In modern political discourse, the distinction between a national problem and a widely publicized local problem is about as clear as mud. It seems as if no area of our lives, no social problem, is beyond the purview of some federal agency. Whether the topic is teenage pregnancy, drug use, literacy, or the price of a gallon of gasoline, Washington's politicians and bureaucrats claim to have an answer.
Crime is no different.
Despite some tactical differences, the conventional wisdom in both of our major political parties is that the federal government should take a more active role in combatting crime. The conventional wisdom, however, is based on a set of assumptions that are both constitutionally dubious and resistant to empirical evidence. The Constitution delegates only a limited set of powers to the federal government. Contrary to popular belief, the Constitution does not authorize the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or any other federal agency, to combat intrastate crimes such as murder, rape, and theft. The Tenth Amendment leaves primary jurisdiction over criminal matters with state government.