NEWS - Republicans are attempting to pass a bill an extreme anti-protest bill

[SeventhSandwich]

Part of the problem is that they allow the protests to get to the point where they're blocking traffic in the first place. There's plenty of videos of protests that have been allowed to stay around for quite some time. Microwave dispersal units may very well be the answer, but who's to say they won't be ruled inhumane based on current standards?

If this bill were to actually pass (which it probably won't), then I don't see why a similar law with more lenient methods of dispersal wouldn't pass either. It would have to take some serious mental gymnastics to be okay with shooting people but not firing non-lethal microwaves at them.

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[IkeTheGeneric]

I like how Seventh is dead set on enforcing the mind-set that this bill is 100% geared towards violently murdering protesters, even though it isn't and is never even said to in the original bill

That's the whole purpose behind the bill considering police officers are already completely capable of dispersing protesters blocking traffic, even violently if need be.

The senator is just trying to stir stuff up because that's what stuffty senators do. As it looks like, the stuff has been stirred. Nothing is excepted to come of this bill.

[Insert Name Here²]

Again, you don't seem to understand that allowing police 'any means necessary' to disperse protests effectively legalizes lethal force. Whether or not they use it is irrelevant because the wording of the bill makes it legal.

Yes, but just because it's allowed doesn't mean every cop who runs into the situation will suddenly become cold killers as you keep trying to tell. Last I checked, shooting and such violence is only used during a worst case scenario when non-violent attempts don't work.

Please stop spreading misinformation that this will turn cops into cold killers please. You keep over-exaggerating this.

[SeventhSandwich]

Yes, but just because it's allowed doesn't mean every cop who runs into the situation will suddenly become cold killers as you keep trying to tell.

That's literally not what I'm saying at all. Let me be as clear about this as I can - even if this bill were to pass, I'd wager >99% of cops would not be willing to use lethal force on a crowd of highway blockers.

But that's not the point. All it would take is one loose cannon, and then we have absolutely no legal recourse to punish the cop for improper use of force because this law permits it.

[Insert Name Here²]

That's literally not what I'm saying at all. Let me be as clear about this as I can - even if this bill were to pass, I'd wager >99% of cops would not be willing to use lethal force on a crowd of highway blockers.

But that's not the point. All it would take is one loose cannon, and then we have absolutely no legal recourse to punish the cop for improper use of force because this law permits it.

Oh okay now I see what you're getting at, thanks for clearing it up

[DestroyerOfBlocks]

he never said any of that. passing a bill that allows officers to kill people and stuff will inevitably lead to the aforementioned happening despite most cops probably not wanting to shoot protesters. all of the cops in the world not killing people don't make up for the one cop that does.

nevermind he already said it

[Tactical Nuke]

I'm libertarian, but this is a bit of authoritarianism I can get behind.

Shutting down highways is not only illegal, but insanely dangerous. Remember Bridgegate? We east-coasters do. Someone DIED on that bridge when it was shut down. Someone who had a life, a family, I don't know, maybe people depended on them. But no, Christie had to shut down the bridge because "I don't have what I want!!!111!!1!1!11"

I don't care who you are or what your cause is. Blocking highways blocks not only traffic, but commerce, emergency services and the general livelihoods of affected peoples who NEED to get to where they need to go. Otherwise, they'll lose their time, their jobs, their money, their LIVES (LITERALLY). People will go unemployed, not get vital things that they ordered, or who knows? Maybe someone's house will burn down, because my feelings are more important than your loving house.

Under absolutely NO circumstances are you justified in enacting this type of protest, at all. Ever. Capiche? Now enact the law.

[Ipquarx]

I'm libertarian, but this is a bit of authoritarianism I can get behind.

You realize lethal force is 100% unnecessary and is likely a lot faster to actually clear off an area but this bill completely allows for it, right? That police will literally be allowed to open fire on unarmed citizens? You're okay with that?

[IkeTheGeneric]

I'm libertarian, but this is a bit of authoritarianism I can get behind.

Shutting down highways is not only illegal, but insanely dangerous. Remember Bridgegate? We east-coasters do. Someone DIED on that bridge when it was shut down. Someone who had a life, a family, I don't know, maybe people depended on them. But no, Christie had to shut down the bridge because "I don't have what I want!!!111!!1!1!11"

I don't care who you are or what your cause is. Blocking highways blocks not only traffic, but commerce, emergency services and the general livelihoods of affected peoples who NEED to get to where they need to go. Otherwise, they'll lose their time, their jobs, their money, their LIVES (LITERALLY). People will go unemployed, not get vital things that they ordered, or who knows? Maybe someone's house will burn down, because my feelings are more important than your loving house.

Under absolutely NO circumstances are you justified in enacting this type of protest, at all. Ever. Capiche? Now enact the law.

Hey look more dumb outrage. Newsflash: cops can and already do disperse protesters blocking traffic. They're even already allowed to use violent force when necessary. Shocking, right????

This bill is stupid because it's purposely confusing and unnecessary, not because everyone's a liberal crybaby or whatever you idiots get off on

[espio100]

YES PLEASE PASS THIS BILL

[SeventhSandwich]

I'm libertarian, but this is a bit of authoritarianism I can get behind.

I'm pretty sure authoritarianism directed only towards certain groups of people is like a working definition for fascism.

[Tactical Nuke]

I'm pretty sure authoritarianism directed only towards certain groups of people is like a working definition for fascism.

you mean lawbreakers?

no that's called enforcing the loving law

holy stuff

[DestroyerOfBlocks]

fascism is just a bunch of laws

[SeventhSandwich]

you mean lawbreakers?

no that's called enforcing the loving law

There's also something called 'cruel and unusual punishment', which is explicitly forbidden in our constitution. It's the reason why we don't crucify people for murder, or execute people for traffic violations.

[Tactical Nuke]

You realize lethal force is 100% unnecessary and is likely a lot faster to actually clear off an area but this bill completely allows for it, right? That police will literally be allowed to open fire on unarmed citizens? You're okay with that?

unarmed does not mean safe

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Michael_Brown
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Trayvon_Martin
and more

There's also something called 'cruel and unusual punishment', which is explicitly forbidden in our constitution. It's the reason why we don't crucify people for murder, or execute people for traffic violations.

is it cruel and unusual punishment to kill someone for blocking traffic, remembering that they also could be blocking emergency services and halting commerce, putting people's lives and livelihoods at stake, after everything else they've tried doesn't work?

the notion that cops are cruel, cold-blooded killers that shoot people for looking at them funny is something I don't think even you believe
any sane cop would try several other methods of dispersing the crowd, but it's really easy for these things to go violent

you're also forgetting that the term "protester" is just thrown onto anyone today, even onto violent people to cover up how dangerous they really are and to remove all accountability for their actions
http://www.theamericanmirror.com/video-charlotte-agitators-throw-rocks-off-highway-overpass-strike-motorists/
http://therightscoop.com/breaking-baton-rouge-flares-up-protesters-throw-bottles-at-police-several-arrests-made/
notice how the term "protester" is used there