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Texas Lawmaker Receiving Death Threats for His Bill That Limits Photographing Cops
PETAPIXEL ^ | 03/21/15 | Michael Zhang

Posted on 03/21/2015 8:31:12 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER

Texas House of Representatives lawmaker Jason Villalba sparked quite a controversy earlier this month after proposing a bill that would make it illegal to photograph a police officer from within 25 feet. People were so angered by the idea that Villalba has received death threats from angry members of the public.

(Excerpt) Read more at petapixel.com ...


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KEYWORDS: cop; photo; texas
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Good. Cops shouldn’t be doing anything in the line of duty they don’t want photographed


41 posted on 03/22/2015 2:59:08 AM PDT by muir_redwoods ("He is a very shallow critic who cannot see an eternal rebel in the heart of a conservative." G.K .C)
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To: Repeal The 17th
I originally missed the part about "within 25'" and soundly castigated the guy. I'm not so sure now that I see it may just be to create a safety/buffer zone for the cops trying to do the job.

Always something to complicate the issues - it's almost too bad that everything isn't black and white vs. a myriad set of grays...

42 posted on 03/22/2015 5:05:39 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: grumpygresh

“This is exactly what you’d expect from a Dem totalitarian Leftist, but there are some really nut job Republicans that are into Big Brother government.”.....

Ever heard of McDonnell and Boehner? They would fit the bill as “nut job Republicans”.


43 posted on 03/22/2015 5:53:26 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: dragnet2

” You support making it illegal to take video from your own vehicle?

It seems this is exactly what this would do.”

I mean, inches from the person’s nose. And again, two feet from a situation with a traffic stop and a two feet in an active riot are two different things. That’s what I mean about “common sense”.


44 posted on 03/22/2015 6:08:24 AM PDT by The Antiyuppie ("When small men cast long shadows, then it is very late in the day".)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

I call BULL $HIT on the “death threats”.


45 posted on 03/22/2015 6:20:12 AM PDT by grobdriver (Where is Wilson Blair when you need him?)
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By: Villalba H.B.No.2918

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the prosecution of the offense of interference with
public duties; increasing a penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION Section 38.15, Penal Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b) and (e) and adding Subsections (f) and (g)
to read as follows:
(b) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor,
except that an offense under Subsection (a)(1) that is based on
conduct described by Subsection (f)(2) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(e) In this section:
(1) “Emergency” [, “emergency”] means a condition or
circumstance in which an individual is or is reasonably believed by
the person transmitting the communication to be in imminent danger
of serious bodily injury or in which property is or is reasonably
believed by the person transmitting the communication to be in
imminent danger of damage or destruction.
(2) “News media” means:
(A) a radio or television station that holds a
license issued by the Federal Communications Commission;
(B) a newspaper that is qualified under Section
2051.044, Government Code, to publish legal notices or is a free
newspaper of general circulation and that is published at least
once a week and available and of interest to the general public in
connection with the dissemination of news or public affairs; or
(C) a magazine that appears at a regular
interval, that contains stories, articles, and essays by various
writers, and that is available and of interest to the general public
in connection with the dissemination of news or public affairs.
(f) For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), an interruption,
disruption, impediment, or interference that occurs while a peace
officer is performing a duty or exercising authority imposed or
granted by law includes a person:
(1) filming, recording, photographing, or documenting
the officer within 25 feet of the officer; or
(2) filming, recording, photographing, or documenting
the officer within 100 feet of the officer while carrying a handgun
under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
(g) It is a defense to prosecution for an offense under
Subsection (a)(1) based on conduct described by Subsection (f)(2)
that the interruption, disruption, impediment, or interference was
caused by a person who, at the time of the offense, was:
(1) a news media employee acting in the course and
scope of the person ’s employment; or
(2) employed by or working with an organization or
entity engaged in law enforcement activities.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
before that date.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84R/billtext/pdf/HB02918I.pdf#navpanes=0


46 posted on 03/22/2015 6:31:17 AM PDT by deport
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

If the PoPo can have full auto carbines, so should we. If the PoPo can have lapel cameras, so should we.


47 posted on 03/22/2015 7:08:15 AM PDT by Rodamala
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To: The Antiyuppie

“It’s really a damned shame that we now have to attempt to legislate common sense”

The only legitimate purpose in Laws is to force common sense onto those that practice none in their interactions with others.


48 posted on 03/22/2015 7:31:12 AM PDT by X-spurt (CRUZ missile - armed and ready.)
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To: JRandomFreeper; PAR35
At this point, I take the allegations seriously.

Why would believe this guy's allegations?

This guy is a complete fraud who's attempting to make it illegal to take video from your own vehicle.

49 posted on 03/22/2015 9:59:27 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: The Antiyuppie
I mean, inches from the person’s nose. And again, two feet from a situation with a traffic stop and a two feet in an active riot are two different things. That’s what I mean about “common sense.

His new law is not talking inches.

This political Texas fraud is attempting to pass a law which makes it illegal to video cops any closer then 15' or 25'.

This would outlaw taking video from your own vehicle during a traffic stop? No?

Why would you support this?

50 posted on 03/22/2015 10:12:37 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: The Antiyuppie
I mean, inches from the person’s nose. And again, two feet from a situation with a traffic stop and a two feet in an active riot are two different things. That’s what I mean about “common sense.

His new law is not talking inches.

This political Texas fraud is attempting to pass a law which makes it illegal to video cops any closer then 15' or 25'.

This would outlaw taking video from your own vehicle during a traffic stop? No?

And why would you believe this fraud regarding his allegations of threats?

How did this guy get elected?

51 posted on 03/22/2015 10:15:54 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2
I didn't say I believed him. I said I take the allegations seriously.

Seriously enough to prosecute if he's providing false statements to police.

Big difference between belief and taking the allegations seriously.

If his statements are true, there needs to be prosecution with jail time for people threatening death to politicians.

If his statements are perjury, they also need to be met with prosecution and jail time.

I don't see how you get 'belief' out of that.

/johnny

52 posted on 03/22/2015 10:16:02 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Do you support his new law?

Or do you believe this guy and his new law are frauds?


53 posted on 03/22/2015 10:17:31 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2
How did this guy get elected?

He got elected because a lot of Texas Republican politicians today used to be Texas Democrats.

And a lot of Texas Rs will always vote for the R, no matter how liberal the politics.

That's why I insist on conservatives, and helped get rid of Dewhurst, and am working hard to get rid of Cornyn and Strauss.

Damn liberal republicans in Texas need to go away.

/johnny

54 posted on 03/22/2015 10:19:17 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Lots of current republican Texas State office holders used to be hard core democrats.

Rick Perry comes to mind. He was some kind of high-power Gore guy in the Dem party when Rove convinced him to become a republican.

What did you mean by this?

Are you suggesting this guy used to a leftist, but is now a good Republican?

55 posted on 03/22/2015 10:22:35 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2
I do not support his new law, and have already made calls and done things about it.

Your second question is a false choice. I have no reason to believe or disbelieve his claims of death threats right now.

I do take those allegations seriously. And either way, a crime has been committed, and someone needs to go to jail. Either the politician or those allegedly threatening him.

You do false choices a lot.

/johnny

56 posted on 03/22/2015 10:22:41 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: dragnet2
No, I would not vote for Rick Perry for any office. He's a damn liberal republican, and I'm doing everything I can to politically destroy liberal republican specifically.

How are you guys doing in your state to make it conservative? Spending shoe leather knocking on doors and doing real activism?

/johnny

57 posted on 03/22/2015 10:24:56 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper
I hope they find and prosecute the hotheads that are making the threats.

Based on this comment, it seems you readily bought into this fraudulent bureaucrats allegations.

58 posted on 03/22/2015 10:28:10 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: JRandomFreeper
I do not support his new law

OK, but it sure seemed you were ready to believe everything he said regarding his threat allegations. Maybe I was wrong.

Do you believe anyone who would come up with a Communist style backdoor law like this, is a credible and legitimate person?

59 posted on 03/22/2015 10:31:58 AM PDT by dragnet2 (Diversion and evasion are tools of deceit)
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To: dragnet2
No, that is your reading. But I want ANY hothead making threats to get prosecuted. Or alleged to make threats. Prosecution also brings exoneration for those not guilty (in theory).

How are you doing with the problems in YOUR state?

/johnny

60 posted on 03/22/2015 10:32:36 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (gone Galt)
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