See my top-level comment. I don't think he's misunderstanding encryption. I think he's misunderstanding (or mis-defining) "public safety".
Reasonably secure open source solutions exist at large for encrypted messaging, and people who really want to keep their communications hidden will simple not adhere to these regulations.
Meanwhile, we'd be weakening domestic standards for all "law abiding" citizens/entities. A back door is never just a back door for the person who put it there.