An anti-rioting and pro-police bill is being considered by state representatives in the Tennessee House, following the lead of Florida, which enacted a similar measure last month.
Tennessee and Florida lay down the law on BLM riots
Tennessee House Bill 513 would increase penalties and punishment for criminal protesters, such as:
Harsher penalties for disruptive protesters. Making the penalty against protesters blocking roadways a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison. Granting immunity to some drivers, if they unintentionally injure a protester.
Imposing a minimum sentence for those convicted of assaulting police officers, and making it harder for local governments to defund police departments.
As The Washington Examiner notes, H.R. 513 emulates a new Florida law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which the governor says he signed because police were being discouraged from protecting victimized citizens.
Gov. Ron DeSantis described the new bill as “the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country.”
https://twitter.com/thorsome1/status/1383478276937506816?s=20
Red states standing up to left-wing terrorism and Conservatives are flocking there
“We saw last summer some of the local governments were actually telling, not necessarily in Florida, but throughout the country, basically telling these folks to stand, telling police to stand down while cities burned, while businesses were burned, while people were being harmed,” he added when he signed the bill last month.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new anti-rioting bill sends a message that protests are fine, but violence is not. And they know the difference.
“Peaceful protests are alright,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “But, rioting, looting, burning mom and pop out, ruining their lives—that’s not acceptable. So this is all about keeping the 20 plus million people that live in Florida safe as well as the millions of people that visit with us every year.”
He added, “We’ve got the back of the community. But, if the government officials don’t have our back then it’s impossible to keep the community safe and that’s what we’ve seen throughout the nation. The government officials are saying stand down. We have prosecutors saying we won’t prosecute. What do they think is gonna happen when you give the rioters permission to riot?”
Sheriff Grady Judd to the "millions" of people moving to Florida: "Welcome to Florida. But don't register to vote and vote the stupid way you did up north. You'll get what they got.”
Florida Gov. DeSantis signs ‘anti-riot’ bill into law pic.twitter.com/ygQ3nQu9PZ
— Joni Job (@jj_talking) April 19, 2021