II
118THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION S. 459
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide enhanced penalties for
convicted murderers who kill or target America’s public safety officers.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY15, 2023
Mr. B
RAUN(for himself, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. RUBIO, Mr.
L
ANKFORD, Mr. SCHMITT, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. HAGERTY, Mr. HOEVEN, Mr.
K
ENNEDY, Mr. BOOZMAN, and Mr. BUDD) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide enhanced
penalties for convicted murderers who kill or target
America’s public safety officers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Thin Blue Line Act’’. 4
SEC. 2. AGGRAVATING FACTORS FOR DEATH PENALTY. 5
Section 3592(c) of title 18, United States Code, is 6
amended by inserting after paragraph (16) the following: 7
‘‘(17) K
ILLING OR TARGETING OF LAW EN -8
FORCEMENT OFFICERS .— 9
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•S 459 IS
‘‘(A) The defendant killed or attempted to 1
kill, in a circumstance described in subpara-2
graph (B), a person who is authorized by law— 3
‘‘(i) to engage in or supervise the pre-4
vention, detention, investigation, or pros-5
ecution of, or the incarceration of any per-6
son for, any criminal violation of law; 7
‘‘(ii) to apprehend, arrest, or pros-8
ecute an individual for any criminal viola-9
tion of law; or 10
‘‘(iii) to be a firefighter or other first 11
responder. 12
‘‘(B) A circumstance referred to in sub-13
paragraph (A) is that the person was killed or 14
targeted— 15
‘‘(i) while he or she was engaged in 16
the performance of his or her official du-17
ties; 18
‘‘(ii) because of the performance of his 19
or her official duties; or 20
‘‘(iii) because of his or her status as 21
a public official or employee.’’. 22
Æ
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