U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch of Idaho have joined Senator John Cornyn of Texas and more than 30 other Senate Republicans to introduce the Back the Blue Act. The proposed legislation aims to increase penalties for those who target law enforcement officers and to provide new protections for officers.
Senator Crapo stated, “The Back the Blue Act reinforces our commitment to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line each day serving their communities. Those who seek to harm law enforcement and judges should face swift justice, and this legislation provides the tools within the federal criminal code to enforce tougher penalties on these violent offenders.”
Senator Risch added, “Any violence or attacks against law enforcement officers are unacceptable. The Back the Blue Act reinforces law and order, holds criminals accountable, and protects our state and nation’s brave law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe.”
The Back the Blue Act includes several measures:
– It establishes a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. Offenders could face the death penalty or a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if death results; otherwise, there is a minimum sentence of 10 years.
– The bill creates a new federal crime for assaulting federally funded law enforcement officers with escalating penalties based on injury severity and weapon use. Prosecution requires certification by the Attorney General.
– It introduces a new federal crime for interstate flight from justice to avoid prosecution in cases involving attempts or conspiracies to kill certain officials, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
– The act clarifies that murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer or first responder is an aggravating factor in federal death penalty prosecutions.
– It imposes time limits on federal courts’ review of challenges related to state-court convictions in crimes involving murdered public safety officers during official duties.
– Civil damages and attorney’s fees recoverable by individuals injured while committing felonies would be limited under this act.
– Law enforcement officers would be allowed expanded rights to carry firearms into some federal facilities and jurisdictions where such possession is typically prohibited.
The legislation has received endorsements from several organizations representing police interests including the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition (NNOAC), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA) and Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD.
Other co-sponsors include Senators Jim Banks (Indiana), Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee), John Boozman (Arkansas), Katie Britt (Alabama), Ted Budd (North Carolina), Shelly Moore Capito (West Virginia), Kevin Cramer (North Dakota), Ted Cruz (Texas), Steve Daines (Montana), Deb Fischer (Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Bill Hagerty (Tennessee), Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi), Jim Justice (West Virginia), John Kennedy (Louisiana), Mike Lee (Utah), Cynthia Lummis (Wyoming), Roger Marshall (Kansas), Dave McCormick (Pennsylvania), Markwayne Mullin (Oklahoma), Pete Ricketts (Nebraska), Mike Rounds (South Dakota), Rick Scott (Florida), Tim Sheehy (Montana), John Barrasso (Wyoming), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Todd Young (Indiana), Bill Cassidy (Louisiana), James Lankford (Oklahoma ), Thom Tillis(North Carolina ), Tim Scott(South Carolina )and Tommy Tuberville(Alabama).
