State Senate approves bill that makes insulting a police officer a crime [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• A bill proposing criminal charges against citizens insulting a police officer in Kentucky has been approved by the state Senate.
• Proponents said that it will protect first responders, and public and private property during riots.
• Meanwhile, other members were offended, saying that it’s unconstitutional and an overreach.

Insulting a police officer could become a crime in Kentucky.

The long, emotional and confrontational debates in the state’s general assembly have come to an end when the state Senate approved on Thursday night the bill that would legalize insulting a police officer as a crime.

The bill was passed with a 22-11 vote, making some members offended as they claim that it was unconstitutional and an overreach.

Enhanced punishment for crimes related to rioting and insulting or taunting a police officer if the comment provokes a violent response is covered by the proposal.

Sponsored by Sen. Danny Carroll (R-Paducah), Senate Bill 211 may face possible amendments as it now goes to the House.

Carroll said that that the bill was designed to protect first responders, and public and private property during riots.

The retired police officer added that there’s a difference between peaceful protests and riots. He defined a riot as a public disturbance involving five or more people involved in tumultuous and violent conduct which creates grave danger to property or others.

Last year, Carroll specifically mentioned “riots” in Louisville after the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman fatally shot in her home by police during a botched drug investigation. Her death incited racial injustice protests across the state.

Meanwhile, others have strongly opposed the bill.

Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, said the bill overreaches and “eviscerates the First Amendment” that protects the freedom of speech.

He added that he was ashamed of some police misconducts — a Minneapolis police officer sat on the neck of George Floyd, leading to his death, and a Georgia deputy sheriff last year pulled an innocent Black man out of his car and assaulted him without a weapon.

“I am really ashamed of the fact that a 26-year-old Black woman, sleeping in her apartment one night, without a weapon and at 12:30 at night some police officers burst into her apartment, start firing weapons and this young, innocent Black woman is killed.”

Thomas further said that the bill seemed to be saying “that we are going to put [peaceful protesters] in their place.”

Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, was also in displeased as Taylor was killed in his district but he wasn’t informed about producing SB 211.

“It’s an overreach. We already have laws on the book addressing this. I’m befuddled by this,” said Neal. “How dare you.”

Senate Minority Leader Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, also expressed his dismay that Senate leaders had sent back to the committee his Senate Bill 247, which would give subpoena power to independent civilian boards that review questionable police activities.

Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, added that SB 211 “tramples on the Constitution and people’s rights.”

Source: Hastings Tribune