I will be one of many to extend my sympathies to the victims and families suffering from the tragedies along the parade route in Kansas City. However, this tragedy is not just about a few. We are all impacted by these horrific events. These scars on humanity will define how we act and interact in the future.

While the legislature cannot stop bad people from doing bad things, we have been working every year to strengthen our laws related to crime and public safety. Some of the legislative agenda this year includes sentence enhancements of armed criminal action. Blair’s Law creates a criminal offense for the unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits. Max’s Law expands protections for law enforcement animals and we are imposing harsher penalties for the distribution of controlled substances that cause serious injury.

Two house bills will increase training resources to confront human trafficking and impose additional penalties for criminals trafficking vulnerable individuals. Two other bills will expand training for school personnel to provide basic medical assistance and improve resiliency materials in construction such as anti-intruder door locks.

A piece of legislation making its way through the House this year will be known as Valentine’s Law. This legislation establishes a felony for criminals that threaten or cause injury in the course of fleeing a motor vehicle stop. New criminal activity causes the legislature to address organized retail theft laws. And a new bill addresses the distribution of fentanyl by lowering the quantity in possession and increasing the penalties for drug trafficking.

Our culture has caused us to write legislation that criminalizes making false reports to incite law enforcement to respond to a call. It is now a crime not a prank. We all wish it were possible to prevent bad things from happening, but as legislators we do everything we can to give police officers and the courts, every tool they need to apprehend and punish criminals.

I look forward to hearing from you. Please email me with any questions or concerns @ bruce.sassmann@house.mo.gov or call Jill Ryals in the office @ 573-751-6668.