Bill seeks to clarify, strengthen violent crime laws

A group of lawmakers recently introduced a bill that seeks to clarify and strengthen violent crime laws involving homicide, bank robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and other offenses.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) recently joined U.S. Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Mary Miller (R-IL), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), and John Moolenaar (R-MI) in detailing the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act (H.R. 8870).

“As a result of the Democrats’ ‘defund the police’ movement, soft-on-crime policies, and reckless bail reform efforts, far too many Americans have become victims of the deadly crime wave plaguing our neighborhoods,” Tiffany said. “The American people want something done to make their streets safe again, and this bill will help defuse this explosion of crime by strengthening criminal penalties, protecting our children from drug poisonings, and putting dangerous predators where they belong – behind bars.”

The legislation would resolve discrepancies resulting from conflicting court decisions and clarify congressional intent regarding violent crimes and their respective penalties.

Legislation provisions include clarification that attempted bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery are punishable under the current bank robbery statute; abolishing a dated rule prohibiting violent crime offenders from being charged with murder if the victim succumbs to injuries sustained by the violent crime 366 days after the attack; and rectifying conflicting circuit court decisions resulting in a higher burden to charge offenses such as assaulting a police officer than Congress intended.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Energy and Commerce.