An Oklahoma lawmaker announced plans to introduce legislation that would make targeting or threatening law enforcement officers, first responders, or military service members a hate crime.
“After the events this weekend in California, and the terrible attack on our police officers in Tulsa earlier this summer, it’s more important than ever to protect our law enforcement officers and the individuals putting their lives on the line to protect our safety,” said Republican state Sen. Casey Murdock, who introduced the legislation. “With the hatred and unrest in this country, we must classify these careers as a protected class. Attacks against our peace officers are absolutely a hate crime because they are targeted based on their profession.”
Under current Oklahoma state law, malicious crimes that target people based on race, religious affiliation, ancestry, nationality, or disability are classified as hate crimes.
Murdock said he plans to introduce the legislation in mid-November, but the official 2021 legislative session does not begin until Feb. 1, 2021.
The specific targeting of law enforcement officers became a national issue after two California police officers were ambushed by a gunman while they sat in their patrol car over the weekend.
The officers were rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, both requiring emergency surgery. The officers are now in recovery, while police have yet to name any suspects in the case.
