You mean an EMT is no more important than John Q. Citizen? We should be glad about this. I mean, I disdain this idea of one life being worth more than another. I think it is arrogant.
Its not that EMS providers are any more "important" that an average person, its the fact that a person killed a uniformed emergency services worker in the performance of their duty..and it should only be while in performance of their duties. If you are off duty and out of uniform, and the person has no knowledge that you are EMS (or fire or LEO even) then it should not be an elevated charge.
In florida battery is a simple misdemeanor, however, there is a law that states that battery of a person in a uniform is an elevated charge (elevated to a felony) due to the fact that they are an "authority figure" of sorts, and it shows a much more malicious intent on the behalf of the person committing the crime.. and the law is referred to as "battery LEO" but it covers LEO, Fire, EMS, uniformed security personnel, and emergency medical workers in the performance of their duties (ie: ER docs, ER nurses, ER techs, etc) but the catch is they have to be in a uniform or readily identifiable as whatever discipline they are, and in performance of their duties.
You cant just yell out "im a paramedic" if someone goes to hit you and expect them to get charged with a felony if you're just walking down the street in regular clothing, shopping with the family for example
It should be the same deal with murder. If you murder someone on duty, in uniform or identifiable as public safety personnel, or if you murder them off duty specifically because you are aware they are public safety personnel, then you should be charged with a capitol offense. As I said, it shows a much more malicious intent from the person committing a crime, and it is a direct threat to public safety.
If you are murdered off duty and the person has no idea you're a public safety type person, and they didn't choose you as a victim because of this, then it should be regular 1st or 2nd degree murder.