Violence against police could soon be hate crime in Texas

[Liberty]

I thought we didn't have any such thing as hate crimes in Texas.
People who target cops deserve extra attention. But Killing a cop in Texas is a capital crime. What does the new law change? Can we kill the convicted twice? or not allow him a last meal? Usually, laws passed under recent emotional duress turn out to be bad ideas. I don't see a bad side to this bill, but it does sound unnecessary and something that will detract from getting our gun agenda and constitutional carry serious consideration.

[bblhd672]

IWhat does the new law change?.

Nothing- but it makes the politicians feel good about themselves. About as useful as getting on social media holding a sign that says "#stop killing cops"

[nonleg]

Fully agree with you Liberty. Murder, by definition, is the ultimate hate crime in and of itself.

[nightmare69]

I see this as an added charge for an assault on a peace officer.

[Jusme]

I see this as an added charge for an assault on a peace officer.

It is already Aggravated Assault. (possibly attempted capital murder) If they want to increase the penalty for it occurring to LEO, why not just amend that statute?

While I agree that we should do all we can to protect police officers, I don't see this as being more of a deterrent. JMHO

[Abraham]

Maybe he's simply making a statement that calling a crime "a hate crime" is spurious.

A crime is a crime, we need no additional PC-ness entered into it...

[rtschl]

I hate "hate crimes" legislation. Instead, why don't they just make it an automatic charge of a capital offense?

[KD5NRH]

Better yet, how about having laws that treat everyone equally; if the penalty for assault isn't high enough to cover assaulting a nun, the President or a cop, increase the penalty across the board.

[nightmare69]

I see this as an added charge for an assault on a peace officer.

It is already Aggravated Assault. (possibly attempted capital murder) If they want to increase the penalty for it occurring to LEO, why not just amend that statute?

While I agree that we should do all we can to protect police officers, I don't see this as being more of a deterrent. JMHO

A man walks up and punches a cop you could charge him with assault on a peace officer and hate crime or whatever they will call this law in the penal code.

[ScottDLS]

It's only a hate crime of the cop is a certain "color", right?

[Jusme]

I see this as an added charge for an assault on a peace officer.

It is already Aggravated Assault. (possibly attempted capital murder) If they want to increase the penalty for it occurring to LEO, why not just amend that statute?

While I agree that we should do all we can to protect police officers, I don't see this as being more of a deterrent. JMHO

A man walks up and punches a cop you could charge him with assault on a peace officer and hate crime or whatever they will call this law in the penal code.

That's true, but, my point being, if being charged with Aggravated Assault, isn't enough of a deterrent, what will adding on a separate charge do, that can't be done, simply by increasing the penalty of the Agg. Assault? If someone is going to attack a police officer, they probably don't care that they will also be charged with a hate crime. There is no burden of proof for motive, in the Aggravated Assault statute, so why try to pass a law that would require one? Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, if any one of these criteria are met, then the charge can be applied. There is no need to delve into a person's emotions. JMHO.

[bblhd672]

Fully agree with you Liberty. Murder, by definition, is the ultimate hate crime in and of itself.

As a society we need to stop this trend of adding "hate crime laws". There are already laws in place for the crimes, they just need to be prosecuted and harsh sentencing applied to convicted criminals.

[Smokey613]

Fully agree with you Liberty. Murder, by definition, is the ultimate hate crime in and of itself.

As a society we need to stop this trend of adding "hate crime laws". There are already laws in place for the crimes, they just need to be prosecuted and harsh sentencing applied to convicted criminals.

[nightmare69]

I see this as an added charge for an assault on a peace officer.

It is already Aggravated Assault. (possibly attempted capital murder) If they want to increase the penalty for it occurring to LEO, why not just amend that statute?

While I agree that we should do all we can to protect police officers, I don't see this as being more of a deterrent. JMHO

A man walks up and punches a cop you could charge him with assault on a peace officer and hate crime or whatever they will call this law in the penal code.

That's true, but, my point being, if being charged with Aggravated Assault, isn't enough of a deterrent, what will adding on a separate charge do, that can't be done, simply by increasing the penalty of the Agg. Assault? If someone is going to attack a police officer, they probably don't care that they will also be charged with a hate crime. There is no burden of proof for motive, in the Aggravated Assault statute, so why try to pass a law that would require one? Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, if any one of these criteria are met, then the charge can be applied. There is no need to delve into a person's emotions. JMHO.

It's not going to be a deterrent for some scumbag. The only purpose it will serve is to keep the scumbag locked up awhile longer.