Rep. Addison McDowell Responds to Democratic Colleagues on Fentanyl and Crime

Personal Motivation for Public Service

• 📌 McDowell expresses offense at the suggestion that Republicans focus only on "catchy slogans," stating his personal motivation for entering Congress.
• 💔 He shares that his younger brother died from fentanyl poisoning, a personal tragedy that drives his commitment to addressing the issue.
• 💡 McDowell asserts that he ran for Congress due to the failed policies of Democratic politicians that he believes left the border open.

Critiquing Current Narratives on Crime

• 🧠 McDowell rejects the framing of crime as solely a funding or mental health issue, arguing it's an ideology problem.
• ⚖️ He emphasizes that justice should be blind and individuals who commit crimes should be prosecuted, regardless of perceived trends or impacts.
• 🚫 The idea that one cannot "incarcerate your way out of crime" is challenged, with McDowell arguing that criminals belong in jail cells.
• 🗣️ He criticizes the use of statistics that disregard victims and the narrative that society is safe, calling it "outrageous."

The Role of Law Enforcement and Prosecution

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 McDowell uses the example of a brutal murder to question how anyone could conclude it's a mental health crisis, stating that if his family were victims, they would demand prosecution, not mental health support.
• 🤝 The task force officer model is highlighted as an underutilized tool that combines federal and state resources to combat violent crime.
• 📈 This model, exemplified by programs like the Organized Crime Drug Task Force, allows for better resource allocation and the prosecution of more significant cases by leveraging local knowledge and federal capabilities.