JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Republican candidates in Missouri’s gubernatorial primary are pledging an aggressive law-and-order approach, two years after the fatal Ferguson police shooting of Michael Brown prompted widespread protests.

The shooting of the black 18-year-old by a white officer honed the nation’s attention on racial relations with police.
But the four candidates in Missouri’s GOP primary aren’t focusing on complaints about police discrimination. Instead, their TV ads have shown images of riots while promising to “secure our streets” and “enforce the law.”

Strong talk has been common nationwide amid a seeming surge in international attacks and deadly domestic incidents, including the more fatal police shootings of black men followed by ambush shootings of police.
At the Republican National Convention this past week, the slogan for the opening day was “Make America Safe Again.”