The Insurrection Act of 1807 states that it can only be enacted when states have exhausted their own resources. President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act nationwide, even without the express consent of state governors. This is unconstitutional.
As President, I would never deploy American troops on our own soil. States and localities can, and should, engage in deescalation tactics to calm the situation and come to a solution within their own communities.
Property destruction and violence against innocent people is wrong. I fully support the right of individuals to protect themselves, and their property with our second amendment right to bear arms.
It is important to understand how we came to this point; The militarized police response to what were initially peaceful, first amendment protected protests. Well documented excessive force was shown to non-violent protesters all across the country.
In some cities, deescalation tactics were used in place of riot gear, chemical weapons, and use of force. In those cities, violence and looting is practically nonexistent.
We all want quick, peaceful solutions to this crisis. End qualified immunity, require law enforcement to carry liability insurance to price bad officers out of a job, end victimless crime laws. All of these are practical, effective ways to start real change.
You don’t end riots that were caused by excessive force with even more force. #InsurrectionAct
