North Dakota lawmakers vote 'no' on protecting drivers who hit protesters
Source: Reuters
14 FEB 2017 AT 12:46 ET
A controversial North Dakota bill that sought to shield motorists from liability if they unintentionally hit a protester on a roadway, injuring or killing them failed to garner enough support from lawmakers.
House Bill 1203, introduced in January by Republicans, was voted down 40-51 by House lawmakers on Monday. A transportation committee had previously voted against the bill in part because of a negative perception, that passing it could create, Republican state Representative Gary Paur told lawmakers on Monday.
The proposed legislation was one in a string of bills that lawmakers in several central U.S. states are pushing, which would crack down on demonstrations. The bills have drawn criticism from free speech campaigners and underline the polarization over protests in the era of U.S. President Donald Trump.
North Dakota has been the site of months of protests over the Dakota Access pipeline, which at times has drawn thousands of demonstrators to the state. Republican state Representative Keith Kempenich told local media that he sponsored the bill after his mother-in-law was caught in a protest while driving.
Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/north-dakota-lawmakers-vote-no-on-protecting-drivers-who-hit-protesters/
Roy Rolling
(6,853 posts)It's like these protesters want to disrupt my comfortable life on my way to get fast food. The nerve!
Uh...earth to dingbats. If protesters are getting under your skin, it is working and your complacency is the problem. LOL
bucolic_frolic
(42,676 posts)the right to mow 'em down
Unbelievable
LisaM
(27,759 posts)Honestly, these people.
PsychoBabble
(837 posts)Almost HALF of the North Dakota legislature says it is:
(a) OK to run down protestors ("unintentionally," sure ...) and
(b) WRONG to promote free speech ~ you know, that whole Constitution/More Patriot-y Than Thou thing
Good Lord.
procon
(15,805 posts)They think they're role playing in some video game where the players can race through crowds of people, killing them by the score. What fun! The only thing that stopped them was a negative perception, not the fact that they were actually trying to legislate anarchy and endorse lawlessness that would have resulted in extrajudicial murders just because they don't like being criticized.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Legislated by the same level of sub-literacy that brings us "I'm concerned the protesters will make someone late for work..." and other empty-headed non-sequiters.
CanonRay
(14,037 posts)FairWinds
(1,717 posts)showing demonstrators in the street being intentionally run down . .
The Reich wing thinks it's great and watches for entertainment.