With the recent Dallas shooting less than two weeks ago, and the Baton Rouge police shooting yesterday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has officially proposed ‘The Police Protection Act’. Governor Abbott has proposed a law that is aimed at strengthening penalties for crimes committed against law enforcement officers.
“At a time when law enforcement officers increasingly come under assault simply because of the job they hold, Texas must send a resolute message that the state will stand by the men and women who serve and protect our communities,” said Greg Abbott.
Currently in the state of Texas, Assault with a bodily injury is punishable as a class A misdemeanor, while assault on a public servant or any law enforcement is a third degree felony. Under the governor’s proposal, assault on any law enforcement officer will increase to a second degree felony.
Local injury attorney, Charles Dunn, says that if the law passes, he doesn’t think the extra charges will make a difference. Instead, he says our nation is struggling with a respect issue.
“Number one, brutality by police against citizens has to stop, and the brutality by citizens against the police has to stop, those two positions are not against each other. The gun violence has to stop. Police has to look at themselves, and the community has to look at themselves, and until there’s that dialogue of mutual respect, you have to earn your respect.” said Dunn
The Lubbock Police Department has announced that they will be having a press conference with the city tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM, to discuss the Baton Rouge shootings as well as their thoughts on the ‘Police Protection Act’.
