{"bills":[{"photos":{"featured":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/s3184-114/featured_back-the-blue-act-of-2016-1472180811.jpg","featured_large":"https://assets.causes.com/bill/photo/s3184-114/featured_large_back-the-blue-act-of-2016-1472180811.jpg","shareable":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/bills/s3184-114.png"},"introduced_on":"2016-07-13","title_override":"Should the Murderers of Federal Judges or Public Safety Officers Get the Death Penalty?","summary_override":"

This bill would create a new federal crime for killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a federal judge, law enforcement officer, or public safety officer. For murder, the offender could receive the death penalty, and a conviction would carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years while attempted murder would result in a minimum 10 year sentence.

Other new federal crimes would also be created by this legislation. Assaulting a public safety officer would lead to escalating penalties including mandatory minimums based on the extent of the injury caused and whether a lethal weapon was used. And if a perpetrator flees across state lines to avoid prosecution for a crime created by this bill, they could be subject them to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

In the result of a conviction, this bill would impose time and substantive limits on the ability of federal courts to review challenges of state-court convictions involving the murder of an on-duty public safety officer. For perpetrators who committed a felony, there would be limits on the civil damages and attorney’s fees they can recover from injuries they sustained while committing their crime.

The bill would also reform federal law to carry their guns in most circumstances when entering federal facilities or other places where the possession of a gun is otherwise prohibited. There would also be expanded grant funding to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

","official_title":"A bill to protect law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Back the Blue Act of 2016","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Back the Blue Act of 2016\n\nThis bill amends the federal criminal code by establishing mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in prison for offenders who kill, or attempt or conspire to kill, current or former U.S. judges and federal law enforcement officers. Offenders are subject to 30 years in prison or the death penalty if death results.\n\nAdditionally, the bill makes it illegal to kill, or attempt or conspire to kill, current or former public safety officers or judicial officers who work for state or local governments that are federally funded if the officers were engaged in official duties or targeted on account of their duties. The penalties for crimes against federal officials are also applied for crimes against federally funded public safety officers.\n\nThe bill: (1) makes it a crime to assault an individual involved in crime and juvenile delinquency control or reduction, or enforcement of the laws of states; and (2) increases penalties based on the degree of bodily injury caused ...","summarized":true,"cost":null,"cost_commentary":"A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.","impact":"People who murder or attempt to murder federal law enforcement officers or judges; federal law enforcement officers and judges; and state and federal courts.","argument_for":"If someone murders or tries to kill a federal judge or public safety officer they should be faced with lengthy mandatory minimums and potentially the death penalty. 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If they are not a US citizen then the value of human life is the same. I think the only real difference would be on the offender, their citizenship status and criminal record. Also the heinousness of the murder is the largest factor in the penalty. ","show_argument_for":false,"show_argument_against":true,"upvote_count":5,"upvotes_for_count":null,"upvotes_against_count":5,"has_upvoted":false,"endorsement_count":5,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/positions/dc933983-03a8-413f-b3bc-a0dede4ed093"},"body":"Murder is murder, if the victims are a US citizen the value of life is the same. If they are not a US citizen then the value of human life is the same. I think the only real difference would be on the offender, their citizenship status and criminal record. Also the heinousness of the murder is the largest factor in the penalty. 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Khalid

Should the Murderers of Federal Judges or Public Safety Officers Get the Death Penalty?