Rep. Ken Buck introduced legislation on Wednesday that would make violence against police officers a federal hate crime.
The Colorado Republican’s bill is a response to increasing violence against police officers that has been seen in the wake of several high-profile police shootings. Those shootings prompted the launch of the “Black Lives Matter” movement, which in turn has led to a counter-movement that claims “All Lives Matter.”
Buck’s bill takes the debate a step further, as it’s called the Blue Lives Matter Act. It would add violence against police officers to federal hate crime laws, and thus could lead to tougher sentences against people who commit violence against cops.
Current law prescribes tougher sentences against people who target others for violence based on their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
“Despite the risk, our law enforcement officers put on their uniform every day so that they can serve our communities,” Buck said in a statement released Thursday. “Whether based on skin color or uniform color, a crime motivated by hate is not going to be tolerated in America.”
“By adding law enforcement to the federal hate crime statute, we can protect those who protect us,” he added.
Buck’s statement said the killing of people based on their “inherent characteristics” can cause “significant emotional harm to the targeted communities and can result in societal discord.”
“Law enforcement officers hold the fabric of American communities together, protecting people from crimes, serving those in need, and setting standards of conduct,” it said. “Those who would create a climate of intimidation by committing crimes of hate against law enforcement must be held accountable for their evil actions.”
Other lawmakers cosponsoring Buck’s bill are Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, and Pete Sessions, R-Texas. Read the bill here:
