Mississippi Congressmen Steven Palazzo and Michael Guest are cosponsors of a resolution that condemns efforts to defund law enforcement while calling for justice after George Floyd’s tragic death.

U.S. Representative Greg Steube of Florida introduced the resolution on Monday.
 
“We all pray for justice for George Floyd but demands to defund the police spring from an outburst of political emotion, not a thoughtful discussion of public safety reforms,” Steube said. “Law enforcement is here to protect and serve all Americans – defunding public safety won’t solve any problems and only poses an extraordinary risk to our citizens who depend on society’s most basic governmental service of protecting life and property.”

Steube introduced the legislation with 19 of his colleagues, including U.S. Representatives Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Andy Harris (R-Md.), David Rouzer (R-N.C.), Steven Palazzo (R-Miss.), Scott Perry (R-Va.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), Bob Gibbs (Ohio), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), and Scott Tipton (R-Colo.).

“Just over a year ago, south Mississippi mourned the senseless murder of Officer Robert McKeithen.  Last week Mississippi lost one of our Sherriff Deputies, James Blair, in the line of duty while apprehending a dangerous criminal. Today, I cosponsor this resolution in support of Officer McKeithen, Deputy Blair, and so many other brave Mississippians who understand the risks of the job and still choose to serve our communities as law enforcement. Defunding the police is not the answer to today’s problems and I stand proudly with our men and women in blue,” Palazzo said.

“The death of George Floyd is a tragedy and we must take steps to help mitigate the potential loss of life in all police interactions. Improving our police force starts with building on the proven methods that have worked for years and changing the methods that don’t work,” Guest said. “Our nation has worked continuously to advance our institutions, and we have done it successfully without tearing up the foundation to start from scratch. Completely dismantling the police force is a disastrous idea. How many innocent lives would be damaged if nobody was there to respond to a 9-1-1 call? Who would respond to violence in our communities if we abolish the police? “Nobody” is not an acceptable answer. We need a well-trained police force to uphold the law and save lives. Period.”

Recent polls suggest that the majority of Americans oppose defunding their local police and public safety departments.

This resolution follows House Democrats’ introduction of H.R. 7120, the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which sets forth dangerous leftist policy to defund our nation’s law enforcement offices, dismantle the police, and handicap their capabilities to keep Americans safe. This legislation includes provisions to end qualified immunity, take away important law enforcement tools and weapons, and ban no-knock warrants in drug cases.

U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced an identical resolution in the U.S. Senate.

The full text of the resolution can be found here.