I support investing in proven community policing and crime diversion programs to keep our streets, homes, and communities safe. We can both invest in our local police forces and demand accountability from those we count on to protect us. I have been a consistent voice for more resources for local law enforcement to address the rising and evolving crime around the country.
For far too long Black Americans have faced systemic racism and injustice. The murder of too many Black Americans at the hands of police, who we entrust to protect everyone in our communities, sheds a painful light on the injustice, discrimination, and bias that marginalized groups face. I was an original cosponsor of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would hold police accountable by addressing qualified immunity, bar chokeholds, create national law enforcement standards and improve transparency into police misconduct and use-of-force. This is one important step, but more needs to be done to address inequalities in other areas such as health care, economic opportunity, education and voting rights. Addressing these issues will not be solved by legislation alone. It is up to all of us to do our part and stand up and speak out so that we see long-term change.
We must also address the endemic gun violence in America so our families and community are safe. As a mother and grandmother, I am sickened and outraged by the seemingly never-ending incidents of gun violence. While there is no one law or set of laws that will prevent every senseless shooting, we must do more to address this tragic cycle of gun violence. I serve on the Congressional Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and remain committed to finding sensible solutions to this problem. I support expanding background checks, banning the sale of semiautomatic assault weapons, and implementing extreme risk protection orders also known as red flag laws as the foundation of commonsense gun reforms. Additionally, I supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act which will help protect our children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country.
