When I served overseas, I saw the worst of humanity. But nothing prepared me for the kind of sickness we see happening right here at home. What happened in Brooklyn this past week is a gut punch to anyone who values decency, law and order, and the safety of our children.
A 22-year-old man named Justin Lee was arrested in Brooklyn after attacking two teenage girls on the same day. According to police, Lee first followed a 13-year-old girl into her apartment building near Ocean Boulevard and Ditmas Avenue in the Kensington neighborhood. This happened around 1:35 in the afternoon—broad daylight, right when kids are walking home from school. Lee, who was wearing a red Mario Kart t-shirt and a black ski mask, grabbed the girl by the neck and tried to drag her under a staircase. Thankfully, she got away, and police say she wasn’t physically hurt. But let’s be clear—this kind of trauma leaves deep scars that don’t show up on the outside.
That alone would be horrifying. But it didn’t stop there. A few hours later, Lee allegedly attacked a second girl, this time a 15-year-old, in the same area. Again, police say she wasn’t physically injured, but the damage is done. This is a predator who thought he could hunt our daughters in his own neighborhood, without fear of consequence.
Now, Lee has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and harassment. That’s it—at least for now. While his arraignment is still pending, those charges seem awfully light for someone accused of attempting two sexual assaults in one day. If that doesn’t make your blood boil, I don’t know what will.
As a veteran, I’ve fought to protect our nation from harm. But I’ll tell you this: the fight we face at home is just as serious. We have to protect our streets. We have to protect our kids. And sadly, that means facing the fact that there are evil men like this walking among us. What’s worse is that many of them are protected by a system more concerned with political correctness than justice.
This isn’t just a New York problem. This is happening all across America. Criminals are getting bolder, especially in big cities where soft-on-crime policies have let them run free. Back when I was growing up, a man who tried to harm a child wouldn’t last long in any neighborhood. Communities looked out for their own. These days, too many folks are afraid to speak up or take action. That’s got to change.
It’s time we bring back law and order—not just in name, but in action. That means real consequences for predators. It means judges who aren’t afraid to throw the book at people like Justin Lee. It means giving law enforcement the tools and support they need to clean up our streets. And it means never letting politics get in the way of protecting our families.
We also need to have serious talks in our homes and schools. Our kids need to know the warning signs, and they need to know how to protect themselves. Situational awareness, self-defense, and yes, even the responsible use of personal protection—these are things every American should be thinking about. When evil walks the streets, good people have to be ready.
To the young girls who were attacked, our hearts are with you. You are brave. You survived something no one should ever go through. And to the families—stand strong. You are not alone. The rest of us are behind you.
And to the rest of America: wake up. This isn’t a headline from some faraway place. This is happening in our own backyard. We either get serious about stopping it, or we keep watching our freedoms and safety slip away. It’s time to take our country back—one block, one street, one neighborhood at a time.
