A new law will force criminals to think twice before shooting.
Recently, Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill imposing a mandatory 20-year sentence on anyone who shoots or attempts to shoot at a police officer.
We commend the governor for endorsing this legislation. The deaths of four city police officers over the last year merited a strong response.
While minimum-sentencing policies often cause more problems than they solve, this law sends a clear message to those targeting law enforcement officials. Especially in light of the 20-percent increase in assaults on Philadelphia police officers, the state needed to take action to protect those who protect us.
Some have complained that the law implies that the life of a police officer is somehow more valuable than the life of other citizens. But such criticism misses the point.
Police officers put themselves in the line of fire every day to protect other citizens. It's only fitting that society enact tougher protections for those on the front lines in the battle against crime and inner city violence.
By deterring violence against law-enforcement officials, these enhanced protections help police officers do their jobs more effectively. And that keeps all of us a little safer.
