New Alabama Bill Makes Attacking A Police Officer A Hate Crime
By Timfly
If a new Alabama bill passes through its state legislature, attacking a police officer will be considered a hate crime.
"It is a hate crime because it attacks a certain class of individuals: police officers," Democratic State Rep. John Rogers of Alabama, who plans to introduce the bill during the next legislative session, told WBRC. "It is a hate crime, so therefore I support it. I will have that bill drawn up tomorrow."
The U.S. Department of Justice defines a hate crime as an act that is motivated by prejudice toward a person targeted for their race, religion, or other identifier, according to the Yellow Hammer News.
"Hate crimes are most likely to create or exacerbate tensions, which can trigger larger community-wide racial conflict, civil disturbances, and even riots," the department says, notes Yellow Hammer News.
The bill bears some similarities to the Thin Blue Line Act, a bill that would increase punishments for those who attack law enforcement or other first responders, introduced by Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama in 2015. Sessions brought the proposal to the nation's senate in response to the uptick in attacks on police officers in recent times.
"The alarming spike in violence directed against the men and women entrusted with ensuring the safety and order of our society must be stopped," Sessions said after introducing the bill. "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."
At least three police officers were fatally shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 17, reports USA Today. Before that, 60 officers had been killed in the line of duty over the last year, including five Dallas police officers shot and killed at a protest against police brutality, which was the greatest loss of life for law enforcement since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Sources: Yellow Hammer News, USA Today, WBRC / Photo Credit: https://www.nytimes.com/
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