It's the crime that rocked Dallas in the summer of 2016 -- a gunman opening fire in an ambush-style attack, shooting 12 Dallas officers, killing five.The shooter wanted to target police officers.The tragedy inspired Oklahoma state Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, to introduce legislation for the upcoming session. Senate Bill 96 would make it a hate crime if someone intentionally injured, killed or incited violence against members of Oklahoma law enforcement."To me, that was just unacceptable. It wasn't about their duty. It was about what they represented, and I think there's a difference," Weaver said. "This is specific, malicious intent to do harm because of that uniform and because of what they represent."While the FBI does not classify violence against officers as a hate crime, the agency does track officers who are killed and assaulted in the line of duty. As of Dec. 18, 2018, 53 law enforcement officers were killed intentionally in the line of duty last year. That number is 10 more than it was in 2017. A similar bill passed the Oklahoma House last year but stalled in the Senate.The Oklahoma American Civil Liberties Union said they did not have a comment about Senate Bill 96 at this time.

It's the crime that rocked Dallas in the summer of 2016 -- a gunman opening fire in an ambush-style attack, shooting 12 Dallas officers, killing five.

The shooter wanted to target police officers.


The tragedy inspired Oklahoma state Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, to introduce legislation for the upcoming session. Senate Bill 96 would make it a hate crime if someone intentionally injured, killed or incited violence against members of Oklahoma law enforcement.

"To me, that was just unacceptable. It wasn't about their duty. It was about what they represented, and I think there's a difference," Weaver said. "This is specific, malicious intent to do harm because of that uniform and because of what they represent."

While the FBI does not classify violence against officers as a hate crime, the agency does track officers who are killed and assaulted in the line of duty. As of Dec. 18, 2018, 53 law enforcement officers were killed intentionally in the line of duty last year. That number is 10 more than it was in 2017.

A similar bill passed the Oklahoma House last year but stalled in the Senate.

The Oklahoma American Civil Liberties Union said they did not have a comment about Senate Bill 96 at this time.