https://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/this-new-bill-in-congress-would-imprison-people-for-10
I'm opposed to this for a variety of reasons. We don't need more federal laws, state laws are sufficient to deal with this issue (and they already do for the most part). This also seems like another major abuse of the interstate commerce clause, and IMO could potentially violate a person's natural right to self defense in some situations.
There have been cases where police have made up an assault allegation (Olmos Park, TX for example) if the Feds get involved in this that would be another layer of government an individual would have to defend themselves from legally.
Republicans and at least one Democrat in Congress rolled out legislation on Tuesday that would imprison people for up to 10 years for seriously injuring a police officer — or attempting to do so — with backers saying a new federal punishment is needed to curb "cowardly assaults" on police.
...
Hatch’s Senate bill — using language typical of hate crimes laws that protect minorities — would penalize those who target someone for serious assault or homicide because the victim is or is perceived to be a law enforcement officer. It would apply if the assailant crosses state lines, uses a weapon that has traveled interstate, or if the offense interferes with commerce. It would be equally applied to those who "attempt to" injure or kill an officer, too. Someone who kills or kidnaps an officer would be eligible for life in prison.
The House version does not stipulate that perpetrators must be motivated by the belief that their victim is a law-enforcement officer — only that they must "knowingly" injure or kill the officer.
I'm opposed to this for a variety of reasons. We don't need more federal laws, state laws are sufficient to deal with this issue (and they already do for the most part). This also seems like another major abuse of the interstate commerce clause, and IMO could potentially violate a person's natural right to self defense in some situations.
There have been cases where police have made up an assault allegation (Olmos Park, TX for example) if the Feds get involved in this that would be another layer of government an individual would have to defend themselves from legally.