NC Congressman Ted Budd Calls for Removal of Capitol Fences, Capitol Shouldn’t Be ‘Permanent Fortress’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calling tens of thousands of National Guard troops to DC for the inaugural wasn’t necessary, but it filled out the ominous ‘Trump Army’ narrative so well.

Similarly, the impenetrable fencing around the U.S. Capitol — something that would have been prudent if one expected, let’s say, a million frustrated people to march there — serves to extend the aura of Trump-caused security threats.

Congressman Ted Budd (R-NC), however, says it’s time for the charade to end; the legitimate threat is no more; the fencing needs to come down now.

Writing for Town Hall, Budd said he and colleagues would be sending a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for the deconstruction of the security fortress, and a return to meeting with constituents.

“[…] The truth is the “recent events” that led to the increased security are over. The inauguration of President Biden is now behind us without incident and the business of our country is moving forward. We should not allow the tragic events of a single day to permanently alter the people’s access to the seat of our representative government.

I am starting my fifth year as a U.S. congressman. In that time, I have witnessed citizens from around the country meeting with their representatives in the halls of Congress. I have seen school children taking photos on the Capitol steps with the statute of Freedom in the background. I have watched veterans who risked their lives for this country proudly stand at attention in sight of the flag flying over the Capitol. Make no mistake, the Capitol is hallowed ground. We need to keep it that way.

Beyond the intrusion into the lives of visitors to Washington, permanent military-style fencing is a tremendous symbolic stain on our country. The U.S. Capitol is a symbol of freedom both at home and abroad. At the top of the building stands the Statue of Freedom. Much like the Statue of Liberty in New York City, it symbolizes why so many people from around the world come to America. They come to start anew, unshackled by tyranny and oppression, to be free from political and religious persecution, and to live in freedom and peace. The current state of the Capitol Complex fundamentally undermines that message. It is appalling that Communist China allows their citizens more freedom to visit historical sites like Tiananmen Square in their capitol than currently exists for Americans who want to visit our Capitol in Washington, D.C. […]”

The longer Democrats and the media are allowed to pretend that Donald Trump, his supporters, and everyone opposed to the Left’s agenda are ‘domestic enemies,’ the more self-fulfilling the division of Americans is.

Perhaps that is what they want; divide and conquer. It’s only fitting that they do while preaching unity. But we shouldn’t make it easy for them, and people around the country that see right through it all want to know their voices are at least represented in Washington D.C.

Read the rest of Congressman Budd’s op-ed at TownHall.com