WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott released the below statement following the latest Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Report that shows murders rose nearly 30 percent in 2020, the largest increase on record.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The Democrats’ celebration of violent riots in cities across the United States throughout 2020, and complete abandonment of law and order and lack of support for the brave men and women in law enforcement has had horrific consequences. Today’s announcement from the FBI shows just how tragic the cost to American communities can be when radical movements like defund the police take effect. We can never forget, these aren’t just statistics, these are Americans who have been lost due to a rash of violence in Democrat-run cities and states across our nation. As Governor of Florida, I proudly supported our state’s law enforcement and made sure they had what they needed to keep Florida safe. It’s thanks to their tireless work that our state has continued to see record-low crime rates. Now, as Florida’s U.S. Senator, I remain absolutely committed to supporting our state and nation’s heroic law enforcement officers. As Washington’s radical Left continues to drive their extremist agenda that’s endangering our communities, I won’t let them defund or disarm our hardworking police. Now more than ever, I will do everything in my power to ensure America’s law enforcement gets the support and respect they deserve to keep our families safe.”

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