Tom Malinowski: “As we mourn the victims of another senseless mass shooting in America, I rise to recognize two police officers in my…”

“As we mourn the victims of another senseless mass shooting in America, I rise to recognize two police officers in my district: Jeffrey Johnson and Michael Pollack of the Westfield Police Department, who prevented a potential mass shooting in my district in 2019. On June 13 of that year, Officers Johnson and Pollack responded to a call at Tamaques Elementary School in Westfield, where they were met with a man armed with a .45-caliber gun, hollow-point bullets, and 130 rounds of ammunition; an arsenal much of which is not legal in New Jersey, but which he had obtained legally in another State. The officers disarmed and arrested the man, potentially saving the lives of teachers, staff, and kids. The officers recently received the Hero Award from our Union County Prosecutor's Office, and I continue to honor their heroism here on the House floor today. This incident is another reminder that while we have strong gun laws in New Jersey and one of the lowest rates of gun violence fatalities in the country, as a result, many of our neighboring States do not. As long as our gun laws are inconsistent across State lines, those who wish to commit mass murder will find the means to do so. ____________________”