TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Videos showing deadly violence against African Americans around the country may have prompted a retaliation attack against police in Dallas, Texas, and some state legislators here in Florida want to do something about it to make the streets safer for first responders.
Ocala Rep. Dennis Baxley is one of the lawmakers saying he’ll propose the bill. He’s running for state Senate, but said he’ll work on crafting the legislation even if he loses.
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In November 2014, in Tallahassee, a seemingly routine house fire ended with first responders taking gunfire. The ambush left one Leon County Sheriff’s deputy dead.
“It was for the express purpose to ambush first responders and kill as many as possible,” Matt Pucket, the Florida Police Benevolent Association executive director, said.
Puckett points to that incident-- and now the attack on Dallas, Texas, police officers last week that killed five -- as the reasons more officer protections are needed.
"We’ve had a number of South Florida cities pass resolutions asking for this legislation, and I think in the wake of, obviously, the tragic events of last week, these two legislators have said, 'We’re going to put it on our shoulders and try to pass it.'"
Two Florida lawmakers said they’ll propose “Blue Lives Matter” legislation for next year’s legislative session. The bills will make attacking first responders a hate crime.
Hate crimes traditionally involved attacks that involve race or religion, not place of employment.
Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump has represented multiple families involved in police shootings. He said all people need the protections.
"If anything is motivated by hate, and you commit a violent act upon it, you should be held to the fullest extent of the law," Crump said.
Hate crime cases typically carry harsher penalties -- usually steeper fines or longer prison sentences.