Democratic lawmaker needs drones at ‘every’ public occasion to scope out and cease assassinations | EUROtoday

A Democratic congressman has known as for drones for use to foil assassination makes an attempt at public occasions within the wake of Charlie Kirk’s demise.

New York consultant Ritchie Torres stated on Monday that he would introduce a invoice within the House of Representatives this week ordering the Department of Homeland Security to review the chance.

“Common sense dictates that drone technology should be harnessed to scan every elevated structure with a line of sight to a target,” stated Torres in an interview with Axios.

“If drones can enable the early detection and prevention of assassination attempts, why not use them? Better to have vigilant eyes in the sky than to remain blind to would-be assassins.”

His feedback got here after MAGA firebrand Charlie Kirk was shot useless throughout a speech at Utah Valley University final Wednesday on the age of 31, setting off a wave of mourning and conservative requires revenge.

Although the motives of Kirk’s alleged murderer, Tyler Robinson, stay unclear, the Trump administration has blamed “left-wing extremism” and introduced a crackdown on progressive non-profits, whereas looking for to punish anybody perceived to disrespect Kirk’s reminiscence.

Meanwhile, some members of Congress have cancelled public occasions as legislators debate how one can higher shield themselves and different figures from America’s endemic gun violence.

Threats in opposition to members of Congress, as logged by the U.S. Capitol Police, rose by 18 % between 2023 and 2024, marking the best whole since 2021.

Yet House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated that giving all members a full crew of safety guards would price “billions” and is “not a possibility”.

Ritchie Torres, a centrist Democrat who represents a big patch of the Bronx in New York City, believes that drones might present one reply.

For now, his invoice solely requires DHS to review the feasibility of utilizing extra drones. If that really occurred, it is not but clear who would pay for it or which authorities companies, federal or native, could be accountable.

Torres beforehand labored with New York Republican Mike Lawler to move a House invoice giving all presidents and presidential candidates equal safety from the Secret Service.