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Governor Abbott - Police Protection Act

Governor Abbott - Police Protection Act

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by: TheWoodlandsTXDotCom Active Indicator LED Icon 7 Site Admin  OP 
~ 7 years ago   Jul 18, '16 1:18pm  
Governor Abbott - Police Protection Act
 
Governor Greg Abbott today announced an effort to strengthen penalties for crimes committed against law enforcement officers – the Police Protection Act.
 
“At a time when law enforcement officers increasingly come under assault simply because of the job they hold, Texas must send a resolute message that the State will stand by the men and women who serve and protect our communities,” said Governor Abbott.
 
The proposal is punctuated by making it a hate crime for anyone to commit a crime against a law enforcement officer out of bias against the police. The Governor will request the Texas legislature to pass the Police Protection Act in the 2017 legislative session.
 
“While our state and the nation continue to mourn the heroes lost in Dallas, it is time for us to unite as Texans to say no more,” Governor Abbott continued. “The men and women in uniform risk their lives every day to protect the public, and it is time we show them the State of Texas has their back. Texas will no longer tolerate disrespect for those who serve, and it must be made clear to anyone targeting our law enforcement officials that their actions will be met with severe justice.”
 
Governor Abbott’s Police Protection Act includes the following proposals:
 
- Extend hate crime protections to law enforcement officers;
- Increase criminal penalties for any crime in which the victim is a law enforcement officer, whether or not the crime qualifies as a hate crime;
- Create a culture of respect for law enforcement by organizing a campaign to educate young Texans on the value law enforcement officers bring to their communities;
 
For example, under current law, assault with bodily injury is generally punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, while assault on a public servant, including a law enforcement officer, is a 3rd degree felony. Under Governor Abbott’s proposal, in cases where the assault is on a law enforcement officer, the penalty would increase to a 2nd degree felony.
 
“The recent shooting in Dallas is not the first time law enforcement officers in Texas have been targeted. Our goal is to do everything possible to make it the last,” added Governor Abbott.
 
Law enforcement organizations in Texas offered the following statements in response to Governor Abbott’s Police Protection Act:
 
"As a 26-plus year police officer in Houston, I’m extremely encouraged by Governor Greg Abbott’s legislative priority to make the State of Texas a national leader in protecting the lives of law enforcement officers. The attacks on law enforcement in Texas and the rest of our nation are unprecedented. Governor Abbott’s solution is the right approach for Texas law enforcement officers and the people of Texas who support them.” – Ray Hunt, President, Houston Police Officers Association
 
"We applaud Governor Abbott for recognizing the importance of protecting law enforcement officers in the state of Texas. False narratives and irresponsible anti-police rhetoric have put our officers in greater danger than ever before. This is an important step toward protecting those who protect the citizens of this great state." – Kevin Lawrence, Executive Director, Texas Municipal Police Association
 
“The Dallas Police Association applauds Governor Abbott’s bold plan in response to the recent wave of attacks on police officers. Now is the time for our elected leaders across our state and country to do the right thing and join our Governor in his call to better protect police officers.” – Ron Pinkston, President, Dallas Police Association
 
"The Sheriff's Association of Texas is very pleased to hear our Governor is behind an effort to protect peace officers across our state. Every Texas Sheriff feels this should be a precedent for the leadership in other states to follow, and we support our Governor. We look forward to working with the Governor during the 2017 legislative session to pass these important protections." – Grimes County Sheriff Donald Sowell, President, The Sheriff's Association of Texas
 
www.facebook.com/Tex asGovernor/
 
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Frankie Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 7 years ago   Jul 18, '16 1:28pm  
Not enough IMHO. Anyone that intentionally injures a police officer should get life in prison once convicted. Nothing less. Not that that would stop some of these crazies but it should be severe enough to encourage them stop and think, not be expecting to get out of punishment by claiming mental deficiencies or any other excuse.
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CompassionateRebel Active Indicator LED Icon 6
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 9:10am  
@Frankie I don't get it. One of the salient argument for the enshrinement of the 2nd amendment is for protection against the tyranny of the government. You hear a lot of "they are coming for our guns" they meaning the evil government. Police are part of the government, are they not? If the conspiracy theorists are correct, who do you think will be coming to take your guns? And you are proposing to get behind a law that would put anyone away for life anyone using their guns against the evil government as intended by the 2nd amendment? Careful what you wish for.
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Frankie Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 10:44am  
who do you think will be coming to take your guns?

@CompassionateRebel : Who do you think will be coming to take every one of your worldly possessions if no one dares to become a police officer? Reality check here, just in case you haven't considered that scenario.
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Frankie Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 10:48am  
you are proposing to get behind a law that would put anyone away for life anyone using their guns against the evil government

@CompassionateRebel : You bet I am. These are outright executions. We have laws and rules on how to handle any missteps (the Clintons being the exception) and the route that is being taken against the men and women in blue is unacceptable and to say less is a step in the wrong direction, IMHO.
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CompassionateRebel Active Indicator LED Icon 6
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 11:35am  
@Frankie You're still side stepping the main issue. If the government agents (police) come for your guns, surrender them without using them? Should gun advocates get rid of this argument?
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plymouth Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 11:42am  
Killing of a police officer should be a hate crime. I am surprised it isn't.
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CompassionateRebel Active Indicator LED Icon 6
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 11:50am  
@plymouth There goes the "well armed militia" argument.
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plymouth Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 11:56am  
@CompassionateRebel We do not need a militia to overthrow the police. They are law abiding individuals (for the most part).No one is suggesting to take away guns. If you shoot them with an intent to kill them because they are cops, you should be charged with with a hate crime.
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CompassionateRebel Active Indicator LED Icon 6
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 12:00pm  
No one is suggesting to take away guns

@plymouth : Seriously? Honestly? From the NRA to every other GOP official has directly or indirectly claimed that the evil government, Obama, untold agencies are coming for the people's guns.
www.huffingtonpost.c om/2013/02/03/wayne- lapierre-obama-guns_ n_2610763.html
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plymouth Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 12:02pm  
@CompassionateRebel Well, maybe they are. I am sure that there are those who would like to take people's guns away. I am referring to Governor Abbot and other people who are proposing similar hate crime bills. I don't think the purpose of their bill is to take away peoples guns.
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CompassionateRebel Active Indicator LED Icon 6
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 12:22pm  
@plymouth You're right is not but it would impose a steeper penalty for any wacko that would act out against the authorities that real or imagined believe that they are coming for the guns. Abbot and others are pandering to the cops while perhaps unwilling discrediting a long-standing argument for the unrestricted distribution of guns.
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Frankie Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 12:40pm  
You're still side stepping the main issue.

@CompassionateRebel : No side stepping because that isn't what the posted story was about. The story is about punishment being raised to a higher category for those disrespecting those wearing blue.
 
You might want to author a new post with your issue instead of trying to hijack this one.
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CecilQ Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 12:45pm  
This is meaningless political PR. The current penalties for assaulting a police officer are perfectly adequate. This new law won't deter anyone. In Texas, if you kill a police officer, you will be put to death. Moreover, while I have never seen the rationale behind qualifying a crime as a "hate crime" (Is that worse than a regular old predatory crime?), extending the definition to attacks on the police dilutes the distinction.
 
The killers of the police and the mass-murderers in this country have one uniform quality - - - they are losers. Their lives are failures and by appropriating the power of life and death only wielded by god and the state, they make themselves feel potent - - - and - - - they fully intend to go out in a "blaze of glory".
 
This law won't change that.
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Frankie Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 12:49pm  
This law won't change that.

@CecilQ : Unfortunately, what you say is true.
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plymouth Active Indicator LED Icon 7
~ 7 years ago   Jul 19, '16 3:47pm  
@CecilQ Maybe it wouldn't change Texas law, perhaps it should be a federal law. I have never thought that the punishments were there to discourage commitment of crimes. Punishments are there to punish. Crazy people will still commit crimes.
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