Citing a “war on our cops,” Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) reintroduced the Thin Blue Line Act on Thursday, which would allow for harsher punishments for those who attack or kill state or local law enforcement officers.
Notably, a similar law already exists with respect to federal law enforcement officers.
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In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Braun, who is running for governor of Indiana in 2024, said that “it’s a pitiful place that we’ve gotten to.”
“You’ve got prosecutors even like the one that is the prosecutor in Indianapolis that won’t take cases to court,” he said. “What kind of message does that send to the criminal, as well? I was glad to pick this up and make sure that when you do do something that egregious, you’re subject to the fullest extent of the law and the penalties that come along with it.”
Braun is joined by co-sponsors Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Boozman (R-AR), and Ted Budd (R-NC) for the measure.
The bill would make the killing, attempted killing, or targeting of state and local law enforcement officers an aggravating factor in favor of maximum sentences, including capital punishment.
Asked why the United States has seen an increase in officers being shot in the line of duty, Braun said that “we’ve had most of our largest cities run by administrations that talk about defunding the police.”
According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, 34 officers have been shot in the line of duty in January 2023. It further notes that there have been eight ambush-style attacks that resulted in nine shot officers. One of the officers was shot fatally.
This is an 89% increase in officers shot from January 2021 and a 113% increase from 2020, per NFOP.
“It’s made the whole issue of policing difficult, and then I think it emboldens the folks that are going to be out there pushing the envelope,” he added. “Even to the point where you’re creating an atmosphere that creates distrust [that], in many cases, surfaces in where they actually attack policemen across the country.”
This measure alone, however, will not solve the issue, Braun acknowledged. According to the senator, both bail laws and police department funding need to be addressed as well.
The Washington Examiner asked the Indiana gubernatorial candidate how an incident like the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police officers last month can be addressed while also protecting law enforcement officers.
“You’ll have to have the proper training to navigate through all those difficult dynamics,” he said. “And that’s a place where we need more resources. And I think over time, you find out how you avoid those situations through better training and resources.”
Braun further told the Washington Examiner that he isn’t sure if the measure will be able to make it to President Joe Biden’s desk.
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“Hardly anything of significance is getting to the finish line,” he explained. “This issue might, although the Democrats were pretty monolithic on police reform in general.”
“I hope it does find its way through. But I have no way to predict whether it will or not,” Braun said.
