This seems like a thoughtless comment.
Rehabilitation and opportunity are massive parts of the strategy which are already being implemented nationwide.
Tough on crime may only be a part of the formula, but it is a crucial and indispensable part, and without which the other parts are meaningless.
Not only from a utilitarian perspective whereby society can only really develop the opportunities needed to avoid a life of crime if there is a good level of criminality in the first place, but also from a moral point of view. Lack of punishment for the criminal is an injustice for the victim. Only justice will bring peace.
A "thoughtless comment" would be something more flippant like, "lock 'em up and throw away the key!".
Tough on crime may only be a part of the formula, but it is a crucial and indispensable part
I didn't say it wasn't.
and without which the other parts are meaningless.
This is basically what I said but inverted. It's like if I said "1+1=2" and then you rebutted "yes, but let's not forget that 2=1+1".
Sorry for being concise and not verbose.
Young men also become destructive when they become institutionalized. Tough on crime is only a part of the formula - you also need rehabilitation and opportunity.