EXCLUSIVE: Ted Cruz Wants To Raise The Stakes For Would-Be Cop Killers
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a new bill Tuesday that would allow prosecutors to more easily obtain the death penalty for criminals who try to kill state or local law enforcement officers. The Thin Blue Line…
Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz introduced a new bill Tuesday that would allow prosecutors to more easily obtain the death penalty for criminals who try to kill state or local law enforcement officers.
The Thin Blue Line Act would amend the federal death penalty system to allow the killing or attempted killing of state or local police and first responders to be considered as an aggravating factor in sentencing. Federal law already allows for the attempted or actual murders of federal law enforcement and other officials to be an aggravating factor, and the new bill extends the same treatment to would-be murderers of non-federal law enforcement personnel and their first responder counterparts, according to Cruz’s office.
“Violent crimes targeting law enforcement demand immediate action. These crimes should never be tolerated. Every day, members of law enforcement risk their lives to protect our communities and they deserve the full protection of the law,” Cruz said in a statement. “I am proud to introduce this common-sense legislation to ensure that acts of murder or attempted murder against law enforcement will be met with maximum penalties.”
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Thin Blue Line Act by Nick Pope
Republican Florida Rep. Vern Buchanan is introducing a companion to Cruz’s bill in the House. Other Senate Republicans sponsoring Cruz’s bill include John Kennedy of Louisiana, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Rick Scott of Florida, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Ted Budd of North Carolina, John Hoven of North Dakota, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and John Boozman of Arkansas.
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