Looks like another example of a Congressman “doing something about that new thing thats pissing everyone off” to get more votes without ever actually doing anything. I could be wrong but I don’t think resolutions do anything really useful.
Where is the interstate commerce which gives rise to Federal jurisdiction over filming cops?
I may be missing some other subject matter jurisdictional aspect of this well-intended bill or resolution, but I sure don’t see any interstate commerce.
Where is the interstate commerce which gives rise to Federal jurisdiction over filming cops?
Congress would have jurisdiction under the 1st and 14th Amendments.
The ubiquitousness of cell phone cameras and other small, easily portable video recording devices, combined with the ease of posting these videos on the internet, has effectively made the people in general the press. These applications of wiretap laws are abridging the freedom of the press. The 14th Amendment gives Congress the power to protect that freedom.
Uh… I congressional resolution has no actual legal force behind it. How exactly does one protect people who film cops?
Baby steps. “Sense of Congress” resolutions are valuable in that they are often the first tentative steps to passing an actual law. Kind of a warning of what’s coming down the pike.
In effect, Congress is saying to the prosecutors and cops “Hey, we’re getting a lot of complaints about you guys acting like assholes. We really like you and don’t want to do anything, but please knock it off or we’ll be forced to do something”.
July 26th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Uh… I congressional resolution has no actual legal force behind it. How exactly does one protect people who film cops?
July 26th, 2010 at 10:17 am
I’d like to see an actual law.
Maybe I’ll work up a letter and proposal to my congresscritter. It’s been percolating in the back of my mind for a while now, I should just do it.
July 26th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Looks like another example of a Congressman “doing something about that new thing thats pissing everyone off” to get more votes without ever actually doing anything. I could be wrong but I don’t think resolutions do anything really useful.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Where is the interstate commerce which gives rise to Federal jurisdiction over filming cops?
I may be missing some other subject matter jurisdictional aspect of this well-intended bill or resolution, but I sure don’t see any interstate commerce.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Congress would have jurisdiction under the 1st and 14th Amendments.
The ubiquitousness of cell phone cameras and other small, easily portable video recording devices, combined with the ease of posting these videos on the internet, has effectively made the people in general the press. These applications of wiretap laws are abridging the freedom of the press. The 14th Amendment gives Congress the power to protect that freedom.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
The interstate commerce is, in, um, shut up, that’s what!
July 26th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Uh… I congressional resolution has no actual legal force behind it. How exactly does one protect people who film cops?
Baby steps. “Sense of Congress” resolutions are valuable in that they are often the first tentative steps to passing an actual law. Kind of a warning of what’s coming down the pike.
In effect, Congress is saying to the prosecutors and cops “Hey, we’re getting a lot of complaints about you guys acting like assholes. We really like you and don’t want to do anything, but please knock it off or we’ll be forced to do something”.
July 26th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
I’d rather see legislation that includes actual penalties for police who abuse their power.
(Yeah, I know. Fat chance.)