[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 82 (Thursday, May 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3851]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ENACT THE JAKE LAIRD ACT OF 2019

  (Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as we recognize National Police 
Week, let's provide our law enforcement every tool possible to prevent 
senseless acts of gun violence from harming or claiming the lives of 
innocent people, including our law enforcement officers.
  That is why, today, I am reintroducing a gun violence reduction bill, 
categorized as a red-flag bill, with my colleague Ted Deutch, who 
represents Parkland, Florida, and our colleagues from Michigan, Fred 
Upton and Debbie Dingell.
  Our bill, the Jake Laird Act of 2019, is named after an IMPD officer 
who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving and protecting his community of 
Indianapolis, Officer Jake Laird.
  Our bill provides grants to States to enact laws substantially 
similar to Indiana's red-flag law because we know that, since 2005, 
this Hoosier commonsense bill has been working.
  Specifically, the Jake Laird Act will enable law enforcement to 
remove and retain firearms from individuals who are determined to be a 
danger to themselves or others, while ensuring due process under the 
law.

  According to a USA Today article recently published, more than 30 
States across the country are either considering similar measures or 
have passed red-flag laws.
  It is past time for our Nation to adopt laws like Indiana's red-flag 
law that will keep our law enforcement and citizens safer.

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