In a sane country, you'd be able to sue cops who violate your rights. A local legislature in NY wants to make sure that cops can sue you—potentially violating your rights in the process.
That's rich. Let's talk about accountability.🧵
My latest @reason: reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
That's rich. Let's talk about accountability.🧵
My latest @reason: reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
Nassau County legislators passed a bill allowing cops to sue people for a list of things, including "harassment," which would merit damages & an additional penalty of up to $50,000.
You have a right to criticize the state. That includes cops. Sorry.
reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
You have a right to criticize the state. That includes cops. Sorry.
reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
This isn't the first bill of its kind. Just last week, I wrote about a FL bill that would criminalize "indirect harassment" against cops if someone gets closer than 30 feet—effectively making it illegal to film them.
Cops should not be beyond reproach.
reason.com/2021/07/27/flo…
Cops should not be beyond reproach.
reason.com/2021/07/27/flo…
Common objection: "But cops have hard jobs!" Yes, & anyone worried can take comfort in the fact that assaulting a cop is already illegal.
@Popehat breaks down the absurdity: "This is really trying to deter speech against cops that might hurt the most delicate person's feelings."
@Popehat breaks down the absurdity: "This is really trying to deter speech against cops that might hurt the most delicate person's feelings."
The hypocrisy is hard to ignore. Republicans typically abhor hate crime provisions. Yet they are sometimes willing to cast that aside, as long as it pertains to police.
In 2020, the Alabama House voted to make cops a protected class. Wrote about it here: reason.com/2019/12/18/ala…
In 2020, the Alabama House voted to make cops a protected class. Wrote about it here: reason.com/2019/12/18/ala…
The ironic part: Thanks to qualified immunity, it is *extremely* hard for people to sue cops when police violate their rights.
Qualified immunity has protected cops who shot kids, who beat people absent just cause, who stole hundreds of thousands of $$$. reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
Qualified immunity has protected cops who shot kids, who beat people absent just cause, who stole hundreds of thousands of $$$. reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
Yet Nassau County legislators have voted to make it easier...for cops to sue you. In many instances, those suits would come not because you violated their rights, but because you exercised *your* rights. And the cost for that should be zero. /end
reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
reason.com/2021/08/03/nas…
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