Methodical, Calm, Focused

Plus an H.R. 743 update, a police bill that passed (and one that failed) and much more in this issue

The U.S. Constitution overshadows any political party, ideology, or individual. It was brilliantly designed to protect all of us equally, even those we view as our enemies. There is zero compromise on this premise. The system can’t work any other way.

Without the rule of law, we cease to be a free nation.

Many of you reading this likely have relatives who spilled blood in service to our country (or maybe you did, thank you!) or ancestors who left their native land for the promise of liberty and prosperity.

My grandparents came to the U.S. in the early 20th century to escape communism. Had they still been alive today, they would have told you just how tyrannical that form of government is, how it’s a system of control that leaves poverty, oppression, uniformity, and despair in its wake.

Or you might ask those like Xi Van Fleet, a brave woman who escaped communist China and whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting through Independent Women’s Forum. Survivors of communism know better than anyone that Marxism is not some far-away theory that we have to keep an eye out for.

It’s already here.

This is precisely the time that we can’t panic. We need to apply laser-beam focus to our approach if we’re to restore our nation to its rightful place of exceptionalism.

My advice for what it’s worth? Start by refusing to argue with dishonest people or those so blinded by hatred or ideology that they can’t see, think, or speak straight, despite any evidence you may bring them. “Debating” them is a complete waste of time. They can’t be convinced. Let them be.

Instead, stay methodical, calm, and focused. Approach your advocacy and your life with love and peace in your heart.

And find a way to make a meaningful difference. On my end, that means advocating for law enforcement with fervor.

Now more than ever we need to ensure that our nation’s police departments are not just fully staffed with bodies. They need to be comprised of fair-minded men and women who will enforce our laws and protect the Constitution of the United States of America without fear or favor.

Without this solid foundation, we don’t stand a chance.

Protect & Serve Act

Yesterday I spoke with Senator Rutherford’s staffer at length about the status of the Protect & Serve Act (H.R. 743).

In summary, their office had initially planned for the bill to be discussed and available for markup in time for National Police Week. As I mentioned in previous posts, there was hesitation from some of the Republican House Judiciary members.

Their fear is that this bill would result in federal overreach, specifically citing Sections C and D:

(1) IN GENERAL.—No prosecution of any offense described in this section may be undertaken by the United States, except under the certification in writing of the Attorney General, or a designee, that—

(C) the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in protecting the public safety; or

“(D) a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.

While I understand the concern, the bill is designed to be used in a narrow set of circumstances. With that in mind, Rep. Rutherford’s office is working to accommodate these concerns.

It’s still imperative to continue to gain co-sponsors! She told me, and I agree, that even if H.R. 743 doesn’t get passed this session, gaining as much support as possible will make it easier to get it through the next session.

She will keep me posted on updates, and you will be among the first to know about changes when I know.

In the meantime, please urge your U.S. congressperson to co-sponsor H.R. 743 and U.S. senators to co-sponsor the Senate companion bill, S.4258.

FAILED: Fargo & Hyco’s Law

A South Carolina state bill that would have stiffened penalties for harming, mistreating, or killing a law enforcement K-9 dog or horse died in Committee this month.

This decision is disappointing. Police animals help keep our communities safe and share a deep bond with their human handlers. They deserve protection.

PASSED INTO LAW: The “25-foot Bill”

A Louisiana state bill to make it a misdemeanor crime to be within 25 feet of a police officer who is making an arrest or performing other lawful work, was signed into law this past week!

This law will ensure that officers have an area in which to safely make arrests, restrain suspects, and perform other police duties.

Tampering with Police Officers’ Food

A New Jersey Assembly member re-introduced a state bill earlier this year making it clear that purposefully spitting on an officer’s food or beverage will result in a charge of third-degree aggravated assault.

You can read my newest press release for National Police Association here.

Hero Down

Officer Jamal Mitchell of the Minneapolis Police Department is the latest casualty of the war on police. Per authorities, he was ambushed while trying to help the person who then shot him.

Remembrance wall at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC

"As he was attempting to provide medical assistance, he was ambushed," Evans said. "Officer Mitchell was attempting to assist the individual who shot him. It happened very fast and that he ambushed him." 

More Lowered Police Recruitment Standards

In the past, some of us expressed how the police staffing shortage could potentially impact officer quality. It’s no longer just a theory.

Take Denver law enforcement, for example. Per a news report,

“According to Murray, the pressure on recruiting standards from Johnston-allied officials manifested in ways that included city leaders asking that the minimum score for a successful police entry exam be lowered significantly. They’d also insisted that an applicant be approved despite a psychological evaluation that deemed that person unfit to proceed.”

At the Border

Per reporter Bill Melugin (bolded emphasis is his):

“In a DHS Inspector General report released this month, the IG found that DHS has not been monitoring humanitarian parole expiration for the roughly 77,000 Afghans brought into the US for 2 year paroles after the withdrawal in 2021. Additionally, the IG found only 3 Afghan parolees were deported from the US between July 2021 and December 2022. One for "terrorism related activity", one for murder, and one for abusive sexual contact. The IG found that DHS has a fragmented process for identifying derogatory information on the Afghan parolees as well. The report finds that DHS has no process or component whatsoever for monitoring parole expiration for the Afghan parolees, or any humanitarian parole recipients in general."

This comes at a time when the blue line has been weakened.

Blaming Cops for Our Mental Health System Breakdown

One Florida family is blaming the police for using excessive force on their son who they say is a “mentally ill child.” While their grief is real and the situation tragic for all involved, the cops purportedly used what they believed was justifiable force.

The fact is that we have a burgeoning mental health epidemic in this country and people are falling through the cracks. It’s time to stop placing all the world’s ills on law enforcement’s shoulders.

How the Public is Being Manipulated

You don’t need to be a Big Tech guru to understand that there are attempts being made to manipulate us. Despite the denials by tech companies and over the objections of “evidence-based analyses,” honest people know in their gut when they’re being lied to.

If someone tells you this is all in your imagination, you might want to refer them to a new article from

Police Law News

.

Daniel explains that he recently reported on two separate cases involving police officers and dogs on his Tik Tok channel. The first story was of a case in Missouri in which an officer unnecessarily shot and killed a blind and deaf Shih Tzu. The second was a positive story of a NYPD officer saving the life of a dog who had been tossed from a balcony.

In Daniel’s words,

“I posted an initial video on Story 1 (Sturgeon) and the video got 1.6 million views. The next day I posted a follow up and the video got 460k views. The third day I posted another video on the case and it reached 70k views.

“Then on day 4 I posted Story 2 (NYPD). This was a nice contrast to the first story and demonstrated an officer doing a fantastic job saving the life of a dog. However, that video got 400 views. Not 400 thousand. Just 400.”

People are becoming wealthy off our misery.

There are people on this planet who will do whatever it takes to achieve their end goal. They’re not like you and me, so it’s difficult to comprehend that people can have this mindset.

It may seem like they’re getting away with something. At the end of the day, however, they have to inhabit their own minds, which I imagine is not a pleasant place.

At their core, these are deeply unhappy people; and I don’t have to know them personally to assert this. What I do understand is that when your end goal is to attain wealth, power, and celebrity status by any means necessary, you’ve sold your soul. (I say this as someone who sees capitalism as the best, albeit imperfect, economic and political system on the planet.)

The thing is, there is no amount of wealth, power, or celebrity that can ever fill that inner emptiness.

There always have been, and always will be, people like this in our midst. It’s why we can never become complacent, even when things are going well.

Tell me what you’re thinking and how you’re doing.

Best. : )

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For the Blue is a solutions-based initiative. I’m just an American patriot asking questions. I don’t work with any political party and I answer to nobody. For me, the health of the nation, due process (including for police officers), the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, will always transcend party affiliation. I welcome your thoughts, even if you disagree; though personal attacks will be ignored. You can reach me at fortheblue@substack.com.