(AmericanProsperity.com) – Between the economic lockdowns and social distancing provisions, lawmakers cycle between deadlocks where few bills get passed and times when many bills sneak through quickly. In one southern state, some new laws bring large punishments for certain crimes.
On August 20, Tennessee’s Governor, Bill Lee (R), passed a new law that allows people who illegally camp on state property to be punished with a Class E felony and receive up to six years in prison. Additionally, a charge of aggravated assault against a first responder is now classified as a Class C felony. If found guilty, the accused persons would be unable to vote.
These two new laws have caused many to speak out, including Kristen Clarke, the President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
Tennessee just adopted a law that imposes new criminal penalties on demonstrators and seeks to strip away their voting rights. This is a racially motivated law intended to silence the Black Lives Matter movement.
Tennessee enjoys violating civil rights. https://t.co/E3wV3ygzES
— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) August 23, 2020
While some say the new laws target protestors and rioters in hopes of minimizing their votes, others praise the laws for ensuring those who destroy public property are punished for their wrongdoing.
Leaders must carefully walk the line between justice and freedom. Protecting the free speech and voting rights of American citizens is essential, but the pursuit to maintain law and order can’t go too far, either.
~Here’s to Your Prosperity!
Copyright 2020, AmericanProsperity.com
