I’d say it’s a less-than-wise decision to throw a bucket of water on a cop. I don’t imagine a scenario where that ends with a smile on the pale-tosser’s face.
But apparently, some people can.
Hence, enter a Republican bill increasing penalties for such a bold act, which has happened more than once recently to the New York Police Department.
In fact, videos of the dampening deed have gone viral.
See for yourself:
The police union’s denounced the attacks, and now here we are with legislation.
The Big Apple’s ABC 7 reports:
The measure would make it a Class E felony to throw or spray water, or any other substance, against an on-duty police or peace officer. The charge would be punishable by up to 1 to 4 years in prison.
“What we are witnessing in New York City is disgraceful,” said [Long Island Assemblyman Mike LiPetri]. “A culture of blatant disrespect for law enforcement has been fostered and encouraged simply for political gain which has resulted in such despicable acts of hate becoming acceptable in our communities. New York State must send a message that this will not be tolerated and I am confident that this bill provides law enforcement the tools they need to properly react.”
Some on Twitter are certainly against the move:
This is so they can shoot you for having a water bottle.
— Kismetta (@ComradeKismetta) July 31, 2019
so cops can choke people to death and shoot them for "checks notes" selling cigarettes, but we can't pull out a super soaker?
— MrPensWildWrite (@CreativeMrPen) July 31, 2019
So sad that cops were attacked with water. I’m praying for their speedy recovery
— Takiyah Thompson (@unrulybabyhair) July 31, 2019
This law is a joke! Pantaleo uses chokehold to murder Eric Garner & it's not a felony! People throw water & you want to make it a felony? Be careful what you wish for next time they won't be throwing water. pic.twitter.com/1BlKDfzkNL
— Morgan (@Morgan11444396) July 31, 2019
One user’s apparently been listening to Colin Kaepernick:
NYPD is filled with a bunch of dandelions. Only tough when they’re killing innocent black & brown people.
— WARHOV (@Warhov_) July 31, 2019
Ben Norton saw it as a ludicrous exaggeration:
A kid poured a bucket of water on a cop one time as a joke, and now the corporate media is helping police and politicians absurdly portray it as an epidemic of "water attacks" https://t.co/ZkI4vdp41T
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) July 31, 2019
Those tweeters aren’t alone — they’ve got backup among Democrats in power.
As noted by the New York Post, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie had this to say:
“[I] don’t know if always proposing new penalties and laws [is the answer] … I think on the positive end we should continue to try and establish more of a community and police response. I think that’s more beneficial instead of always saying ‘we are going to lock people up. … I think people should respect the police department but I think Police should also respect communities.”
NYC Public Advocate (an elected position) Jumaane Williams agrees.
His spokesperson explained to The New York Daily News:
“The public advocate has consistently said that dousing officers with water is dangerous, shameful and unacceptable, but this proposal is a major overreaction and overcriminalization of an activity which is already illegal. Clearly these continued actions need to stop, but hyperbole and headlines can’t drive criminal justice policy or counteract the progress we’ve made over years of reform.”
Do you think the legislation is called for? More specifically, do you believe it’s right?
If the act is already illegal, what’s to be gained by making it a felony? What’s to be lost, in the way of the public perception? I want to hear from you. Especially those of you in law enforcement.
And why do you think the cops tolerated the treatment in the first place? Those videos were surprising.
I look forward to learning from you in the Comments section.
-ALEX
See 3 more pieces from me:
United Methodist Church Holds Drag Show To Protest Same-Sex Marriage Ban
Find all my RedState work here.
And please follow Alex Parker on Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you for reading! Please sound off in the Comments section below.
If you have an iPhone and want to comment, select the box with the upward arrow at the bottom of your screen; swipe left and choose “Request Desktop Site.” If it fails to automatically refresh, manually reload the page. Scroll down to the red horizontal bar that says “Show Comments.”
The post Democrats Oppose Republicans’ Plan to Stiffen Penalties for Soaking the NYPD. Are They Right? appeared first on RedState.
