It's not a new desire on many people's part. Many residents of eg. LA, Chicago, NYC have been lamenting the decline of law and order since (and also before) the 2020 riots. Politicians and law enforcement in these cities have shown that they either won't or can't enforce the law.
In a situation like that eventually either mobs or federal law enforcement need to get involved. Of those two choices, maybe you prefer the former. Many people prefer the latter though.
I'm a liberal (not progressive) in Chicagoland (in Oak Park, right next to Austin) and this lamentation for the decline of law and order is news to me. Homicides are sharply down since the Rahm Emanuel era.
In a situation like that eventually either mobs or federal law enforcement need to get involved. Of those two choices, maybe you prefer the former. Many people prefer the latter though.