On Monday (Jan. 18), the Trump administration issued a decree that requires the Department of Justice to enact future decrees for the protection of law enforcement officers, judges, judicial officers and their families, and to uphold the right of current and former officers to wear concealed firearms to safeguard their personal safety.
The White House statement noted, “Under the Constitution and federal law, our government has given judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers the authority to make important decisions. Because of the importance of their jobs, these public servants face unique risks to their own safety and the safety of their families. Some who receive adverse decisions seek to intimidate or punish judicial officers,” and “sometimes, family members of public servants become victims as well. Last year, the defendant in the case of a former New Jersey federal judge murdered the judge’s 20-year-old son and seriously injured her husband. The resilience of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the face of the dangers they often face is a need for all of us in public service.”
The statement declared that current and former federal and state law enforcement officers are currently allowed to carry concealed firearms for their own protection, but that the federal government could do more to reduce the red tape for federal law enforcement officers to exercise their rights. The statement called on “Congress to act quickly to pass legislation that would extend the right to carry concealed firearms to federal judges and take other steps to expand our ability to confront the threat of violence against judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers.” .
The bill requires that the Attorney General be authorized to direct the Chief of the Marshals Service to prioritize the protection of federal judges and federal prosecutors and, if a family member is targeted because of his or her relationship with a judge or prosecutor, the Attorney General shall prioritize the investigation and prosecution of the person involved in the case or engaging in the threat. Within 30 days from the date of the order, the Attorney General is required to evaluate whether to change 28 CFR subpart 0.111(e) to protect federal prosecutors.
The bill also requires that within 30 days of the date of the order, the Attorney General will be required to develop and propose federal legislation to provide additional protections for judges, prosecutors and law enforcement officers.
The White House statement calls on Congress to pass legislation that would remove barriers to processing for current, former or retired qualified law enforcement officers who are eligible to carry concealed firearms under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, identify the categories of persons who are unable to do so, and give reasons.
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