Memphis Standard

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, today went to the House floor to speak against a Republican-led resolution on National Police Week, and later voted against the measure. Last week, Congressman Cohen sought to amend the resolution in committee with gun violence prevention language supported by major police organizations, but the amendment was ruled out of order.

The resolution passed on a vote of 301 to 119.

In his remarks this morning, Congressman Cohen said in part:

“I served the first three and a half years of my legal career in the police department. I had a badge and a gun. I know policemen as well as, if not better than, anybody in this body…In this situation, I offered an amendment to advocate the positions of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and other police organizations to say that we should have limits on weapons on the streets, on armor-piercing bullets, and on assault weapons. Police don’t want those on the streets against them, yet my amendment was not allowed to be heard…Just like when children are killed, just like when people are killed in clubs, just like when people are killed in churches, and people are killed in Las Vegas – this (resolution) is ‘thoughts and prayers,’ because the NRA and the concerns of people having guns and bullets comes before the police and their protection. This is ‘thoughts and prayers’ and it’s Police Memorial Week lite.”

See the entire speech here.

Original source can be found here.