Fox News host Brian Kilmeade is apologizing for some shocking comments he made on TV the other day.
The usually even-keeled host caused outrage after he suggested that mentally ill homeless people should be put to death. Kilmeade is now asking for forgiveness for his "extremely callous" statement.
Kilmeade's remark came as the brutal murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska has thrust urban crime back into the spotlight, fueling a fresh debate over how to protect riders on public transit from dangerous vagrants.
A homeless, mentally ill repeat offender, Decarlos Brown Jr., was charged with stabbing Zarutska in the neck on a North Carolina train in August.
During a discussion of the horrific, unprovoked murder on Fox and Friends, co-host Lawrence Jones said that mentally ill people who refuse help should be put in jail. Kilmeade went a step beyond and proposed something wildly draconian.
"Or involuntary lethal or something, just kill them," Kilmeade said.
The remark passed unnoticed by Jones and co-host Ainsley Earhardt, who added, "Yeah, Brian, why did it have to get to this point?"
A few days later, Kilmeade faced his audience and admitted he messed up.
"We were discussing the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina and how to stop these kinds of attacks by homeless, mentally ill assailants, including institutionalizing or jailing such people so they cannot attack again," Kilmeade said.
"Now during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark."
"I am obviously aware that not all mentally ill, homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion."
President Trump has called for re-opening insane asylums, which were gradually phased out in the 20th century over concerns about cruel and inhumane treatment.
While Kilmeade's execution remark drew the most attention, he had also urged people to "wake up" and vote for change.
"You can't put — keep putting these people in power. They woke up in Los Angeles, they got a stronger D.A," he said.
Obviously, Kilmeade's suggestion of killing homeless people is cruel and beyond the pale, but the status quo in many blue cities is too extreme in the other direction.
A pathological softness toward criminals has too often allowed dangerous people to roam free, placing innocent people in harm's way. That needs to change, no question.
