Brian Babin: “At this time in our Nation, protecting our local law enforcement and first responders could not be more important. Tens…”

“At this time in our Nation, protecting our local law enforcement and first responders could not be more important. Tens of thousands of law enforcement and first responders around the country put their lives on the line every single day to serve their communities. Sadly, statistics show that simply doing their jobs has become very dangerous for these individuals. In 2016, police officer shootings increased by 56 percent nationally, with ambush-style killings of law enforcement officers increasing by a staggering 167 percent. These dramatic numbers demonstrate that more protection is needed for our law enforcement officers. In my home State of Texas, 17 law enforcement officers gave their lives just last year, including five who were killed in the horrible assault that targeted police officers in Dallas, Texas. On Monday, in recognition of National Police Week, we honored fallen law enforcement officers at a memorial ceremony in Deer Park, Texas, in my district. We need the Thin Blue Line Act, which would make the killing of a local or State law enforcement officer or first responder an aggravating factor in Federal death penalty determinations. It is important that our local and State police officers and first responders have the same safeguards that Federal law enforcement officers already have.…”