Thin Blue Line Act

12/15/2023, 3:53 PM

Thin Blue Line Act

This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.

The Thin Blue Line Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 130, is a piece of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. The purpose of this bill is to enhance the penalties for individuals who commit certain crimes against law enforcement officers.

Specifically, the Thin Blue Line Act would make it a federal crime to kill, attempt to kill, or conspire to kill a federal law enforcement officer, a state or local officer, or a first responder. The bill would also impose stricter penalties, including the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment, for individuals convicted of these crimes.

Supporters of the Thin Blue Line Act argue that it is necessary to protect those who put their lives on the line to protect and serve their communities. They believe that harsher penalties will serve as a deterrent and send a strong message that violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated. Critics of the bill, however, raise concerns about the potential for misuse of the death penalty and argue that it may not effectively address the root causes of violence against law enforcement officers. Overall, the Thin Blue Line Act is a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to increase protections for law enforcement officers and first responders. It is currently being debated in Congress, and its fate remains uncertain.
Congress
118

Number
HR - 130

Introduced on
2023-01-09

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

1/9/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Thin Blue Line Act

This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.

The Thin Blue Line Act, also known as Bill 118 hr 130, is a piece of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. The purpose of this bill is to enhance the penalties for individuals who commit certain crimes against law enforcement officers.

Specifically, the Thin Blue Line Act would make it a federal crime to kill, attempt to kill, or conspire to kill a federal law enforcement officer, a state or local officer, or a first responder. The bill would also impose stricter penalties, including the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment, for individuals convicted of these crimes.

Supporters of the Thin Blue Line Act argue that it is necessary to protect those who put their lives on the line to protect and serve their communities. They believe that harsher penalties will serve as a deterrent and send a strong message that violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated. Critics of the bill, however, raise concerns about the potential for misuse of the death penalty and argue that it may not effectively address the root causes of violence against law enforcement officers. Overall, the Thin Blue Line Act is a controversial piece of legislation that seeks to increase protections for law enforcement officers and first responders. It is currently being debated in Congress, and its fate remains uncertain.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim.

Policy Areas
Crime and Law Enforcement

Potential Impact
Crime victims•
Criminal procedure and sentencing•
Emergency medical services and trauma care•
Fires•
First responders and emergency personnel•
Health personnel•
Law enforcement officers•
Violent crime

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary2/21/2023

Thin Blue Line Act

This bill expands the list of statutory aggravating factors in death penalty determinations to also include killing or targeting a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder.


Latest Action1/9/2023
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.