During his Fox News show on Sunday night, former Republican Trey Gowdy talked about just how important public safety is, warning of how dangerous it is when that is politicized.

“Politics is of very little significance if you’re dead, injured, robbed or assaulted,” Gowdy said. “I never had a political conversation with a crime victim or a cop or a fellow prosecutor, never. Public safety is too important to be just another political tool.”

Gowdy went on to say that the defund the police movement leading to crime spikes all over the country is a solid indicator of the failure of government, which is something that everyone should realize regardless of party affiliation, according to him.

“When I see spikes in crime, I view it as both proof of why we have government in the first place, which is because everyone cannot be counted on to treat their fellow citizens with respect and dignity,” he explained. “And I also view rising crime rates as a failure of government to meet its number one priority.”

Gowdy then said that it’s “ridiculous” that people have been calling for police officers to be eliminated and replaced by social workers and psychologists. He reminded his viewers that physical protection is essential in life-threatening situations.

“You let me know if that is the first thing you think of when you are being assaulted on a subway or you hear someone breaking into your house or God forbid someone pulls a weapon on you,” he said. “You let me know whether you want to call social workers and psychologists or call the police.”

Gowdy also attacked the media for excusing violent protests around the country, saying that the law dictates that protests be peaceful.

“The true test of citizenship is can you follow a law you disagree with?” he asked. “Can you act responsibly when you are disappointed? Either we are a nation of laws or we are not. And when I reflect on the rising homicide or murder rates, I think of all the promise and potential this country offers.”

“And then I wonder of all these freedoms and liberties we enjoy,” Gowdy concluded. “How many of them are of any use when you are dead? Freedom of speech, free exercise of religion, the right to counsel, what use is any of that if you are dead?”

Check out Gowdy’s full monologue on this below.

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