Tuberville Backs the Blue, Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves.

Sen. Tuberville cosponsored this legislation in the 118^th Congress.

"Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day when they go into the field to protect us," said Sen. Tuberville. "We have to send a message loud and clear: violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated. After years of soft-on-crime policies that have weakened our justice system, it is important that we take a hard stance against any and every targeted attack toward our police officers. I will always back the blue and work to make sure these men and women are fully equipped with everything they need to keep us safe."

Sens. Tuberville and Cornyn were joined by Sens. Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), John Boozman (R-AR), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Justice (R-WV), John Kennedy (R-LA), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Todd Young (R-IN) in cosponsoring the legislation.

This legislation is endorsed by 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 the Sergeants Benevolent Association NYPD.

BACKGROUND:

Specifically, the Back the Blue Act would:

Strengthen Laws to Protect Police Officers

• Create a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to the death penalty and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if death results; the offender would otherwise face a minimum sentence of 10 years.
• Create a new federal crime for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. However, no prosecution can be commenced absent certification by the Attorney General that prosecution is appropriate.
• Create a new federal crime for interstate flight from justice to avoid prosecution for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, federal law enforcement officer, or federally funded public safety officer. The offender would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for this offense.

Create a Specific Aggravating Factor for Federal Death Penalty Prosecutions

• Clarify that the murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer or first responder is a statutory aggravating factor for purposes of the federal death penalty.

Limit Federal Habeas Relief for Murders of Law Enforcement Officers

• Impose time limits and substantive limits on federal courts' review of challenges to state-court convictions for crimes involving the murder of a public safety officer, when the public safety officer was engaged in the performance of official duties or on account of the performance of official duties. These changes are consistent with the fast-track procedures created in 1996, which are applied to federal death penalty cases.

Limit Recovery of Certain Damages and Fees for Individuals Engaged in Felonies

• Limit the type of civil damages and attorney's fees recoverable by a criminal as a result of purported injuries incurred during the commission of a felony or crime of violence.

Expand Self-Defense and Second Amendment Rights for Law Enforcement Officers

• Allow law enforcement officers, subject to limited regulation, to carry firearms into federal facilities and other jurisdictions where such possession is otherwise prohibited.

MORE:

Senate Passes Tuberville-Backed Resolution for National Police Week

ICYMI: Sen. Tuberville: Protecting Those Who Protect us Goes Beyond National Police Week

Tuberville Leads Law Enforcement Roundtable During National Police Week

Tuberville Supports "National Police Week" Resolution, Honors Fallen Officers

Tuberville Addresses Alabama State Fraternal Order of Police Conference

Tuberville Honors Fallen Alabama Law Enforcement After National Police Weekend

Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

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