U.S. Senators Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the Defending Our Defenders Act to amend federal law to make the murder of a federal, state or local law enforcement officer a crime punishable by life in prison or death. 

“The ambushes and attacks on our law enforcement must end, and they must end right now,” said Senator Loeffler. “We have seen a steady increase in violent, ambush-style attacks and heinous killings of police officers with nearly 40 officers killed in the line of duty already in 2020 – a 20 percent increase compared to this time last year. Simply put, criminals who murder police officers deserve the harshest sentences our courts can offer. It’s time to draw the line, and my bill will hold cop killers accountable by doing just that.” 

“Criminals who cut short the lives of our brave officers should be met with the fiercest penalties,” said Senator Cotton. “Killing a police officer not only ends a precious human life—it’s also an assault against the safety of every American who lives in the community that officer protects. Our bill will subject those who murder police to a punishment they deserve, life in prison or the death penalty.” 

Background: 

Last week, Loeffler formally called for convicted cop killers in America to be sentenced to the death penalty. Loeffler also joined U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and 14 other colleagues in introducing the Protect and Serve Act to create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state or federal law enforcement officers with violence.