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 provide additional 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 bill would create new federal crimes related to killing or attempting to kill federal judges, law enforcement officers, or federally funded public safety officers. If convicted of causing death under these provisions, offenders could face the death penalty or a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years; otherwise, a minimum sentence of 10 years would apply.
Assaulting federally funded law enforcement officers would also become a new federal crime with escalating penalties depending on injury severity and weapon use. Prosecution in such cases would require certification from the Attorney General.
Additionally, interstate flight from justice in cases involving attempts on judges’ or officers’ lives would be addressed with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.
The legislation clarifies that murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer is an aggravating factor in federal death penalty prosecutions. It also imposes time limits on federal court reviews of state-court convictions when they involve murders of public safety officers engaged in official duties.
Limits are set by the bill on civil damages and attorney’s fees recoverable by individuals injured while committing felonies or violent crimes.
Law enforcement self-defense rights would be expanded under this act by allowing them, subject to certain regulations, to carry firearms into federal facilities and jurisdictions where it is otherwise prohibited.
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 have endorsed this legislation.
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 ).
