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During RNC, Rand Paul Swings Through Western Kentucky

John Null/WKMS

U.S. Senator Rand Paul talked the need for reducing the country’s debt and the tense relationship between police and the public Wednesday during a series of town hall events in western Kentucky.

At an event in Calvert City, Paul said before any systemic law enforcement problems can be addressed, any rhetoric inciting violence against police officers must be stopped. He says part of the problem could be solved with better public relations from police departments.

“I’m always telling the Louisville Police Department when I’m there, you all need to talk about, or have your people talk about the good things you’re doing in the community," Paul said. "You know, when some elderly woman’s heat goes off and you’re helping her to get her heat turned back on or get her to a shelter. Things like that.”

Paul's comments come on the heels of police assassinations in Dallas and Baton Rouge, following the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Paul said the problem is not entirely due to race, citing a high number of African American police in urban areas.

One thing Paul didn’t want to talk about was the Republican National Convention unfolding this week in Cleveland. The former presidential candidate and eye surgeon opted to campaign and perform pro-bono eye surgeries in the area this week instead of attending.

“You know, today we’re really not going to talk too much about politics and things because this is an official meeting, but I can tell you, when I’m traveling around Kentucky, when I ask people about the things I’m really trying to do, I think I’m finding that people in Kentucky care about what I’m trying to do," Paul said.

At Wednesday's event, Paul also talked about the need for lowering corporate income taxes and drastically reducing the amount of government regulation on industries like coal.

Paul is running for a second term against Democrat Jim Gray, the mayor of Lexington. 

John Null is the host and creator of Left of the Dial. From 2013-2016, he also served as a reporter in the WKMS newsroom.
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