Gov. Abbott announces Police Protection Act

WFAA.COM ^ | 18 JULY 2016 | WFAA.COM

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

AUSTIN -- A new potential law created by Texas Governor Greg Abbott would bring stronger penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers.

The Police Protection Act would make any crime committed against a police officer "out of bias against police" be labeled a "hate crime."

Under the act, assaulting a law enforcement officer would become a 2nd degree felony. It's currently a 3rd degree felony.

[lightman]

Under the act, assaulting a law enforcement officer would become a 2nd degree felony. It's currently a 3rd degree felony.

What's a little more jail time among thugs? /s

[Trump20162020]

Oh, this sounds like it'll work. If only the penalty for murdering police officers were stiffer, maybe the Dallas shooter would not have done so!

Also, "hate/thought crime" nonsense should never be supported.

[Squantos]

They can finish that doctorate degree on Pell Grants in prison......

[chris37]

I like the idea of strengthening laws in order to protect policemen, I suppose, but in the end it doesn’t really even matter, because laws are reactionary. They do not bring back the dead.

If someone murders a policeman, or anyone else for that matter, whatever justice is metered out by the system is not relevant to the dead person.

Murder is already highly illegal and carries stiff penalties, yet it happens all the time, everywhere and every day.

Once you stir up hate, Obama, you cannot make it go away, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.

You have set one group against another on purpose, and what makes it so much worse is that you intended to do this in order to advance your damned agenda.

Obama, you are the lowest life form on this planet.

I like ticks more than I like you, Barry.

[dmet]

I hate to think this way, but the only thing that might get these suicide killers to reconsider is to hold their family accountable for what ever they do.

[Secret Agent Man]

This does not hinder the people who want to attack cops.

If anything it will come to be used to screw regular people.

[Secret Agent Man]

We need to destroy the concept of hate crime law. All crime against others is hate crime. The context of each case should determine length of sentence without no-think hate crime laws.

[Viking2002]

It's a good step in fighting fire with fire, but largely symbolic. Most of these maggots who shoot cops end up well-ventilated and in a pool of their own blood. Personally, I'd take the rancid meat over a moral victory, although they do cross lines.

[Moonman62]

I agree. This is a bad idea.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

That's what the Israelis do.

I would certainly deport anyone related to a terrorist or cop killer who isn't already a US Citizen.

I would also sue the family members if the terrorist or cop killer was a dependent.

The Israelis go even further (like destroying the homes of the families of terrorists) but I wouldn't want to push the Constitution past any more limits than it has already been pushed.

[spintreebob]

We make a big mistake when we imitate the left with identity politics and hate crimes. The rule of law means that we are all equal before the law. The Secretary of State is not special. Police are not special. Neither Blacks nor whites no Greens are special. We are all the same before the law.

[rusty schucklefurd]

This is a bad idea. “Hate crime” laws are a bad idea to begin with. I despise BLM and it makes me sick to my stomach at the killing of these police officers, but this is not what is going to restrain such evil acts.

I also think such a law can be used against citizens defending themselves in a true police brutality situation.

I don’t have a problem with the idea that the circumstances that lead to a murder taking place should be considered when determining the degree of the type of murder a person is charged with - 1st, 2nd, degree etc. Also determining just punishment from life in prison to death already takes into account the degree of callousness behind the act.

Cold blooded murder is cold blooded murder regardless of whether the person doing the killing “hates” the victim or not. In fact, someone killing another simply because they enjoy causing suffering and killing is somehow worse to me than a “hate” crime.

[I want the USA back]

Bam will veto it and street savages don’t think of the consequences of their actions.

[BobL]

“Also, “hate/thought crime” nonsense should never be supported.”

I hear you, but we’re stuck with these ‘crimes’, which are ONLY enforced one-way.

Perhaps it’s time that we FIGHT BACK - MAKE THEM PAY for killing cops. Make them have to deal with a separate, unequal, form of justice.

Perhaps some time in the future, when cops are safe, we can FINALLY work to get rid of those laws.

But for now, let’s JAIL that bunch, the people responsible for the cop killings.

[ASA Vet]

Hate is a motive, not the crime. Idiots all.

[Grams A]

Don’t know what the answer is but IMO this is just a “feel good” policy. Just add to the list of lots of laws we have that accomplish nothing.

Wish our Governor would concentrate on keeping muslims, Panthers and groups like them as well as illegals out of our state.

Many of these people that are here now are because of Rick Perry’s “you all come on down” policy.

[familyop]

It wouldn’t have worked against many of the worst of the murderers, because they killed themselves or were killed by police.

[FrankR]

I don’t think Bam can veto a state law, can he? He might try issuing an EO against it.

[American Quilter]

I approve.