16 GOP senators introduced ‘The Protect and Serve Act’ today that would enact federal penalties for criminals who purposefully target law enforcement officers with violence. The Act would make it a “federal crime to knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, serious bodily injury to a law enforcement officer.” Offenders face up to 10 years imprisonment, but could receive life if the offense includes attempted murder, kidnapping, attempted kidnapping or if a death results from the act.
“We believe that any intentional harm done to a police officer or other law enforcement official should be considered a hate crime and offenders should be charged to the full degree possible,” said National Center for Police Defense President James Fotis. “Our officers have sworn to keep our communities safe and uphold law and order, and yet they are being ambushed and attacked daily. The mainstream media is increasingly inciting this violence by painting our police with a broad brush, and even encouraging this anti-police rhetoric. We need to make it clear that we do not condone or allow for violence, especially against our law enforcement.”
The bill is be co-sponsored by 16 Republican Senators: North Carolina’s Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, Louisiana’s John Kennedy, Georgia’s Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, South Dakota’s Mike Rounds, Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn, West Virginia’s Shelley Moore Capito, Florida’s Rick Scott, Arkansas’ Tom Cotton and John Boozman, Indiana’s Mike Braun, Ohio’s Rob Portman, Mississippi’s Roger Wicker and Oklahoma’s James Inhofe.
“Our men and women in blue deserve these protections, and we thank the senators that are bringing this legislation to the forefront,” concluded Mr. James Fotis.
The Committee for Police Officers’ Defense is a national political fund organized under Section 527 of IRS Tax Code. Contributions are non-charitable and not tax deductible. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
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