Hawley Discusses Violent Crime Wave, Opposition to ATF Nominee Chipman at Senate Judiciary Hearing

Thursday, June 24, 2021

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) discussed key facts about the violent crime wave spreading across Missouri and the rest of the country during today’s Senate Judiciary hearing, describing how police departments big and small have expressed that they feel overwhelmed and outnumbered. Sen. Hawley introduced a new pro-police agenda this week, which would put an additional 100,000 officers back on the streets.

“It is a simple reality and the American people are feeling it. The people in my state are feeling it. They are afraid to go out at night. They’re afraid to go out on the streets. They’re afraid to drop their children off at school,” said Senator Hawley. “I mean, this is not the United States of America that we should have. This is a pressing issue that is affecting every single American, and yes, every cop in America.

Sen. Hawley also reiterated why President Biden’s nominee to head up the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives, David Chipman, is unfit for the role.

“And when I look at Mr. Chipman’s agenda, which is to take away Second Amendment rights from law-abiding citizens while violent criminals are loose on our streets, I just, I just have to say, Mr. Chairman, I just respectfully disagree that that’s the right agenda for us to have at this time. So I will not be supporting Mr. Chipman.”

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