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Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger

Representing the 2nd District of Maryland

Crime and Justice

As a former county prosecutor, Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger believes state and local law enforcement are the experts on how to best protect their citizens. In general, he defers to the wishes of the law enforcement agencies in his district when weighing federal judicial policy. Dutch believes:

The best way to fight crime is to support local law enforcement.

Dutch is proud to have secured millions of dollars to help Maryland and its local police departments fight criminals, including the funding needed to set up the first-of-its-kind, multi-jurisdictional gang taskforce. He has also secured millions to re-hire laid-off local police officers and firefighters and replace outdated safety equipment. Drawing on his experiences as Baltimore County Executive, he advocates on behalf of school resource officers – which protect students, teachers and staff – while in Congress.

Citizens have a right to responsibly bear arms, but we can do a better job regulating the sale and transfer of guns and ammunition.

Dutch strongly believes in the Second Amendment, but we also have a Constitutional responsibility to protect American citizens from harm. He supports efforts to ban true assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, which have been the weapons of choice for mass shooters because their sole purpose is to inflict as much damage as possible as quickly as possible. When assault weapons or high-capacity magazines have been used in a shooting, the number of casualties has increased 63 percent. So while a ban may not stop these attacks, it will help drastically reduce the bloodshed.

Dutch also supports requiring background checks for all gun sales, including those purchased online and at gun shows and addressing the sale of firearms to the mentally ill.

To alleviate prison over-crowding, we should save mandatory minimums for the really bad guys.

Mandatory minimums for minor drug offenses are bogging our prison system down and costing young people who make one poor decision their entire futures. We should concentrate prison space on violent and career criminals by focusing mandatory minimums on leaders and supervisors of drug trafficking organizations. Dutch supports legislation that would reduce mandatory minimums for certain non-violent, first-time drug offenders, reduce the 3-strike mandatory life sentence to 25 years, allow drug sentences to be enhanced based upon prior convictions for serious violent felonies and broaden the existing safety valve for low-level drug offenders with prior misdemeanors.

Related Cosponsorships

Assault Weapons Ban of 2015

Condemning violence that targets healthcare for women.

Background Check Completion Act

Safer Communities Act of 2015

Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2015

Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 2015

More on Crime and Justice

Dec 12, 2016 Press Release

(Washington, DC) — Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, former Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee, today issued the following statement on alleged Russian interference into U.S. elections:

Nov 22, 2016 Press Release

(Washington, DC)  — Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger along with U.S. Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, Senator-Elect Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) sent a letter yesterday to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Mayor-Elect Catherine Pugh to inquire on the status of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Baltimore’s consent decree negotiations.

Oct 6, 2016 Press Release

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, with U.S. Representatives Elijah E. Cummings, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John P. Sarbanes (all D-Md.), have written to Howard County Sheriff James F. Fitzgerald asking him to resign his position in the wake of a detailed report from the Howard County Office of Human Rights. The full letter follows.
  
October 6, 2016
 
Howard County Sheriff James F. Fitzgerald
8360 Court Ave
Ellicott City, MD 21043
 
Dear Sheriff Fitzgerald:
 

Jun 29, 2016 Press Release

(Baltimore, MD) – Today Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah E. Cummings, Chris Van Hollen and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) marked the National Day of Action for Commonsense Gun Violence Prevention at Cathedral of the Incarnation in Baltimore. The Representatives were joined by Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh, Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen, survivors of gun violence, families of victims, and faith leaders.

Jun 23, 2016 Press Release

(Washington, DC) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today joined dozens of colleagues in a sit-in on the House Floor to demand a vote on bipartisan legislation to address gun violence. Ruppersberger and others urged House leadership to allow the vote before the chamber recesses next week for a district work period. 

Jun 13, 2016 Press Release

(Washington, DC) – Like the rest of America, I am heartbroken for the victims of the Orlando shooting and their families. This was an attack not just on a nightclub, but on the American values of diversity and equality.  It is my hope that this tragedy inspires more Americans to join the fight against intolerance and hatred.

May 16, 2016 Press Release

(Baltimore, MD) – Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) on Monday were joined by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake and City Health Commission Dr. Leana Wen in announcing a new package of bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to address the national opioid abuse and overdose epidemic.

Feb 11, 2016 Press Release

(Timonium, MD) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement on the death of two Harford County Sheriff’s Deputies in the line of duty yesterday:

Dec 16, 2015 Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) –  Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today announced his support of legislation banning the sale, transfer, production and importation of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The Assault Weapons Ban of 2015 was introduced today following horrific mass shootings and terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Colorado Springs, Sandy Hook, Newtown, Aurora and elsewhere across the country, all of which involved military-style firearms.

Aug 17, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, along with U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin, and U.S. Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, Chris Van Hollen, John P. Sarbanes, Donna F. Edwards and John Delaney (all D-Md.) today announced that $2.5 million in federal funding has been awarded to the Washington/Baltimore region together with regional partners to combat heroin and fentanyl drug trafficking through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program.