By Bryan Williams

What’s there for a conservative not to like or disagree with in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act? Not much from my point. I have less of an issue with the substance of the bill than the hyper-activity of our politicians, who will do anything he or she can to be seen as doing something about a chronic problem. 

Does the federal government need to do anything in this case? Many places already have laws in place with the same provisions of HR 1280. Why duplicate efforts?

Joe Biden has fashioned himself as a president who wants to try to solve all our problems. Climate change, the border crisis, health care, taxes, infrastructure, foreign relations with China and Russia and the Middle East, the pandemic, LGBTQ rights, #StopAsianHate...you get the idea. But are they delivering? Beside the third COVID stimulus relief, this self-proclaimed champion of bi-partisan unity has relied on an endless number of executive orders. 

I believe most thinking Americans will agree that what’s going on is too many police officers reacting too quickly when a routine call or traffic stop involving a Black citizen escalates. (The police stop of U.S. Army Lt. Caron Nazario in Windsor, Virginia, comes most immediately to my mind.) 

How do you address such problems with a law? I’m willing to bet that the actions of the two police officers in the December 5 stop potentially violated rules or laws in any jurisdiction across the nation. One of the officers in Nazario’s stop was promptly fired after the video came to light. Soulds to me like the system is working.

So will the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act really make thoe affected by police brutality feel as if they’ve gained something? Will a federal bill change the tragic news we see on our television screens far too often? What needs to change, I believe, are the hearts and minds of everyone in the U.S. Yes, police officers need to be vigilant and protect us from those who wish us harm. Yes, people need to police themselves and act carefully in any situation regarding police, but especially late at night. Our hearts need to be changed toward each other in a way no law can enforce. Just don’t tell that to Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats.