Will American leaders have the courage and backbone to do what needs to be done?

I remember all too well watching live news reports pour into the living room on a Tuesday morning. Vivid images of terror and disaster were broadcast from New York City on September 11, 2001.

Knowing that emergency and security forces, chaplains and many others would be an integral part of a massive coordinated national response, we rose to the challenge. A spirit of patriotism, pride and brotherhood was in the air. Just like Americans did in the days after Pearl Harbor was bombed, we swore to triumph with righteous might, so help us God!

Once again on a Tuesday New York citizens were attacked. A gunman detonated smoke bombs in a subway car and opened fire. 29 victims were taken to the hospital.

The suspected shooter was arrested on Wednesday. Some of the most critical elements of the attack indicate that it was thoughtful, well planned, and not carried out haphazardly. This brings a different perspective on this tragedy.

Mass shootings happen all too often across America today, from Democratic-run cities to rural communities. Just a few days ago, several people were killed and injured in a gang war in Sacramento, California, in a fight with automatic machine guns for territory.

Unfortunately, the outrage and political rhetoric of bureaucrats and elected officials achieve the usual – nothing! Politicians are rushing to be the first to call for more gun control, but that’s not the solution.

Machine guns are among the most heavily regulated weapons in the country, but are too often the weapon of choice for drug cartels and other criminal elements. Simply assuming that a law will remove stolen handguns from the streets is just plain idiotic. The same goes for ignoring the real threat posed by people who are not held accountable for their actions.

But by far the craziest attempt to reduce crime in the last 20 years was the short-lived Defund the Police movement. It fizzled out as quickly as it began when communities saw a 39 percent increase in violent crime. Yet we are still suffering the aftermath of this anti-American movement as we seek to strengthen police personnel and infrastructure.

We need a definitive plan to restore peace to every corner of America—town and country. It just takes the courage and backbone to put it into action and see it through to its successful conclusion.

As a police officer, firefighter, 9/11 responder, and police chaplain, here is my simple four-step plan to restore justice to America:

1.) Establish a national database of all elected law officers (judges, prosecutors, prosecutors, sheriffs, etc.) with full disclosure of all financial contributions (including contributions in kind) and the prosecutorial policies promoted and accepted by those officers (including early release orders).

2.) Provide full funding, training, equipment and other necessary law enforcement support.

3.) Start programs to recruit future generations of first responders.

4.) Support and fund suicide prevention and PTSD programs.

As on September 11, 2001, the time has come for America to face the challenge with a spirit of patriotism, pride and brotherhood and to address this national security dilemma.

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