WASHINGTON-Right now, the families of first responders who die of the Coronavirus must first prove that they were infected on the job before they can collect federal death benefits. A bipartisan group of U.S. senators say that is unfair, and they have introduced legislation to automatically declare that first responders who die of COVID-19 gave their lives in the line of duty. The legislation guarantees federal benefits to families of first responders, police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technician who die due to the virus without first having to prove that the first responder was infected while on the job. (Police One.com) Under the legislation, death benefits would be paid if a first responder is diagnosed with the coronavirus within 45 days of his or her last shift.

There has been a lot of first responders asking for hazardous duty pay and benefits from being exposed and catching the Covid-19 virus. While families are also seeking survivor benefits for the ones that have died. The initial response was support for the first responders and non-support by many agencies even going as far as having to prove that the first responder had been exposed during work.

1. Should first responders be allowed to receive these benefits, or did they accept the jobs knowing the dangers such as injuries, sickness and even death could happen and should not receive any of these benefits. What do you think?