A bill to increase the penalties for ambushing a law enforcement officer.
Bill: S.2252 | Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh (R-MO)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
This bill establishes a new criminal offense for knowingly causing bodily injury to a person (or attempting to do so) by ambushing them because of their actual or perceived status as a law enforcement officer in circumstances that affect interstate commerce.
It imposes criminal penalties—a prison term, a fine, or both—on a violator.

To increase the penalties for ambushing a law enforcement officer.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PROTECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM AMBUSH.

    (a) Amendment.--Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers
    ``(a) Offense.--Whoever, in any circumstance described in 
subsection (b), knowingly causes bodily injury to any person, or 
attempts to do so, because of the actual or perceived status of the 
person as a law enforcement officer, by ambushing the person--
            ``(1) shall be imprisoned not more than 30 years, fined in 
        accordance with this title, or both; and
            ``(2) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for 
        life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--
                    ``(A) death results from the offense; or
                    ``(B) the offense includes kidnapping or an attempt 
                to kidnap, or an attempt to kill.
    ``(b) Circumstances Described.--For purposes of subsection (a), the 
circumstances described in this subsection are that--
            ``(1) the conduct described in subsection (a) occurs during 
        the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant 
        or the victim--
                    ``(A) across a State line or national border; or
                    ``(B) using a channel, facility, or instrumentality 
                of interstate or foreign commerce;
            ``(2) the defendant uses a channel, facility, or 
        instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in connection 
        with the conduct described in subsection (a);
            ``(3) in connection with the conduct described in 
        subsection (a), the defendant employs a firearm, dangerous 
        weapon, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that 
        has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce; or
            ``(4) the conduct described in subsection (a)--
                    ``(A) interferes with commercial or other economic 
                activity in which the victim is engaged at the time of 
                the conduct; or
                    ``(B) otherwise affects interstate or foreign 
                commerce.
    ``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Law enforcement officer.--The term `law enforcement 
        officer' means an employee of a governmental or public agency 
        who is authorized by law--
                    ``(A) to engage in or supervise the prevention, 
                detention, investigation, or the incarceration of any 
                person for any criminal violation of law; and
                    ``(B) to apprehend or arrest a person for any 
                criminal violation of law.
            ``(2) State.--The term `State' includes the District of 
        Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any other territory or possession of 
        the United States.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 7 of 
title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``120. Crimes targeting law enforcement officers.''.
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