Brickbat: Sounds Like a Threat

Andrey Burmakin / Dreamstime.com

In Louisiana, law enforcement officers are in the habit of arresting those who say they are going to file a complaint against them. The charge they use is intimidation of a public official, a felony carrying up to five years in prison. Two different federal judges have found that law unconstitutional. But state Attorney General Jeff Landry defended the law in both cases and has appealed one of the cases to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Comments

[Tom Bombadil]

"The charge they use is intimidation of a public official, a felony carrying up to five years in prison. "

And the sentence for intimidating a private citizen: Donuts and Paid vaykay.

[Rebel Scum]

Donuts and Paid vaykay.

Also the punishment for murder of a citizen.

Also, I need to point out that cops are citizens, not soldiers. We need to get away from calling non-cops "private citizens" or "civilians" in contrast to cops.

[Tom Bombadil]

I agree cops are citizens, but, on the job they are public citizens. Thus, the contrast with the private citizens they are intimidating.

[Rossami]

If you're going to be pedantic, cops are citizens. So are soldiers. I did not give up my citizenship when I enlisted nor did I get it back when I finally mustered out. I was a citizen throughout.

You have a slightly better argument against "civilians" but only very slight better because police are a para-military organization. They always have been. (They have become more military and less para over the past few decades but that doesn't change the underlying truth.) Calling non-police "civilians" is a usage that goes very, very far back.

[SIV]

Charles Oliver slept in this morning.

[Leo Kovalensky II]

Brickbat: Brickbat is late

[Citizen X - #6]

It's time we had a talk about selling Louisiana back to France.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Sell? Can we just give it to them an pay for shipping out of pocket?

[MatthewSlyfield]

I'd be okay with the US government paying Mexico to take California back.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

I would support a tax increase for that action.

[Fist of Etiquette]

You know what might be helpful in situations like these? Consequences.

[sarcasmic]

Consequences? How can police do their job if they have to think about consequences? They can't second-guess themselves! That could cost them their life! Better for a thousand innocent people to be killed than for one cop to stub his toe!

[sarcasmic]

Similar to when cops routinely arrest people who legally record them, and charge them with obstruction.

And nothing else happens.

[$park? leftist poser]

Are you threatening me?

/Butthead

[sarcasmic]

Beavis/Cornholio

Jesus f'ing H on a skateboard

[$park? leftist poser]

Meh, it's been a while.

[Rebel Scum]

a felony carrying up to five years in prison

In USSA you get cruel and unusual punishment for the non-crime of claiming a desire to do that which you have every right to. IOW get charged with a crime for wanting to complain about your rights being violated.

[sarcasmic]

As far as the cops are concerned, we have no rights. None. They do whatever they want, and we do whatever they command. Obstruct, question, or disobey, and they may kill you. Freedumb!

[Vin_Decks!!!]

Not sure you are using that "Freedumb!" comment correctly. Jim Jeffries actually thinks we would be better off with a LOT FEWER freedoms. He is on the cops' side on this one. Unless you are trying to "take it back" or "own it"..

[Scarecrow Repair & Chippering]

I'd be filing complaints for every such arrest, make them pile on teh charges, make them really pay when the dust finally settled.

Good thing I don't live there!

[Rossami]

The process is the penalty. Even when they lose, they have taken your time, energy, legal fees and reputation. And after the fact, the police who abused the process will suffer no penalties because of qualified immunity.

[Longtobefree]

And the cops will be at your front door, assuring that a felon has no firearms, and ransacking your place in the process. And your credit report dies an ugly death, your mortgage gets 'reassessed' resulting is higher rates if you get to keep your house at all. And where do you think you will find a lawyer to take your case anyway? And of course, your job will vanish in a flurry of court dates you can't miss where the state files for more time and it is rubber stamp granted. So there you sit on the curb with the clothes you are wearing and no bank account or job or car.
Tell me again how you are going to make them really pay? The only dust settling will be on your prison bed.

[Tom Bombadil]

"In Louisiana, law enforcement officers are in the habit of arresting those who say they are going to file a complaint against them."

Sounds like the solution is to file the complaint, but don't advertise it in advance.

[sarcasmic]

Try going into a police station and telling them you want to file a complaint. I dare you.

[Tom Bombadil]

As I said, you don't tell them in advance.
Do it online.

[croaker]

Have an attorney do it for you.

[Longtobefree]

Because the internet is all full of lawyers who will do that for free.

[Sanjuro Tsubaki]

This country doesn't give enough perp walks to policemen and prosecutors. Don't depend upon the courts to set everything right.