Texas Sens. Corbyn, Cruz propose bill to make killing of cop a federal crime

WASHINGTON, July 13 (UPI) -- Two senators from Texas introduced legislation making it a federal crime to kill a police officer nearly one week after five officers in Dallas were killed by a sniper.

Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both Republicans, co-sponsored the Black and Blue Act of 2016, which would make it a federal crime to kill a law enforcement office, public safety officer, or federal judge, and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and the possibility of the death penalty.

The bill also increases penalties for the attempted murder of a police officer, and would make it legal for officers to carry their firearms into federal buildings.

"Law enforcement officers selflessly put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities, and in return they deserve our unparalleled support for the irreplaceable role they serve," Cornyn said in a statement . "The Back the Blue Act sends a clear message that our criminal justice system simply will not tolerate those who viciously and deliberately target our law enforcement."

The bill is being publicly supported by the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National District Attorneys Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Major County Sheriffs Association, the Sergeants Benevolent Association, and the Department of Justice's VALOR program.