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Videos showing deadly violence against African-Americans around the country may have prompted a retaliation attack against police in Dallas, Texas, and as Matt Galka tells us, some state legislators here in Florida want to do something about it and make the streets safer for first responders.

In November of 2014 in Tallahassee – a seemingly routine house fire ended with first responders taking gunfire. The ambush left one Leon County Sheriff’s deputy dead.

Florida Police Benevolent Association Executive Director Matt Puckett points to that incident – and now the attack on Dallas, Texas police officers last week that killed five – as the reasons that more officer protections are needed.

“We’ve had a number of South Florida cities pass resolutions asking for this legislation, and I think in the wake of, obviously, the tragic events of last week, these two legislators have said we’re going to put it on our shoulders and try to pass it,” he said.

Two Florida lawmakers say they’ll propose “Blue Lives Matter” legislation for next year’s legislative session.  The bills will make attacking first responders a hate crime.

Hate crimes traditionally involve attacks that involve race or religion, not place of employment.

Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump has represented multiple families involved in police shootings.  He says all people need the protections.

“If anything is motivated by hate and you commit a violent act upon it, you should be held to the fullest extent of the law,” said Crump.

Hate crime cases typically carry harsher penalties – usually steeper fines or longer prison sentences.