Houston - "I know when we held onto each other he just told me he couldn't breathe and that he loved me, we kissed and that was his last breath. I have to live with that.", Flor Armendarez, the widow of Deputy Darren Armendarez, speaking to the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
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Criminal Justice crackdown at the capitol
The panel discusses the recent testimony made by widow Flor Almendarez of Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez; who was gunned down by catalytic converter thieves. The bill mandating 10 years in prison for anyone who commits a gun crime is now backed by LT. Gov. Dan Patrick.
Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez - was gunned down nearly a year ago by armed thieves in the process of slicing the catalytic converter off his truck.
The account was delivered to senators expected to overwhelmingly approve a slate of get-tough measures aimed at not just criminals, but also progressive judges and prosecutors.
Harshest of the measures is a bill backed by lt. Governor Dan Patrick mandating ten years in prison for anyone committing a gun crime.
This week - defense lawyers offered objection.
"We think that it throws such a big net that it catches a lot of people it really didn't intend to"
Under the category "unintended consequences" critics say the "mandatory 10" could be used against a cop involved in a shooting that can't be shown to be "clear-cut" self-defense.