Skip to main content
Tags: mark harris | north carolina | crime | iryna zarutska | josh stein | policies

Rep. Harris to Newsmax: Time to Course Correct Soft-on-Crime Policies

By    |   Monday, 29 September 2025 10:17 AM EDT

As the House Judiciary Committee heads to Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday for a field hearing on violent crime, Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., who sits on the panel, told Newsmax that it's time to course-correct the soft-on-crime policies that have led to horrific crimes like the targeted attack on a North Carolina waterfront bar over the weekend.

Three people were killed and at least eight were wounded Saturday night when someone piloted a small boat close to a waterfront bar in Southport, North Carolina, stopped briefly and opened fire before speeding off. Authorities said the shooting took place around 9:30 p.m.

"This is exactly what our House subcommittee from the Judiciary Committee is coming to Charlotte to do, and that is to have an opportunity to hear, in many cases, from victims of crime, to hear from law enforcement as well, that have been a part of this, and just see what we need to bring to light, because this is not something that the American people are going to tolerate," Harris said on "Wake Up America."

"I'm grateful that these things are coming to light, and that we have an opportunity to shine that light on it today in Charlotte and let the people of North Carolina and the people across the country recognize that these soft-on-crime policies are absolutely disastrous and it's time for us to step up and correct course," he added.

Pivoting to the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train last month, Harris said that there's clearly a "mental health piece to it," but said that "the real breakdown that took place … is the fact that here was an individual that had been arrested 14 times, had spent five years in prison for violent crime, and yet, when sitting before a magistrate," was released "back out onto the streets."

"We just can no longer tolerate these kind of policies and these kind of breakdowns," he said. "We've got to restore confidence in the American people in our justice system and make sure that they understand that criminals are going to be incarcerated and not left on our streets to roam, to do incredibly violent acts like we saw happen to Iryna Zarutska."

Iryna's Law, a new state criminal justice reform bill aimed at tightening bail rules and enhancing mental health evaluations for defendants, was passed by the North Carolina Legislature last week, but Harris said Democrat Gov. Josh Stein has not yet signed it.

"I think he's hesitating, frankly, because he's been a part of the problem all along, and he says it's complicated, well, it's not very complicated to the average American that looks at the realities of wanting to be safe on our streets," Harris said.

GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:

NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!

Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.

You need to watch NEWSMAX today.

Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!

Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now

BEST OFFER:

Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.

Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.

Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!

Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.

Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!

Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com

Nicole Weatherholtz

Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.

© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.


Newsmax-Tv
Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, told Newsmax that it's time to course-correct the soft-on-crime policies that have led to horrific crimes like the targeted attack on a North Carolina waterfront bar over the weekend.
mark harris, north carolina, crime, iryna zarutska, josh stein, policies
601
2025-17-29
Monday, 29 September 2025 10:17 AM
Newsmax Media, Inc.

Sign up for Newsmax’s Daily Newsletter

Receive breaking news and original analysis - sent right to your inbox.

(Optional for Local News)
Privacy: We never share your email address.
Join the Newsmax Community
Read and Post Comments
Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
 
TOP

Interest-Based Advertising | Do not sell or share my personal information

Newsmax, Moneynews, Newsmax Health, and Independent. American. are registered trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax TV, and Newsmax World are trademarks of Newsmax Media, Inc.

NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Download the Newsmax App
NEWSMAX.COM
America's News Page
© Newsmax Media, Inc.
All Rights Reserved