critical need.