I’ve lost too many friends in the line of duty. When lives are on the line, we must do everything in our power to ensure first responders have the best possible tools to protect themselves and the public. That’s why I must weigh in to oppose Texas lawmakers push to pass House Bill 41 – a well-intentioned but misguided piece of legislation that would force law enforcement and firefighters to abandon one of our most effective tools for saving lives: drones.

Drones have revolutionized emergency response. They can be deployed instantly, providing officers with real-time intelligence before they step into dangerous situations. In active shooter incidents, fires, search-and-rescue missions, and disaster recovery efforts, drones allow first responders to quickly and accurately assess threats, locate victims, and make high stakes decisions – without putting human lives at unnecessary risk.

I’ve seen it firsthand. When someone is lost in the wilderness or trapped under rubble, thermal imaging on drones has helped locate them when every second counts. When armed suspects flee into the night, drones offer aerial thermal imaging that keeps officers and civilians safe. Drones navigate environments that human responders can’t: collapsed buildings, chemical spills, raging floodwaters, and dangerous terrain.

Yet, instead of recognizing their life-saving value, HB41 would force police and fire departments to throw out these critical tools because they contain foreign-made parts. Why? There is concern foreign-made drones pose a security threat, but right now there is no specific evidence backing this fear. In fact, Congress already mandated a federal security study on these drones, set to be completed by December 2025. Texas legislators are rushing to ban them before the facts are even in. Legislators shouldn’t pass a ban with very real life-and-death consequences based on theoretical threats.

Law enforcement has been outspoken against this bill, and their main concern is the rapid timeline the bill imposes for stopping use and procurement of this technology. Departments would have no time to transition their drone programs and no good options for replacing their current drones. Right now, American manufacturers simply do not produce enough drones to replace the foreign-made models at the scale first responders require. Those that are available cost much more and often lack the capabilities law enforcement relies on – meaning agencies will either be forced to cut their drone programs entirely or spend astronomical sums on inferior equipment. It would be like telling people to throw out their iPhone and replace it with a $3,000 flip phone because the chip in their smartphone isn’t American-made.

This issue shouldn’t be about politics or splashy anti-China headlines. Officer safety is on the line. Texas has always stood by its first responders, ensuring we have the support needed to protect our communities. Restricting access to drones will make our work more dangerous, put officers and firefighters at unnecessary risk, and ultimately jeopardize the very communities we are sworn to protect.

We owe it to every first responder who has put their life on the line to ensure they have the tools they need to come home safely. HB41 is a step in the wrong direction. Let’s not let fear dictate policy when lives—both first responders’ and civilians’—are at stake.

Dennis Farris is President of the Austin Retired Police Officers Association and has had a 30-year law enforcement career.