Bill Text: NJ AR46 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Condemns anti-police rhetoric and violence.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee [AR46 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AR46-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Condemns anti-police rhetoric and violence.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Assembly Resolution strongly condemning rhetoric that threatens law enforcement personnel and incites violence against them.
Whereas, Law enforcement officers in New Jersey and throughout the nation serve the public honorably, protecting all people regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, or socio-economic status, and risk their own lives every day in pursuit of this duty despite the inherent dangers and risks associated with this profession; and
Whereas, As guardians of the public, sworn to uphold the laws of this State and country, law enforcement officials are properly still subject to scrutiny of their actions and are held responsible for them; and
Whereas, Recently, a number of instances have been spotlighted that give rise to questions concerning the judgment exercised by members of certain law enforcement agencies; and
Whereas, The stirring up of hostility in response to actual or perceived law enforcement missteps have caused serious riots and unrest, in places such as Ferguson, Missouri, Baltimore, Maryland, and Brooklyn, New York; and
Whereas, While open public discourse and protest are proper and protected expressions under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, the disruptive and violent actions of some individuals and groups pose a danger to law enforcement personnel and bystanders alike, and such negative and harmful rhetoric, threats, and slander is intolerable; and
Whereas, Some protests and gatherings have targeted police with specific and implied threats, directives, and chants, further provoking violence against law enforcement; and
Whereas, Outside of their law enforcement roles, officers are private citizens with families, friends, and neighbors who deserve the same freedoms and protections to live their lives as any other person in New Jersey and this country; and
Whereas, There is no justification for targeting and, at worst, assassinating members of our communities, who deserve respect and gratitude for the selfless acts they perform as officers serving and protecting all people; and
Whereas, It is in the public interest of the citizens of the State of New Jersey and this great nation to condemn, in the strongest terms, any hate speech, threats, and inflammatory rhetoric targeting law enforcement and inciting violence against them; now, therefore,
Be It
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jerse:
1. This House condemns rhetoric that threatens or incites violence against law enforcement personnel and violent acts targeting the heroic and honorable members of law enforcement who serve to protect the public.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, the President and Executive Director of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, and the President of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association.
STATEMENT
This resolution strongly condemns speech and rhetoric that threatens law enforcement personnel and incites violence against them.
Recent news reports include accounts of individuals' statements and group demonstrations demonizing police as murderers. Law enforcement officers in New Jersey and throughout the nation serve the public honorably, protecting all people regardless of religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, or socio-economic status, and risk their own lives every day in pursuit of this duty despite the inherent dangers and risks associated with this profession.
Law enforcement officials are properly subject to scrutiny of their actions and are held responsible for them. While a number of instances have given rise to questions concerning the judgment exercised by certain officers, the disruptive and violent actions of some individuals and groups are provoking unwarranted violence against law enforcement. There is no justification for targeting and, at worst, assassinating members of the force, who deserve respect and gratitude for the selfless acts they perform to serve and protect all people. Outside of their law enforcement roles, officers are private citizens with families, friends, and neighbors who deserve the same freedoms and protections to live their lives as any other person in New Jersey and this country.
