Blue Lives Matter Law 2017: Hate Crime Bill Heads To Mississippi Full Senate

New legislation passed Tuesday by the Mississippi state senate judiciary committee, dubbed a “Blue Lives Matter” bill, would classify aggravated assaults on police officers, firefighters and emergency first responders directly because of their professions as hate crimes, The Clarion-Ledger reported.

Hate crime legislation has been enacted to prevent crimes against citizens due to their race, religion or gender, but the new possible law – Senate Bill 2469 - expands that definition in an effort to protect law enforcement and other officials. Those found guilty of hate crimes face stiffer sentences than those who commit an assault or other violent crime not motivated by discrimination.

SB-2469 comes on the heels of Mississippi’s neighbor to the west, Louisiana, passing a similar “Blue Lives Matter” bill that was subsequently signed into law by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in May of last year.

Miss. Senate Judiciary Chairman Sean Tindell, (R-Gulfport) said if the bill passes the full senate, it would add more penalties to the state’s existing hate crime laws. Should it pass, SB-2469 will be enforceable starting July 1.

Tindell directly attributed the legislation to the shooting and killing and five police officers in July of last year, the act of a lone shooter who was specifically targeting police. Tindell and fellow Miss. Senator Philip Moran said following the Dallas attack that they intended to co-author a hate crime bill to protect police, and Mississippi had already passed legislation to expand its hate crimes statute earlier last year, according to local ABC affiliate WLOX.

In response, Sen. Barbara Blackmon (D-Canton) tried to include an amendment to the bill that would charge an officer who shot and killed a suspect without following “proper procedure” would also be charged with a hate crime, according to The Ledger. However, it was not included in the bill.

The Blue Lives Matter movement began in response to the rise of Black Lives Matter following the killing of unarmed black men and teenagers by police, and Mississippi ACLU Executive Director Jennifer Riley-Collins firmly disagreed with SB-2469.

"Not only is this bill unnecessary, but there is absolutely no evidence it will make police safer. Statistics show that violence against police is down. There are already severe, enhanced penalties for assaults on police officers in Mississippi. This bill, and others like it, prioritize police over people," Riley-Collins said.