Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) reintroduced a bill seeking to increase penalties for those assaulting members of law enforcement. The bill comes as riots have filled the streets of Los Angeles.
The legislation, called the Curbing Offenses on Policing Services (COPS Act), increases jail time and civil fines for those attacking officers or interfering with their official responsibilities.
“The chaos unleashed by rioters in Los Angeles this weekend is anything but a peaceful protest—it’s anarchy,” Gonzales said in a statement. “Radical activists damaged Border Patrol and ICE vehicles while these agents were on duty, and as a result, injuries were reported. It’s time to highlight a very clear message: if you harm a law enforcement officer, you’re going to face severe consequences.”
“This week, I will introduce the COPS Act in Congress to increase charges for anyone who assaults our law enforcement personnel or keeps them from performing their official duties,” he added. “Let this be a warning to rioters or far-left officials who back sanctuary policies and let madness break out in their streets—harming or undermining our men and women in the line of duty will not be tolerated.”
Gonzales told CBS’s “Face the Nation” this week that the people behind the California riots are “not advocates, we’re seeing anarchists. And the President of the United States should absolutely put down the mob as soon as possible.”
The Los Angeles protests have spread to Orange County in downtown Santa Ana, the Orange County Register reported.
“What we are seeing in Santa Ana right now is pure violence and destruction of our city and businesses,” said Mayor Valerie Amezcua. “Please go home and remember this is our city, do not destroy it. At some point this protest became nothing but pure chaos and violence.”
