A bill that would allow for harsher penalties against those who attack a first responder.
The “Back the Badge Act,” or HB 645, would triple the penalties for someone who attacks a first responder, as opposed to the normal charge one would face if attacking someone else.
“It is a single purpose bill,” said Rep. Andy Gipson. “It is to support our law enforcement officers and first responders…I’m hopeful it will provide a strong deterrent against attacks on law enforcement.”
Current Mississippi law mandates the killing of a police officer as a capital offense, eligible for the death penalty.
The bill will now come before the full House, then be passed to the Senate. It must pass both the House and Senate before Governor Bryant would sign it into law.
“I know Governor Bryant expressed his support for this type of legislation,” said Rep. Gipson.
Governor Bryant did mention a “Blue Lives Matter” bill in his State of the State Address.
News Mississippi will continue to follow this bill through the legislative session.
