"Cop Killer" legislation advances in Congress

9News.com ^ | 11/4/05

[beaversmom]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House approved a measure Friday that would cut off foreign aid to countries that refuse to extradite anyone suspected of killing an American law-enforcement officer. The legislation is a direct result of the slaying a Denver Police detective earlier this year.

The provision was part of a 2006 foreign aid bill that passed 358 to 39. If the Senate approves, it will go to President Bush, who is expected to sign it.

Rep. Bob Beauprez, R-Colo., introduced the legislation after Denver police detective Donnie Young was shot and killed in May while working off-duty. The suspect, Raul Gomez-Garcia, fled to Mexico, where he was arrested.

Attempts by the U.S. government to extradite Gomez-Garcia for trial in Denver have been slowed by Mexico's refusal to turn him over if he could spend life in prison without parole.

However, Mexico appeared to warm to the idea of extradition after Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrisey decided to charge Gomez-Garcia with of second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, with a maximum sentence of 96 years in prison.

Mexico's undersecretary for North American affairs said in September the Mexican government wants Gomez-Garcia to "face justice appropriately in the United States."

"Bad guys should be behind bars," he said.

Gomez-Garcia is also accused of wounding Young's partner, John "Jack" Bishop, while they were working as security guards at a baptismal party.

In a statement on the House floor before the vote, Beauprez said the U.S. "should not be forced to plea-bargain with other countries, nor should full justice be denied family members of assassinated cops."

"We are not obliged to give foreign aid, and I believe the countries that receive our foreign aid should be held to certain standards -- in particular, living up to the extradition agreements our country has made with them," he said.

[soltice]

I back the police, but we should NOT make them a special higher class of citizen.

Many of them already feel that they are above everyone else as the personal enforcement arm of the radical activist judiciary.

[hiredhand]

What about the rest of us peon citizens? This smacks of the reasoning which states that the lives of law enforcement officers are more important than the rest of us.

Consider the case of our fighter pilots who leave active duty, or retire to take a job with an airline. They operate multimillion, high tech, airborne weapons platforms, having a destructive capacity unrealized by most citizens, AND usually some sort of sidearm. The Baretta M92-F was the standard issue when I left USAF/AD.

But a matter of days later, the same fighter pilot might find himself taking a job flying a commercial jetliner, and suddenly he's unqualified to carry even a pistol without certification and whatnot.

Political correctness is killing us, and will continue to get us killed!

[AmericanChef]

Murder is murder. If such a law exists, it should benefit ALL Americans murdered by fleeing scum.

[Mariposaman]

What an foolish statement.

[proxy_user]

The 'equal protection of laws' clause in the Constitution would seem to prohibit this.

Maybe if we get Alito confirmed, he can join with Roberts and do something about these laws.

[preacher]

Many countries won't extradite people charged with capital crimes if they could face the death penalty in the US. I think it would be a good idea to suspend foreign aid to those countries. I also agree that police & law enforcemnt people should not get special treatment.

[KoRn]

"The 'equal protection of laws' clause in the Constitution would seem to prohibit this. "

That's exactly right. Unfortunately, this won't stop our President from signing it. The President doesn't care about upholding the constitution. Check out Campaign Finance 'Reform'.

[Sender]

It should be amended to say no aid unless extradition of anyone who kills any American citizen, at least on US soil.

[GladesGuru]

Having read solstice's post, and being unable to fault any part of it, may I ask on what basis you called her post foolish. Specifics would be appreciated.

[Balding_Eagle]

Soltice is wrong.

Policemen (not the man, but the position) are, in fact, a 'higher' class of citizen. They are appointed by the State to protect the rest of the citizenry.

Two points: They also should be held to a higher standard, something they have woefully failed to achieve in recent decades

Second, this legislation should cover all citizens, not just policemen. I believe in time it probably will.

[festus]

But if you kill a regular joe like me. Well thats ok I mean wasn't like I'm a cop or nothing I'm just a daddy and all......

[DocH]

This is just like giving cops and retired cops the ability to carry concealed anywhere in the country.

It is elitist and un-American to ONLY allow cops do do so, and this proposed "cop killer" law is similar.

[festus]

What an foolish statement.

The poster you are responding to was 100% corrrect.

[HiTech RedNeck]

This is the golden rule -- he who has the gold makes the rules. I'm not sure the president, however, would necessarily want the diplomatic repercussions this could cause.

[soltice]

I am wrong IF the laws and Constitution are followed - but the are NOT.

The police are no longer tasked with "protecting" anybody but themselves, government property and other govt officials.

The "commoner citizen" is only offered after-the-fact reports to be given to insurance companies or to your next-of-kin.

[Tim Long]

[Myrddin]

Policemen (not the man, but the position) are, in fact, a 'higher' class of citizen. They are appointed by the State to protect the rest of the citizenry.

Baloney. They have no duty to protect anyone. Their job is to apprehend individuals AFTER a criminal act has occurred. Any action to "protect" amounts to prior restraint without probable cause. Law enforcement deserves a good paycheck for putting themselves in harm's way when dealing with the criminal element, but that doesn't make them any better than any other citizen. Our military services place themselves at far greater risk every day.

[Balding_Eagle]

I just realized the word citizen is not correct, the position of policeman is FILLED by a citizen, but the position itself is something other than a citizen. I need a little help to find the right word. Perhaps it is just policeman?

Never the less, a policeman is over the citizen even if the Constitution isn't followed. That understanding, and respect, differentiates us from barbarians.

[Tench_Coxe]

"The Framers feared two things: large standing armies and select militias. A select militia was an armed group formed not from the entire population of a jurisdiction by public notice, but selected by some method that might make them unrepresentative of the community, and a threat to lawful government or to the community. A regular standing army or police force is always a select militia, and it may serve the will of those in power, and be used against the people. Therefore, the Framers intended that the militia should always be able to prevail over the government and its armies or select militias. They did not trust those in power to voluntarily refrain from corruption or the abuses that attend it. The Militia was seen as one of the checks on the power of government, like division of powers between the central and state governments, between the executive, judicial, and legislative branches, and between the two houses of the legislative branch."

Found here: Select Militia