Gonna be a mess - got an excuse to agitate

[Irving]

I think certain professions...cops, firefighters, elderly, etc...deserve extra protections under the law because society knowingly asks them to go in harm's way or because they are very vulnerable. But you don't need hate crime legislation to do that. For example, Assault in the 1st Deg requires actual serious bodily injury occur with a deadly weapon (simplified explanation). But for peace officers and firefighters it requires only the threat of injury. I'm OK with that.

I'm also OK with enhanced penalties. You commit Crime X against Joe Citizen and the penalty is Y. Commit the same crime against Joe Firefighter and the penalty is Y+.

Would it work the other way around? If Joe Firefighter committees a crime against Joe Citizen, then penalty is Y+?

[Bailey Guns]

Would it work the other way around? If Joe Firefighter committees a crime against Joe Citizen, then penalty is Y+?

Keep in mind these protections are generally only applicable when the cop/firefighter is on duty. When a cop does certain things on duty there are other laws they can be charged with that Joe Citizen can't. So the answer to your question is there are certain laws that cover that already.