OFF THE WIRE
agingrebel.com
Last Tuesday, May 17, the Louisiana
House and Senate passed a bill, by a combined vote of 124 – 3, that
defines police as a protected class.
The law reads: “It shall be unlawful for
any person to select the victim of the following offenses against
person and property because of actual or perceived race, age, gender,
religion, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin,
or ancestry of that person or the owner or occupant of that property or
because of actual or perceived membership or service in, or employment
with, an organization, or because of actual or perceived employment as a
law enforcement officer… first or second degree murder; manslaughter;
battery; aggravated battery; second degree battery; aggravated assault
with a firearm; terrorizing; mingling harmful substances; simple or
third degree rape, forcible or second degree rape, or 18 aggravated or
first degree rape; sexual battery, second degree sexual battery; oral
sexual battery; carnal knowledge of a juvenile; indecent behavior with
juveniles; molestation of a juvenile or a person with a physical or
mental disability; simple, second degree, or aggravated kidnapping;
simple or aggravated arson; communicating of false information of
planned arson; simple or aggravated criminal damage to property;
contamination of water supplies; simple or aggravated burglary; criminal
trespass; simple, first degree, or armed robbery; purse snatching;
extortion; theft; desecration of graves; institutional vandalism; or
assault by drive-by shooting.”
The significance of the new law seems to be more symbolic than actual.
Fraternal Order Of Police
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards is
expected to sign the new law which was heavily promoted by the largest
police union in the United States. Edwards issued a press release that
said, “Police officers and firefighters often perform life-saving acts
of heroism, oftentimes under very dangerous circumstances, and are
integral in maintaining order and civility in our society. The members
of the law enforcement community deserve these protections, and I look
forward to signing this bill into law.”
In a prepared statement, Chuck
Canterbury, who is the national president of the Fraternal Order of
Police , said, “Talking heads on television and inflammatory rhetoric on
social media are inciting acts of hatred and violence toward our
nation’s peace officers. Our members are increasingly under fire by
individuals motivated by nothing more than a desire to kill or injure a
cop.”
The FOP has also launched a public
relations campaign called “Our True Heroes” which is intended to
“educate the public on the positive role that law enforcement plays in
our communities.”
Canterbury has noticed that. “public support for law enforcement is at an all-time low.”
The Louisiana law is the result of a
national, public relations campaign called “Blue Lives Matter” that
includes the goal of making police a protected class under federal law.