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[GK86]

Edit - Opps, already a thread on it: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1346787

Link.

Claiming people are being paid to riot, Republican state senators voted Wednesday to give police new power to arrest anyone who is involved in a peaceful demonstration that may turn bad — even before anything actually happened.
SB1142 expands the state's racketeering laws, now aimed at organized crime, to also include rioting. And it redefines what constitutes rioting to include actions that result in damage to the property of others.

But the real heart of the legislation is what Democrats say is the guilt by association — and giving the government the right to criminally prosecute and seize the assets of everyone who planned a protest and everyone who participated. And what's worse, said Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, is that the person who may have broken a window, triggering the claim there was a riot, might actually not be a member of the group but someone from the other side.

Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Phoenix, acknowledged that sometimes what's planned as a peaceful demonstration can go south.

Quezada said, though, that everything that constitutes rioting already is a crime, ranging from assault to criminal damage, and those responsible can be individually prosecuted. He said the purpose of this bill appears to be designed to chill the First Amendment rights of people to decide to demonstrate in the first place for fear something could wrong.'

There's something else: By including rioting in racketeering laws, it actually permits police to arrest those who are planning events. And Kavanagh, a former police officer, said if there are organized groups, ”I should certainly hope that our law enforcement people have some undercover people there.''

”Wouldn't you rather stop a riot before it starts?'' Kavanagh asked colleagues during debate. ”Do you really want to wait until people are injuring each other, throwing Molotov cocktails, picking up barricades and smashing them through businesses in downtown Phoenix?''
Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, said the new criminal laws are necessary.

”I have been heartsick with what's been going on in our country, what young people are being encouraged to do,'' she said.

The 17-13 party-line vote sends the bill to the House.

 

[Armaros]

Unconstitutional for 1000 Alex!

 

[Skyzard]

Plant undercover officer to start up violence in a protest, make every protestor homeless.

Nice.

 

[Pai Pai Master]

Ummmm that's not at all legal

 

[Glix]

This needs to be fast tracked to a court. The sooner it is struck down, the better.

 

[Drazgul]

Ummmm that's not at all legal

Not just legal, but extralegal!