Opposition to Defunding Police Departments

Floor Speech

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Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic efforts of West Lafayette Police Officer Brian Danosky.

On the morning of August 27, Officer Danosky found 22-year-old Troy Moffitt, who was bleeding from a gunshot wound. Not knowing if the shooter was still in the area, Officer Danosky ignored the danger to his life and rushed to save Mr. Moffitt. Officer Danosky applied a tourniquet to Moffitt's leg, an act that saved Mr. Moffitt's life.

Officer Danosky went above and beyond the call of duty and risked his own safety to save the life of a citizen he swore to protect and serve. For that, Officer Danosky will be the third officer in the last 10 years to receive the Silver Merit Award.

I commend Officer Danosky for his act of bravery, and on behalf of all Hoosiers in the Fourth District, I thank him for his service.

Mr. Speaker, I offer Officer Danosky's story to my colleagues not only to highlight his heroic actions, but to remind them that our police officers are dedicated public servants who want to protect their communities.

Unfortunately, there is a growing movement to disparage and defund our law enforcement officers. There are even some in this Congress who advocate defunding police departments. We are already seeing the disastrous effects happening over our country in cities where they slice police budgets.

New York City took $1 billion from their police budget amid rising crime. In July, the city saw a 59 percent increase in murders compared to last year.

The city of Minneapolis is pushing to eliminate their police department at a time when they are seeing a spike in murders.

What makes this rise in crime even more tragic is that the victims are often from underserved communities, the same communities, we are told, that will benefit from fewer police officers in their neighborhoods.

These communities are no different from the communities in my district. They want the same thing: good jobs, good schools, safe communities, and a place to raise their families.

I will continue to support our police officers and oppose any efforts to defund them. Supporting the Second Amendment

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Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the millions of Americans who are exercising their Second Amendment right and becoming law-abiding gun owners.

As people across our Nation and across our country watch riots and crime consume our cities and the elected leaders in those cities do little or nothing to stop it, people will ensure they have the means to defend themselves and their family. These millions of Americans who are purchasing these firearms are exercising their God-given and constitutional right to self-defense.

Since March of this year, at least 1.5 million firearms have been sold every month. I pledge to these new gun owners that I will not only work to restore law and order to our communities, but also protect the Second Amendment and make certain every American has the right to protect themselves and their families. E Pluribus Unum

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Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my fellow citizens that, despite our differences and beliefs and our deep divisions, we can still come together as one nation under one flag.

We remember the words stitched on our Nation's first seal, ``e pluribus unum,'' ``out of many, one.'' No matter where you came from, what creed you follow, or the color of your skin, we are one nation united under the banner of freedom.

This great experiment in self-government that we call the United States of America has been able to achieve great things like defeating Nazi Germany and landing a man on the Moon because we came together as one. When we stand shoulder to shoulder, there is no obstacle our country can't overcome.

I ask every American to reflect and remember the bonds that unite us and that they are stronger than those that divide us.

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