A bill working its way through the Louisiana House of Representatives adds attacks against police officers and firefighters to its list of hate crimes.
Due to increasing tensions between residents and police officers, HB 953 by Rep. Lance Harris, R-Alexandria, creates the necessary protection civil servants deserve for putting their lives on the line every day to protect us. The bill does not distract from the previously defined offenses listed as hate crimes or make those crimes any less important, but it helps those that defend us by supporting them.
Although some media organizations such as ThinkProgress claim there is “no evidence to support the idea that there’s a war on cops,” recent events prove the constant danger hanging over the heads of law enforcement agents.
One such event happened this weekend in Chandler, Arizona. Two police officers were shot while approaching a trespassing suspect in Walmart. According to authorities, the officers received a call alerting them about a trespasser returning to the store.
The police arrived and walked toward the suspect, who then turned and shot the officers multiple times. One of the officers required surgery on the night of the shooting and remained in ICU throughout the week.
The two officers in the Arizona shooting did not come in with guns blazing, ready to take out the trespasser. They simply responded to a call and were sent to the hospital.
Families of officers worry about their safety because jobs in law enforcement are dangerous, yet officers continue to perform their duties because they care about the people they serve.
Of course, the officers who don’t follow the law are the ones we all hear about in the news. I’m not saying all officers always follow the rules, but I am saying that the law-breaking officers are most likely in the minority.
This bill is the first to expand the current hate crime law to include police officers and firefighters. Passing HB 953 would set a precedent for other states to step forward to protect officers and firefighters across the nation.
Adding agents of the law to the list of hate crime victims doesn’t take away from the importance of the other forms of hate crimes, and the bill doesn’t give officers an excuse to go against protocol. No one who violates the law deserves to get away with it, especially law enforcement. However, police officers and firefighters come to our rescue in times of emergency, and no one wants law enforcement to hesitate before saving a life due to fear of potential repercussions.
Before becoming a police officer, a person must take an oath committing him or herself to ethical behavior on the job. According to the Louisiana State Police website, their mission is to “ensure the safety and security of the people in the state through enforcement, education and providing of other essential public safety services.”
Officers are protectors, not discriminators. When they take the oath, they swear to protect the people, so we need to return the favor. Officers following the law don’t ask for gratitude, but they deserve our respect. No officer should be profiled because of the office he or she holds. The “Blue Lives Matter” bill is long overdue. The time is now to give back to the people who selflessly put their lives on the line for us every day.
Charlie Bonacquisti is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from Dallas, Texas.