Bill > S4630

This bill, the Defend Our Defenders Act of 2020, amends Title 18 of the United States Code to make the murder of a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer a crime punishable by life in prison or death. The bill outlines specific aggravating factors that a jury or court must consider when determining whether to impose a sentence of death, including intent to ambush, a prior history of advocating for or promoting violence against law enforcement, membership in or affiliation with organizations that promote violence, the offense occurring during organized anti-law enforcement activity, an attempt to prevent the lawful execution of law enforcement duties, and prior threats of violence against a law enforcement officer. The bill also clarifies that it does not prevent states, territories, or the District of Columbia from exercising jurisdiction over such offenses or deprive state and local law enforcement agencies of responsibility for prosecuting violations of this section that are also violations of state or local law.