Congress is introducing a new bill that would give police officers protection against hate crimes

According to reports, the newly introduced law goals to extend the penalty for harming a police officer and is modeled on the federal law on hate crimes.

The bipartisan-sponsored Protection and Service Act is obligatory to guard law enforcement officers from violence while doing their jobs, supporters of the bill say.

“The Protect and Serve Act of 2018 makes clear that no criminal will escape justice when they single out and attack those who wear this badge every day to keep us safe,” said Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah in his speech. statement. “These heinous, cowardly attacks are an attack not only on law enforcement but also on the rule of law.”

The bill, which was introduced in each the House and Senate this week, would carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for causing serious bodily injury and a potential life sentence for killing or attempting to kill an officer. According to the House of Representatives, this penalty will be prolonged to life imprisonment if the crime results in the kidnapping or death of a law enforcement officer.

Supporters of the bill say it is modeled after the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which makes it a federal crime to intentionally cause bodily injury based on the victim’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Many human rights groups have already come out against this new law, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Their problem with the bill, amongst other things, is that it provides protection from hate crimes to a group that doesn’t need it.

“This bill serves no purpose other than to continue the dangerous and divisive ‘war on police’ narrative,” said Kanya Bennett, general counsel within the Washington Legislative Office of the American Civil Liberties Union. statement. “Federal hate crime laws were enacted to correct centuries of inaction and injustice that too often responded to violence based on immutable characteristics and identities, including race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. This definition, in any possible interpretation, cannot include being a member of law enforcement.”

She added: “Congress should pass this quickly and decisively.”

It is unclear if or when the bill shall be voted on in either chamber.