Last month in Los Angeles, our nation witnessed the war on police in action. Fervent calls to “defund the police” have now turned into wanting to eliminate the police at any and all costs. Onlookers stood by as an armed gunman approached a police vehicle and shot the two officers sitting inside. Protesters then showed up at the hospital where they were being treated and shouted, “I hope they f------ die.”
How did we get to this point?
Police officers keep us safe; they protect the wellbeing of our children and the livelihoods of our small businesses. They stand guard over our Friday night football games and answer every call regardless of circumstance. They are vital to maintaining law and order.
While it has become popular to kneel for everything and stand for very little, I will not bow down to the mob that demonizes law enforcement. I will not characterize an entire institution as evil based on the behavior of an isolated few, nor will I stay quiet as violence continues in communities across the country. That is not the America we know.
This country was founded on the principles of law and order, where the law rules the land – and under it, we are all equal. Such liberty and equality are unique traits that run deep in the fabric of our young nation; traits we should be working together to achieve more perfectly every waking moment. We may have a long road ahead of us, but the chaos and depravity we are witnessing in our streets and on our televisions only serve to set us back.
Recently, my daughters were the victims of disturbing attacks designed to intimidate our family due to my service as a Member of Congress. They received letters in the mail smeared with what was said to be fecal matter, talking about my obituary and telling them they should change their names. Both local law enforcement and Capitol Police were immediately notified and an investigation into the senders was opened.
Disgusting actions like these further divide our nation at a time when polarization seems to be at its highest peak in recent memory. Unfortunately, my family’s case is far from the first. When do we say, “enough?”
I’m grateful for the unwavering protection of those who have answered the call to serve, and I pray we forge ahead with wisdom addressing issues that plague our communities. I also pray that for the sake of my grandchildren and our future generations, we learn again to look each other in the eye–past the political ideology and differences–and see one another as neighbors, created equally, working together to build a stronger America.