HB 23-20: Domestic Security Act (Passed)

[thumb21]

Domestic Security Act

SENATE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

1. Any chemical or biological agent currently prohibited for use in combat by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Atlasia shall only be used by any law enforcement agency for the purpose of maintaining public order in areas subject to the jurisdictional authority of the Republic of Atlasia as a method of last resort.

2. A method of last resort shall be defined for the purposes of this bill as a situation where the use of said chemical or biological agents is the only option that would ensure a complete lack of casualties or widespread injuries when dealing with maintaining public order.

3. The only chemical riot control agents that may be used by the police forces of the Republic of Atlasia shall be pepper spray and CS Tear Gas. The use of any other chemical riot control agents is hereby banned.

4. The use of chemical riot control agents indoors by the police forces of the Republic of Atlasia is hereby banned.

5. Police forces may be prosecuted for any injuries and casualties caused by an improper use of riot control agents.

People's Regional Senate
Passed 4-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

Sponsor: Thumb21
House Designation: HB 23-20

72 hours to debate.

[thumb21]

This was also taken from the Senate to House queue. The logic of this is simple, if a substance is too vicious to use on a battlefield, it shouldn't be used against protesters or other civilians.

[cinyc]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem. When has this ever been done?

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem. When has this ever been done?

Looking at the senate debate, it seems this was a response to CS tear gas; however, the bill has been amended to allow pepper spray and CS tear gas, so if anyone could provide additional examples of 'chemical or biological agent currently prohibited for use in combat by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Atlasia' that are currently used by law enforcement, that would be helpful.

[Blair]

So it's essentially a bill to stop the police using mustard gas?

[thumb21]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem. When has this ever been done?

Looking at the senate debate, it seems this was a response to CS tear gas; however, the bill has been amended to allow pepper spray and CS tear gas, so if anyone could provide additional examples of 'chemical or biological agent currently prohibited for use in combat by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Atlasia' that are currently used by law enforcement, that would be helpful.

None that I'm aware of, atleast in the US right now. The bill puts some reasonable limits on the use of tear gas and pepper spray and there are some more vicious gasses such as CR gas which would be banned under this bill, which I think is worth having on the statute books just in case.

[thumb21]

Does anyone have anything to add here?

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

Don't necessarily have an issue with the bill passing, although I agree with cinyc's earlier comment. Ready for a final vote here.

[RC (a la Frémont)]

I'll second that motion, this seems pretty cut and dried.

[thumb21]

Wasn't sure if Encke's post was a motion but might as well. 24 hours to object to a final vote.

[thumb21]

Final Vote

72 hours

[thumb21]

Aye

[PPT Spiral]

Aye

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

Aye

[cinyc]

Nay. Like I said, this is a bill of a solution for a problem that probably doesn't exist. I can't vote for it.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Aye

[Elcaspar]

Aye

[RC (a la Frémont)]

Nay

[thumb21]

Passed

5-2-0-2

[thumb21]

Domestic Security Act

SENATE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

1. Any chemical or biological agent currently prohibited for use in combat by the Armed Forces of the Republic of Atlasia shall only be used by any law enforcement agency for the purpose of maintaining public order in areas subject to the jurisdictional authority of the Republic of Atlasia as a method of last resort.

2. A method of last resort shall be defined for the purposes of this bill as a situation where the use of said chemical or biological agents is the only option that would ensure a complete lack of casualties or widespread injuries when dealing with maintaining public order.

3. The only chemical riot control agents that may be used by the police forces of the Republic of Atlasia shall be pepper spray and CS Tear Gas. The use of any other chemical riot control agents is hereby banned.

4. The use of chemical riot control agents indoors by the police forces of the Republic of Atlasia is hereby banned.

5. Police forces may be prosecuted for any injuries and casualties caused by an improper use of riot control agents.

People's Regional Senate
Passed 4-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,

House of Representatives
Passed the House of Representatives 5-2-0-2