U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) this week announced she is co-sponsoring a bill that, if passed into law, would allow current and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms.
As written, this bill, the Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act, would also apply to current and retired local, state, and federal prosecutors, as well as retired judges.
This, according to a press release that Blackburn’s staff posted on her website.
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) are sponsoring the bill alongside Blackburn, the press release said.
“Right now, law enforcement officials are facing increased threats to their safety just for doing their jobs,” Blackburn said.
“Cities across the country have seen a spike in crime in the wake of weeks-long protests, making the thin blue line appear even thinner than usual. I am pleased to join my colleagues in this crucial effort to ensure members of law enforcement are able to protect themselves in case of emergency.”
Cotton, meanwhile, said many people have threatened judges and prosecutors for doing their jobs.
“They should be able to protect their own lives and their families,” Cotton said.
“Our bill will allow federal judges and prosecutors to defend themselves in a similar way to other law enforcement officers.”
Loeffler said prosecutors and judges make difficult decisions that can put them in harm’s way.
“In a day and age when personal information is so easily accessible online, these public servants should be able to protect themselves and their families at all times,” Loeffler said.
“I’m proud to support this commonsense legislation that extends the right to self-protection for those working for justice every day.”
The press release quoted a U.S. Marshals Service report from this year that said “threats and inappropriate comments” against protected persons increased by a magnitude of four since 2015.
Members of the National District Attorneys Association and the National Sheriffs’ Association support the legislation, according to the press release.
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
If you’re former/retired law enforcement, you need to follow the laws set for the rest of us. You’re not above the law….EVER! Judges? Perhaps there’s a case for that. Lawyers? No, you’re not above the law either! Empty Suite Blackburn’s proposal is just another way to perpetuate the 2 tiered justice system.
As usual, a pretend-conservative wants special rights for our ‘betters’, but not for everyone.
Exactly.
In the 1857 SCOTUS Dred Scott decision which ruled that black people should be kept as non persons and subject to slavery lest “they be able to go armed everywhere they went”since that is a RIGHT for ALL persons under the 2nd article of the Bill of Rights.. So now we have “a bill to allow” a Constitutional right? ! And there should be NO special rights or privileges for anyone, but ALL of the Bill of Rights for everyone is The Law and “the equal protection of the laws” in the 14th Amendment, one of two which overturned the Dred Scott decision to make sure ALL persons were treated equally. This is an absurdity and a total perversion of our Constitution where special laws are made to grant special rights or privileges for what is already a RIGHT for ALL PERSONS!
“Decency, security, and liberty alike demand that Government officials shall be subjected to the same rules of conduct that are commands to the Citizen. In a Government of laws, existence of the Government will be imperiled if it fails to observe the law scrupulously. Our Government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the Government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself. It invites anarchy. To declare that, in the administration of the law, the end justifies the means would bring a terrible retribution. Against that pernicious doctrine, this Court should resolutely set its face.” –Louis D. Brandeis, SCOTUS Justice
Dissenting, Olmstead v. United States, 277 U.S. 438 (1928).
Perfect Ron. These politicians taking constitutional oaths should actually break down and read it some time.
I’ve got a feeling after the legislature’s special session, where they will try to insulate and indemnify foolish, destructive executive orders and “mandates” and “recommendations at the point of a gun” consequences and call it “protecting small businesses”, a lot more of them are going to be targeted.
Too bad they have already disarmed the good, law-abiding folks that might help them out and told us to “do our part – stay apart”.