MONTGOMERY, Ala. – U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) partnered this week with Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to introduce the Thin Blue Line Act, which enforces harsher penalties on individuals targeting police officers and first responders.
The senators’ introduction of this legislation comes in response to the recent surge of attacks on police officers, which have occurred all over the country. In August, an Alabama cop was pistol-whipped with his own gun. Instead of lending a helping hand, a crowd of bystanders posted photos on Facebook and Twitter that included some less than police-friendly captions. Later, the officer said he didn’t try to shoot his attacker because he didn’t want the media to label him as a racist.
“The alarming spike in violence directed against the men and women entrusted with ensuring the safety and order of our society must be stopped,” said Sen. Sessions. “The Thin Blue Line Act will help protect our officers by bringing harsher penalties to criminals committing these vile acts and by extending the protections afforded to federal officers to our local police and first responders. This legislation honors the message sent by law-abiding Americans that we cannot stand idly by as attacks are waged upon those who serve and protect our communities.”
Currently, the law states that if a murder victim was a federal law enforcement officer or prosecutor, this fact shall weigh as an “aggravating factor” that weighs in favor of the death penalty. The Thin Blue Line Act adds to this and provides this same level of justice also to local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and firefighters.
The Thin Blue Line Act also enhances the penalty when a defendant targets a police officer, prosecutor, or firefighter solely because that individual chose to protect and serve.
While national media relating to police officers has been mostly negative, events like officers buying a woman eggs for her children, praying over a young man, and mowing a young mother’s lawn show the side of police that the media often ignores. In Alabama, campaigns like Props to Cops and the Safe Harbor Initiative have begun in an attempt to gain support for law enforcement officers.
“Our law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and firefighters deserve to know that their lives also matter, and they have our support,” Sen. Toomey said of the bill. “Those who would murder a person simply because he or she wears blue deserve a harsh penalty. This legislation seeks to achieve those ends.”
Overall, the senators state the Thin Blue Line Act is aimed to encourage law enforcement officers and first responders while protecting those who place themselves in harm’s way to protect their communities.
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