Senators Pat Toomey and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) have introduced the Thin Blue Line Act, which imposes harsher punishments on individuals targeting law enforcement officers and first responders.
This legislation arises from the increased attacks of law enforcement officers, including the recent killings of Pennsylvania State Trooper Corporal Bryon Dickson and Philadelphia Officer Robert Wilson III. The Senator has been particularly vocal in his defense of police officers since the emergence of the “Black Lives Matter” movement.
“It is important we send the message that police lives also matter, and that if you target a police officer with violence, you will receive a harsh penalty,” said Toomey. “Every day, our law enforcement officers and first responders place themselves in harm’s way to protect the rest of us. They also present tempting targets to criminals seeking retribution, and to organized crime rings seeking to discourage law enforcement officers from investigating them. Congress has long recognized that additional tools are needed to prevent such attacks on law enforcement officers.”
Toomey goes on to emphasize the importance of showing law enforcement that their lives matter, and argues that this legislation will help further protect them in the line of duty.
When a jury in a federal case considers whether to impose the death penalty, the jury must consider certain “mitigating” and “aggravating” factors. Current law states that if the murder victim was a federal law enforcement officer or prosecutor, this fact shall weigh as an aggravating factor in favor of the death penalty.
The Thin Blue Line Act seeks to provide this level of justice to local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and firefighters. It also enhances the penalty enforced when a defendant targets a law enforcement officer, prosecutor, or firefighter solely because that individual chose to protect and serve.
Thus far, the Thin Blue Line Act has been endorsed by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police, International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, Major County Sheriffs’ Association, Association of Police Organizations, National District Attorneys Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, National Troopers Coalition, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.
“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 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.”
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12 Responses
The junior senator from Pennsylvania is unfit to serve. He is the ultimate panderer.
Penalties are already enhanced for a crime against police (Simple Assault for most, but Aggravated Assault if you touch a cop). Unofficially, the cops just shoot you. That sounds pretty enhanced to me. Toomey is nothing but a dog-whistle bigot.
Toomey—has racist and fascist-tendencies. I support police, but Toomey uses police to push his agenda–getting elected. Toomey—pushes all the buttons—what a phony. Anything to triangulate and play the game. This guy is so transparently phony.
If Toomey is going to tout “Police Lives Also Matter”, he should also toss in the caveat: “Racist Police Lives Don’t Matter” or “Unarmed Black Kids Do Matter”.
Wayne — Very well said.
Sue — Well said.
Hey white guy … I mean “marshak” … STFU about what “they” should focus on. “They” don’t need or want your advice.
So… Black Lives Matter doesn’t foster any “us vs. them” mentality but All Lives Matter, Police Lives Mater, etc., does?
If BLM wants to be taken seriously, they should focus on the thousands of homicides every year committed against blacks by other blacks before they point fingers at anybody else.
Repellant little man is afraid he seems too “establishment” for his rabid right wing base.going for a bit of the crazy.
Disgusting authoritarian racist piece of crap
I hate to be on the same side as HaHaHa (perhaps someday he will have the guts to post under his real name… fat chance), but Toomey is just revealing what a right-wing racist he is. It goes without saying that anyone who targets a cop will be hunted down and have the book thrown at him or her (if the cops don’t murder them first). We don’t need any new laws to protect the cops. But when the shoe is on the other foot the cops think they are entitled to a “get out of jail free no matter what the circumstances. Toomey could care less about the victims of police violence.
He’s presenting a false choice and milking it for every penny on his Facebook page and emails. He should be ashamed. I know of no one who doesn’t believe ‘police lives matter.’ But it’s not police officers who are being killed while unarmed. In fact, police deaths are on a downward trend over the past decade. It is predominantly people of color who are shot when they have their hands up. Most cops are good. The bad ones need to be prosecuted.
Anyone who responds to “Black Lives Matter” by talking about Police lives just doesn’t get it. In fact – it’s worse. People like Toomey are feeding into the “us versus them” attitude that has led to the unrest we have now.
The truth is that Police get paid to be professionals. They get pensions … vacation time … We buy their guns and their ammunition for them. We can … and should … DEMAND that they act appropriately.
The idea that it is the Police vs. Blacks is the cause of this problem. Toomey ought to be ashamed.