2017: Fitzpatrick Voted To Force Juries And Courts To Consider It An
Aggravating Factor That A Defendant Killed A Law Enforcement Officer
When Determining If The Death Penalty Should Be Imposed. In May 2017,
Fitzpatrick voted for the Thin Blue Line act. According to Congressional
Quarterly, the legislation would have "require[d] courts and juries to
consider if a defendant killed or attempted to kill a state law
enforcement officer, local law enforcement officer or first responder as
an aggravating factor when determining whether to impose the death
sentence on a defendant." The House passed the bill by a vote of 271 to
143. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House
Vote 265, 5/18/17;
Congressional Quarterly, 5/18/17;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
115]