Here's one Texas Congressman's approach to ending those horrifying videos of police brutality:
David Lee | Courthouse News
DALLAS (CN) - A Texas lawmaker received swift criticism after filing a bill that would prohibit citizens from photographing or video recording police officers at work.
Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas[/B], filed House Bill 2918 on March 10.[/B]
Journalists with traditional radio, television, newspaper and magazine outlets will be able to continue recording or photographing police while they are carrying out their public duties, but other members of the public will not.
The measure criminalizes doing so within 25 feet of an officer and within 100 if the person is armed.
Violators would be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
Reaction on social media was swift, with many critics citing the First Amendment.
Villalba responded to several messages on Twitter, denying that he wants to make filming of police illegal.
"My bill does no such thing," Villalba said on Thursday. "[It] just asks filmers to stand back a little to as to not interfere with law enforcement."
Villalba said he filed the bill because his "brothers/sisters in blue" asked for his assistance....
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UPDATE (3/16/15): Jason Villalba Purchased Fake Twitter "Followers" to Boost His Stats and Make it Appear Like He Has Support, According to Audit
It's undoubtedly been a crazy week for Jason Villalba, the politician who is facing nationwide backlash for trying to pass a bill that would restrict Americans from filming police.
There is now a Facebook page devoted entirely to recalling him and getting him booted out of office.
The Facebook page, Recall Jason Villalba (
David Lee | Courthouse News
DALLAS (CN) - A Texas lawmaker received swift criticism after filing a bill that would prohibit citizens from photographing or video recording police officers at work.
Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas[/B], filed House Bill 2918 on March 10.[/B]
Journalists with traditional radio, television, newspaper and magazine outlets will be able to continue recording or photographing police while they are carrying out their public duties, but other members of the public will not.
The measure criminalizes doing so within 25 feet of an officer and within 100 if the person is armed.
Violators would be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
Reaction on social media was swift, with many critics citing the First Amendment.
Villalba responded to several messages on Twitter, denying that he wants to make filming of police illegal.
"My bill does no such thing," Villalba said on Thursday. "[It] just asks filmers to stand back a little to as to not interfere with law enforcement."
Villalba said he filed the bill because his "brothers/sisters in blue" asked for his assistance....
----------------------------
UPDATE (3/16/15): Jason Villalba Purchased Fake Twitter "Followers" to Boost His Stats and Make it Appear Like He Has Support, According to Audit
It's undoubtedly been a crazy week for Jason Villalba, the politician who is facing nationwide backlash for trying to pass a bill that would restrict Americans from filming police.
There is now a Facebook page devoted entirely to recalling him and getting him booted out of office.
The Facebook page, Recall Jason Villalba (
