Attorney General Ashley Moody released a statement of support for the Thin Blue Line Act. This legislation, just introduced by U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, provides enhanced penalties for convicted murderers who kill or attempt to kill a public-safety officer. The Thin Blue Line Act will classify these attempts on first responders’ lives as aggravating factors under the federal death penalty statute. 

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Our law enforcement officers risk their lives to keep us safe. They pursue armed fugitives and confront dangerous criminals. We need to send a clear message that we have their backs by passing the Thin Blue Line Act. I commend Congressman Buchanan and Senator Cruz for sponsoring this important pro-law enforcement legislation.”

The act will strengthen the penalties for those who kill or attempt to kill first responders in the line of duty. The Thin Blue Line Act would classify the murder or attempted murder of a first responder as an aggravating factor under the federal death penalty statute. Aggravating factors are elements of a case that merit a more severe penalty for the defendant.