National Guard Protective Zone Act

This bill would make it a federal crime to knowingly enter or stay inside a marked protective zone around a National Guard member with the intent to impede, intimidate, or interfere with the member's official duties. A protective zone is an area reaching no more than 15 feet from the member, marked by a verbal warning, sign, barricade tape, or other reasonable means. The rule applies during National Guard deployments authorized under certain federal laws. Violators could be fined, imprisoned up to 1 year, or both, and the maximum prison term rises to 5 years if the person touches, throws an object at, or spits on the member. The bill states it does not prohibit First Amendment-protected activity conducted outside a protective zone.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Tom Cotton Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors