Vern Buchanan: Philadelphia Police Shootings Show Why Congress Needs to Punish Cop Killers

In the aftermath of last week’s attacks in Philadelphia which left six police officers wounded U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., called on Congress to pass his “Thin Blue Line Act” to punish cop killers. 

At the start of the year, Buchanan brought back the legislation as the new Congress convened. The “Thin Blue Line Act” which would make murdering a police officer, firefighter or first responder killed in federal jurisdiction an aggravating factor in federal death penalty decision.

The proposal was first brought out in 2015 by then-U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla. After Jolly was defeated in 2016, Buchanan picked up the bill and got it passed in the House back in May 2017 but it never got through the Senate. 

“Police officers and first responders put their lives on the line every single day to help those in harm’s way,” Buchanan said on Friday. “They need to know that we have their backs. And those who target police and first responders need to know that there will be severe consequences.”

The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) honored Buchanan back in March 2018 for his “outstanding support for American law enforcement.”

While Buchanan was not able to get the bill through the Senate--where the late U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, championed it--most members of the Florida delegation from both parties supported the legislation though none of them are currently cosponsoring the bill. 

Back in May 2017, U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn, R-Fla., took to the House floor to praise the proposal. 

“I rise today in support of the Thin Blue Line Act, which will make the murder or attempted murder of a law enforcement officer or first responder an ‘aggravating factor’ in death penalty determinations,” Dunn said. “The officers of the thin blue line put their lives at risk every day and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so we can rest easy at night. Our law enforcement and first responders run into danger so that others can escape it.

“They do this despite the rise in violence against them,” Dunn added. “We have witnessed a 167 percent increase in ambush-style killings of police officers in 2016 alone. This is tragic and unacceptable.  The Thin Blue Line Act will hold cop killers accountable and seek justice for those murdered in the line of duty. And it will show our resolve as citizens to protect the officers who are sworn to protect us.  During this week -- National Police Week – we can also show our gratitude to law enforcement and their families by passing the Thin Blue Line Act. It is an honor to represent them in Congress.”

Buchanan’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in January which referred it over to the U.S. House Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee. Over on the Senate side, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Penn., brought out the companion measure back in May.