Another attempt at giving cops more power than they need or deserve

I've said it before and I'll say it again: wearing a blue uniform and a shiny badge does not make you God, nor does it give you rights other citizens do not themselves possess. Cops may have the authority to arrest criminals, but that's where there power ends – at criminals. Everyone has the right to say whatever the hell they want to a cop, and quite frankly, other than perhaps yelling back, the cop can't do a damn thing about it. Officers are not entitled to Taser you, arrest or physically manhandle you, or do anything of the sort, no matter how vile you are towards them. (Though, there are some reasonable limits – you can't threaten to blow their family up, for starters. That actually is a crime.)

But apparently, cops may soon have this right and power in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A city alderman is now pushing to give cops the right to hand you a very steep ticket if you so much as swear at them – though only if it's a second offense (the first incident merits a warning). Gotta play fair, of course.

WITI-TV, KENOSHA - In Kenosha it could soon cost you $118 for swearing at police. An alderman wants to give police officers and firefighters the authority to write a ticket to people who swear at them.

The alderman behind this ordinance says it's about putting officers first, but some wonder what about the first amendment?

The First Amendment? Such a thing does not exist in the world of police authoritarianism.

This isn't actually that big a change for poor Kenoshans:

The City of Kenosha already has an ordinance banning the use of profane, vile, filthy, or obscene language within the city limits. This law can only be enforced if a third party makes a complaint.

So you're not even allowed to utter a single bad word, anywhere within the freakin' city limits?

Pardon the predictable reaction, but FUCK THAT.

This isn't just overstepping on citizens' Freedom of Speech and First Amendment rights anymore; this is nothing more than fascism and dictatorship. Please, Kenoshans, rebel against this bullshit. It's horrible and depressing – and I'm not even in Kenosha. Can't imagine what it must be like in there, hearing the more heated of arguments ... "How dare you say I'm a buttface, you jellyheaded poopymouth?".

Urgh.

(via The Agitator)