No longer a felony

[George K]

Assauting a cop.

On Wednesday, the Virginia Senate voted 21-15 to pass Senate Bill 5032, which would allow an assault against a law enforcement officer to a misdemeanor if the person attacked is not hurt.

Here’s the summary of the bill:

Eliminates the mandatory minimum term of confinement for an assault and battery committed against a judge; magistrate; law-enforcement officer; correctional officer; person directly involved in the care, treatment, or supervision of inmates; firefighter; or volunteer firefighter or any emergency medical services personnel and provides that such crime can no longer be committed as a simple assault and must result in a bodily injury.

The bill also removes mandatory minimum 6-month jail sentence for assaulting a police officer.

[Loki]

Has “assault” been misused. For example being smart mouthed?

[jon-nyc]

I’m actually ok with this and have been for a long time. We already have laws against harming others. State employees don’t deserve to be put in a different class than the rest of us.

As I pointed out here the other day, municipal unions end up bargaining for this stuff so it spreads well beyond just cops.

[Aqua Letifer]

@jon-nyc said in No longer a felony:

I’m actually ok with this and have been for a long time. We already have laws against harming others. State employees don’t deserve to be put in a different class than the rest of us.

Same.

[George K]

@jon-nyc said in No longer a felony:

I’m actually ok with this and have been for a long time. We already have laws against harming others. State employees don’t deserve to be put in a different class than the rest of us.

As I pointed out here the other day, municipal unions end up bargaining for this stuff so it spreads well beyond just cops.

Good points.

[Copper]

Police deserve special treatment and protection.

And maybe the DMV ladies.