Issues
Protecting the unborn is one of my most precious duties as a member of Congress. I believe that life from conception to natural death is our greatest gift--and a gift that our country far too often takes for granted. One of my very first trips to Washington, D.C., was to take part in the annual march from the St. Louis Arch to the U.S. Capitol in support of the sanctity of life. I proudly support legislation that respects the dignity and right to life of every human being, and I will continue fighting for the rights of the unborn in Congress.
As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, the individual right to own a gun is very important to me. I believe that our Founding Fathers meant for all law-abiding citizens to have the right to bear and maintain firearms. Whether it is for hunting or marksmanship, firearms are an integral part of American sportsmanship and recreation. Furthermore, individuals should always possess, as a last resource, the right to defend themselves and their families.
I recently returned from a Congressional delegation to the annual Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia, where I met with heads of state, foreign ministers, and NATO officials from across Eastern Europe and the Balkans to discuss the serious threats facing this unstable region, particularly Bosnia and Herzegovina. So many Bosnian families call the Saint Louis area home, and I am committed to working with our Bosnian community to advocate for peace and stability in the strategically critical Balkan peninsula.