Steny Hoyer: “Over 14,622 law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the history of our country. The first one lost his life in…”

“Over 14,622 law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the history of our country. The first one lost his life in 1794. Since that time, we have asked some of our fellow citizens to take upon themselves the responsibility and the risk of defending freedom here at home. When I began the Pledge of Allegiance, I said that Officer Chestnut and Detective Gibson died defending the principles for which it stands. That was literally and figuratively true. Every morning those whom we ask to bear the responsibility of maintaining order in a civil society, without which we would not have freedom and justice and the rule of law, they put on their uniform or their plain clothes and they put on a badge, and most of them attach a gun to their hip or to their shoulder. They and their families know that daily they risk their lives. In this instance, of course, because no previous Capitol police officer has lost his or her life in a confrontation, that risk seemed remote. Mr. Speaker, Friday, July 24 reminds us once again that the risk is always present for those we ask to defend this free society.”