APNewsBreak: Arizona House speaker won't hear rioting bill
Source: Associated Press
PHOENIX (AP) The speaker of the Arizona House said Monday he won't hear a bill that makes participating in or helping organize a protest that turns into a riot an offense that could lead to criminal racketeering charges.
The measure passed last week by the Senate drew nationwide attention because it added rioting to the organized crime statutes and said an overt act isn't needed to prove conspiracy to riot. That attention led Speaker J.D. Mesnard to decide Monday to kill it for the session.
Mesnard told The Associated Press that people all across the country now believe that the Arizona Legislature is trying to enact a law that will suppress their First Amendment right to assemble.
"It's gotten lot of attention, and frankly whether it's fair or unfair, whether its accurate or inaccurate, at this point doesn't matter," he told the AP. "That's certainly not what the Legislature wants to be about I know that's not what the sponsor wanted in the first place."
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Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/5f4aa8c2fae94a9ea4e3ca1008e76f20/apnewsbreak-arizona-house-speaker-wont-hear-rioting-bill
By BOB CHRISTIE
Feb. 27, 2017 5:46 PM EST
Angry Dragon
(36,693 posts)gopiscrap
(23,767 posts)hope they have to choke on their own shit
Roy Rolling
(6,943 posts)But saying "I know that's not what the sponsor wanted in the first place" is naïve. They crave attention.
LisaM
(27,850 posts)But, if he wants to leave him an out, who cares, as long as the bill is killed.
Raster
(20,998 posts)...and to hold on to power. Arizona is changing... because of the younger citizens, because of the minorities, Arizona has the potential to slowly turn if not Blue, then a lovely shade of purple, which scares the shit out of the Rethuglicans.
cstanleytech
(26,349 posts)happy to help it pass.
It will save them a bunch of money defending a lost cause.
paleotn
(18,012 posts)not to waste time and money on a bill that's DOA in federal court.