If you happen to drive by the Tennessee State Capitol tonight, you will see the top of the building illuminated in a bright shade of blue as a tribute to the fallen police officers in Dallas, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I’m grateful to see our state offering this simple but meaningful gesture. We must return to a culture that honors the sacrifices of our heroes in blue and that does not allow the indefensible actions of a handful of a small few to taint the honorable and vitally important work of our police force as a whole.
While Tennessee honors our heroes in blue, too often they have not received the same support from our nation’s President. Earlier this year, for example, President Obama brought leaders from the “Black Lives Matter” movement to the White House, and praised their “outstanding work.” While we should all advocate for the equal and unbiased treatment of suspects and victims by law enforcement, the truth is that the Black Lives Matter movement has hurled despicable insults at police, incited acts of violence, and they even condemned the phrase “all lives matter.” By legitimizing this organization with an invitation to a private meeting at the People’s House, President Obama turned a cold shoulder to law enforcement personnel across this country.
When I reflect on the men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities, I am filled with gratitude and respect. My thoughts turn to people like the late Sumner County Sheriff Bob Barker, a longtime family friend and beloved public servant, and people like former Cumberland County Sheriff Butch Burgess, who started the Upper Cumberland’s “House of Hope” program for children in need, and also passed away earlier this year. While Bob and Butch are special to all who knew them, we must remember that, overwhelmingly, the men and women of our police force are much like them – dedicated and compassionate servant-leaders who deserve our thanks. During these trying times, we must reject the irresponsible and hateful anti-police rhetoric that dishonors their work.
Recently, the House of Representatives worked to equip police forces with the tools they need by passing S. 125, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act, life-saving legislation that reauthorizes grants to provide bulletproof vests to local law enforcement officers. In addition, I have continued to champion anti-sanctuary city legislation that gives law enforcement the authority they need to ensure the safety and security of American citizens. My bill, H.R. 5654, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, includes an important provision to shift legal liability in matters of detaining criminal illegal aliens from the local police force to the federal government. In other words, if federal immigration officials ask a police officer to hold an illegal immigrant for questioning, my bill ensures police are able to comply without fear of being sued.
As our country begins to heal, our prayers remain with these communities impacted by anti-police violence. We must affirm today and every day that “blue lives matter” and, indeed, all lives matter in the eyes of our Creator and in the words of our Constitution, which guarantees “the equal protection of the laws.”
