“Blue Lives Matter” Law Goes Into Effect in Kentucky

As of Thursday, many new state laws are now in effect. Among them is House Bill 14 or the "Blue Lives Matter" law. 

It is now a hate crime in Kentucky to target police officers or first responders as in fire departments, and emergency medical service personnel. The law is similar to a measure passed last year in Louisiana where officers had been fatally ambushed. The law received bipartisan support though many Democrats opposed as the law is a direct response to those who protest police brutality as in the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

Theoretically this means the law could be used to punish those who actively protest police brutality. Kentucky's current hate crime law includes race, religion, color, sexual orientation, and national origin as protected classes.