Republicans pushing 'hit and kill' bills to allow motorists to run down protesters: report

[634-5789]

On Monday, the Boston Globe reported on a "Back the Blue Act" signed by Iowa's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds. The bill took the side of drivers who run over protesters. In June of 2020, the driver of Reynold's state-issued Chevrolet Suburban struck a Des Moines Black Liberation Movement protester who was urging the governor to restore voting rights.

"Iowa is one of three states, along with Oklahoma and Florida, to enact laws this year giving drivers some degree of legal immunity if they use their vehicles to hurt protesters, part of a wave of 'hit and kill' bills introduced in 13 other states by Republican legislators since 2017. Most of those proposals came after one of the most sustained periods of demonstrations in US history following Floyd's murder, and the effort to crack down on protesters has sent a chilling message to activists, who believe it will encourage violence against them," the newspaper reported.


https://www.rawstory.com/run-over-protesters/

[Vinca]

1. So who wants to go to the next Trump riot? The fools who think this is a good idea forget that

it works both ways.

[brewens]

4. What about if someone were to run over some FG followers, then back back over them? Is that still

okay, or do you only get one try?

[flying_wahini]

43. So funny to imagine that. Thanks.

[rampartc]

12. i believe this only works one way. if there had been antifa

attacking the capital i do not think many woulf ghave survived.

these " hit and kill" bills are a reaction to heather heyer's murderer being held accountable. he is supposed,. by deplorable standards, to be a hero.

a basic question on a drivers license exam clearly asks if the pedestrian has the right of way. there should not be very much nuance in the answer.

[Cobalt Violet]

2. Libs have cars too.

Guess they never thought of that.

[jimfields33]

3. Yep. I think the most dangerous is on a highway

I can’t believe anyone would protest on a highway with cars going 80 and above. Pro lifers like to stand on the highway. Maybe they will think twice about it now.

[marybourg]

8. That was uncalled for.

[Croney]

11. That's not what was said. "Pro lifers"

like to stand on the highway.

They should not only think twice but get some understanding of the rights of women to control their own reproductive issues.

[Baitball Blogger]

20. Few us may own guns. But we all have cars.

Major miscalculation on the Republican's part.

I am really frightened that they are making Road Rage a legal option.

What could possibly go wrong?

[C_U_L8R]

5. This ends with Mad Max situation on every road

Stupid Republicans.

[moondust]

6. Legalizing murder?

(Knowing that many of their hateful zombie voters would love to do it?)

Trying to stop public protests that might hurt their image of being "strong leaders" (i.e. autocrats) who have everything under control and everybody just loves them?

[rickford66]

10. Hit and Kill vs Stand Your Ground

[colsohlibgal]

13. Hitler Is Giddy In Hell

This is fascism in action, we are at such a critical juncture and it could go either way.

[Evolve Dammit]

16. My sentiments exactly. This is where tens of millions are right now.

[Celerity]

26. Hawley will soon try and make the Horst-Wessel-Lied a national song

[HAB911]

14. This is just like the Texas law

farming out enforcement to vigilantes

This is a problem

[The Jungle 1]

15. So if someone bumps me with their car.

Can I shoot them?
These laws are another expansion of fascism which is blooming in America.

[Probatim]

21. The possibilities are endless. It's mind-boggling...

[roamer65]

17. So what happens if someone runs over an anti-choice freak?

Guess they weren’t thinking about that twist of fate.

[brooklynite]

18. This kind of hyperbole isn't helpful...

These are NOT "stand your ground" laws that allow you to drive into a crowd with the intent of injuring or killing people. These are laws to protect people who get caught by an unauthorized street protest and are trying to drive OUT of the crowd. If your argument is that cars shouldn't move when surrounded by people, what happens to the person who's late to work, or trying to catch a plane or get to a Doctor's appointment?

[The Jungle 1]

32. Not sure you mean that.

A person life is more important that a person who is late or trying to catch a plane or trying get to the doctor. If the driver can prove their life was in danger then ok maybe they have an issue.
Would it also be acceptable to push your way out of a traffic jam for the same reasons?
Sometimes society is inconvenient.

[fescuerescue]

19. I do think that protestors should be banned from blocking roads

Maybe upgrade that offense to felony status.

That hurts everyone and just gives the cause they a protesting for a bad name.

But license to hit and kill is a bit much.

[The Mouth]

22. Also, someone caught in a hostile crowd may damned well panic

If someone is in a car and a hostile crowd was attacking, what else would you expect them to do other than try to get out of there.

Some fool blocking a freeway is endangering lives, and not just their own. A city street is one thing, a place where a driver has no option nor an expectation of suddenly being surrounded by a mob of pissed off people is another.

[fescuerescue]

24. I think about that video of that Trucker Reginald Denny I think?

He was dragged out of his truck and beaten with a brick.

[The Mouth]

27. That's it, was trying to remember

If I have a choice between being dragged out and beaten, and getting the hell out of there.....

[hadEnuf]

23. I think "Proud Boy road rash" bill has a better ring to it.

[calimary]

40. Proud Obnoxious Brats is more like it.

Or substitute “Pathetic” or “Disgraceful” for “Proud”. Their disgusting, shameful, and reprehensible behavior is nothing to be “proud” of.

[hadEnuf]

42. With these laws being passed they may wind up being a road rash instead of innocents.

[jmowreader]

25. Hmm...

There are these three men who stand at the corner of US 95 and Prairie Avenue in Coeur d’Alene and Hayden, ID (the dividing line is the middle of Prairie, so two are in CDA and one in Hayden) preaching to the choir about abortion with these huge signs that have pictures of miscarried fetuses on them.

So let me ask: if we’re in Iowa and someone just happened to run them over to keep those images from scarring the psyches of our impressionable youth, would that be okay? Or does this only cover people who run over non-conservative protesters?

[The Mouth]

28. Are they blocking traffic, unexpectedly?

There is a difference between someone standing on a corner holding a sign and someone standing in the middle of a freeway with no warning pounding on your car....

[Norbert]

29. What did you expect. Kyle Rittenhouse is a national MAGA-GOP hero.

Nothing like having a bunch of "Rittenhouse on wheels" types to restore 'law and order'.

[H2Oart]

30. Hmmmm

2 can play at that game too assholes......

[slightlv]

31. You see, this is where we're heading...

and I feel it, too... gods, I'm deep in there with you! I had the thought, gods forbid, of lining up nothing but repug men in a line and cutting 'em down with one of these military type guns they use mass shootings. And I've called myself a damned pacifist my whole life! But they're pushing things too far. Do they really mean to do that? Are they really teasing up a true civil war? Why just go all the way and secede already? God in heaven, I figure most of us will open the door and wave goodbye as they go! We want them gone and much as they want to go!!! I just don't understand. Why the inherent violence against us? Why not just go?!

[The Jungle 1]

33. I say we pass a law anyone protesting with a tiki torch gets run over.

[traitorsgalore]

34. So we could run down anti-choice protestors at abortion clinics?

I'm going to look on Amazon and see if they make cow bumpers for Hondas, LOL!

[TeamProg]

35. This is insane. There is no other way to describe it. n/t

[LiberatedUSA]

36. This is a reaction to a few instances...

…from 2020 where drivers got pulled from cars or an attempt was made by a group that scared the driver.

We need to clear here. Legitimate protesters do not swarm drivers and attempt to pull them from their vehicles. You do that in any state, and likely that is going to be considered self defense if they start shooting.

On the other hand, shooting in self defense at a vehicle trying to kill you, when you have not been aggressive, is also a thing. So any situation has to be looked at who started the aggression. Rounding a corner and all the sudden coming head on into a highway protest isn’t aggressive, it is surprising and spooks drivers.

What I see is the red states are setting the stage for murder by vehicle when protesting happens for a second attempt at election stealing. They are moving the pieces into place and all protesters will be viewed as aggressive ANTIFA. They saw 2020 and are preparing for it.

[BlueIdaho]

37. What planet are these murders on?

Giving people the right to kill people with their cars? What kind of video games did they play as kids?

[LiberalFighter]

38. Consider Republicans to be protestors?

[calimary]

39. This, mind you, is from the "pro-life" crowd.

Or maybe we should refer to them as the “Pro-life My Ass” crowd.

[Duncan Grant]

41. Who would Jesus kill with a car while laughing maniacally?

Seriously, this is so f*cking sick.