Retired Detroit Police Chief James Craig Explains why he is a Republican, partly from his experience approving concealed handgun permits

James Craig is a very interesting man who has moved from being a Democrat to a Republican, and part of that transformation is due to the experience he has had with approving concealed handgun permits.

In his speech, Craig said growing up in Detroit as a Black youth made him automatically considered a Democrat. However, his life experiences, including his time in the Los Angeles Police Department during the Rodney King beating in 1991 and his being responsible for approving concealed pistol licenses as police chief in Portland, Maine, led to his growing affiliation with the Republican Party.

Craig also referenced historical figures which have influenced him, such as Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and Sojourner Truth, and their writings as reasons he is Republican.

“I’ve long had Republican values,” Craig said. “I was raised in the church. I was taught Republican values.”

Craig cited his belief in self reliance, his belief in a hand up instead of a hand out, his support of pro-life values, his support of the Second Amendment, his stance that police should be defended not defunded, his sport of the military and his pro-American and pro-freedom stances as reasons why he is Republican. . . .

Chloe Miller, “Retired Detroit Police Chief James Craig stops short of announcing run for governor in Jackson speech,” MLive, July 7, 2021.

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