Pennsylvania GOP Senate hopeful Dave McCormick is demanding a more aggressive stance against Mexican drug gangs fueling America’s fentanyl crisis. He believes designating the cartels as terrorist organizations and using drones and special operations to target their operations could help combat the crisis, which claimed the lives of 120,000 Americans last year. McCormick’s message was delivered at a Fentanyl Fathers roundtable where he was joined by his wife Dina Powell McCormick and retired Sen. Rob Portman, listening to parents who lost children to fentanyl overdoses.
Among those supporting McCormick is Blair County Sheriff Jim Ott, who lost his son to an overdose in 2020. Ott believes that tough border policies advocated by Republicans like McCormick and former President Donald Trump are crucial in curbing the drug trade and preventing addiction. McCormick sees the fentanyl crisis as more than just an issue of addiction, noting that many victims ingested fentanyl unknowingly. He has vowed to make addressing fentanyl a top priority if elected to the Senate, promising to crack down on the distribution of the dangerous substance.
During the roundtable event, parents shared their heartbreaking stories with McCormick. Anne Funder described losing her 15-year-old son Weston to an accidental overdose caused by peer pressure while living in California. Despite the tragedy, she finds solace in sharing Weston’s story to raise awareness about the dangers of peer pressure and drug use. Philadelphia mom Bonnie Kane shared her own story of losing her son Morgan to an overdose in 2017. Despite forgiving the friend who gave Morgan the fatal dose, Kane continues to advocate for addiction awareness and has become a licensed mental-health practitioner to help others struggling with addiction.
McCormick emphasizes the importance of taking decisive action against the cartels responsible for the fentanyl crisis, suggesting tactics such as using drones and special operations to target manufacturing and distribution operations. He believes that Mexico is deeply compromised by the cartels and that more aggressive measures are needed to combat the crisis. The endorsement of Sheriff Ott, who has experienced the devastating impact of addiction firsthand, highlights the urgency of addressing the drug trade to prevent further loss of life. McCormick’s commitment to making fentanyl a top priority in the Senate reflects a growing recognition of the need to tackle the issue at a national level.
Through personal stories shared by parents like Anne Funder and Bonnie Kane, McCormick gains insight into the devastating impact of fentanyl overdoses on families and communities. Funder’s advocacy for raising awareness about the dangers of peer pressure and drug use demonstrates the power of storytelling in preventing future tragedies. Kane’s forgiveness of her son’s friend and dedication to helping others affected by addiction embody a message of compassion and healing in the face of loss. McCormick’s engagement with these families underscores his commitment to addressing the fentanyl crisis with a focus on prevention, enforcement, and support for those affected.
As Pennsylvania’s Senate hopeful, Dave McCormick is dedicated to combatting the fentanyl crisis by targeting the cartels responsible for distributing the deadly drug. With the support of families who have lost loved ones to overdoses, McCormick is advocating for tougher border policies and strategic interventions to disrupt the drug trade. By amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by the crisis and prioritizing fentanyl as a key issue in his campaign, McCormick aims to bring attention to the urgent need for action at both the state and national levels.
