Law California Lawmakers Pass a Mask Ban for Law Enforcement

[deviake]

This is confusing.

Conservatives were terrified of Biden's replacement IRS agents but you have absolutely no problem with Trump lowering the job requirements to almost zero and allowing ICE to operate with no identification at all.

Do you not see any potential problems with a huge, anonymous wing of law enforcement?

They think the apparatus won't come for them.

 

[Hog-train]

It's more dangerous to have citizens not trusting police and police feeling they are not accountable to citizens (which is already a bad enough issue).

This is not police. These are federal agents just like the FBI or DEA. You expect an FBI agents have to ID themselves to strangers while on mission?

The courts have repeatedly affirmed that citizens have a constitutional right to film arrests as long as they do not directly interfere. Shouting at police does not qualify. Apparently, you want to constrain that fundamental right.

Again, read what I posted. Jesus.

Who said they can't film? They're free to do so as long as they're not actively interfering.

What you want is these agents to have to ID themselves to random strangers on the street and also tell them who they're detaining and why. What a ridiculous ask.

 

[avenue94]

This is not police. These are federal agents just like the FBI or DEA. You expect an FBI agents have to ID themselves to strangers while on mission?

I expect any law enforcement officer outside of very limited exceptions to be unmasked. Sunshine does the state good.

Who said they can't film? They're free to do so as long as they're not actively interfering.

What you want is these agents to have to ID themselves to random strangers on the street and also tell them who they're detaining and why. What a ridiculous ask.

No, I want them to be identifiable to those they serve.

I never claimed what you're straw manning.

 

[Hog-train]

I expect any law enforcement officer outside of very limited exceptions to be unmasked. Sunshine does the state good.

That's not the law.

No, I want them to be identifiable to those they serve.

I never claimed what you're straw manning.

They are. They have badges.

 

[freakroor]

So you have never been to a Walmart in your life i take it. Because I'm very afraid of seeing a lot of what I see there nude.

i get that you're being facetious.. everyone has a body. not all are attractive. i dont judge others and i definitely dont fear seeing them.

 

[avenue94]

That's not the law.

What do you think the law would do?

They are. They have badges.

Cops are not universally required to disclose their badge number, and even if they were, I'm fine with no masks still.

How many democracies can you name where cops routinely operate in public while masked up to hide their identities?

 

[Hog-train]

What do you think the law would do?

There's literally no law that says federal agents have to be unmasked. Pretty simple.

Cops are not universally required to disclose their badge number, and even if they were, I'm fine with no masks still.

How many democracies can you name where cops routinely operate in public while masked up to hide their identities?

We're talking about ICE agents here.

 

[avenue94]

There's literally no law that says federal agents have to be unmasked. Pretty simple.

Where did I claim there was?

We're talking about ICE agents here.

And? The question stands. What democracies have roving raids from masked police officers on primarily non-violent criminals?

 

[PainIsLIfe]

California Lawmakers Pass a Mask Ban for Law Enforcement

The legislation responds to immigration raids by federal agents who have shielded their identity. It heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has not said whether he would sign it.

Federal agents stand guard on a road outside an agricultural facility where an immigration raid occurred in Camarillo, Calif.,

California state lawmakers passed a bill on Thursday that would bar most law enforcement officers from covering their faces while interacting with the public, a direct response to immigration raids by masked agents who have been difficult to identify.

California’s Legislature is believed to be the first to pass such a bill, though similar proposals have been introduced in other states and Congress.
The legislation now goes to Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose support is not certain. The legislation, passed by Democratic lawmakers who control both houses of the State Legislature, would apply to local and federal agencies, and questions have been raised about whether the state has the legal ability to regulate federal agents.

“We’re looking at the constitutionality of it,” Mr. Newsom said in July in an interview with the Tennessee Holler, a liberal news site.

The Democratic governor explained at the time that he understood that officers may need masks to protect their safety in limited circumstances, but that he thought it was “insane” how widespread the practice had become.
Supporters of the bill said on Thursday that the ban was even more urgent in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this week that allowed federal agents to resume immigration stops based on factors including ethnicity and if someone is speaking Spanish.

“We are in a truly disaster of a situation where we have secret police, effectively, on our streets,” said Scott Wiener, a Democratic state senator from San Francisco who wrote the bill.
“It’s tearing apart the fabric of society,” he added. “You have communities in Southern California where people are scared to go out on the street, they’re scared to go to work, they’re scared to bring their kids to school. And now is the time for us to say what the rules are.”

Mr. Wiener’s legislation would bar officers from wearing face coverings that shield their identities, such as the ski masks, balaclavas and neck gaiters that have become common in recent months during President Trump’s immigration crackdown. It does not apply to medical masks, clear plastic face shields, respirators, eye protection or other safety devices.

The bill would take effect in January if signed by Mr. Newsom. The governor has until Oct. 12 to act on the legislation.

Numerous lawmakers described fear and anxiety in California’s many Latino communities. Sasha Renée Pérez, a Democratic state senator from the Los Angeles area, said that one of her constituents was so afraid of immigration agents that he ran onto a freeway and died. She said that her own family members have begun carrying their passports at all times.

“That’s a very strange reality,” Ms. Pérez said.

Opponents of the California bill, including numerous law enforcement agencies, argued that officers must have the choice to cover their faces to protect themselves and their families from retaliation. Limiting the ways officers can keep themselves safe will make it harder to recruit people to work in law enforcement, they said.

“Bad guys wear masks because they don’t want to get caught. Good guys wear masks because they don’t want to get killed,” said Kelly Seyarto, a Republican state senator from Riverside County. “It’s that simple.”

He also argued that the state doesn’t have the power to regulate federal agencies, so that part of the bill is likely to be thrown out in court, and that the bill would wind up creating new civil liability for local officers because of how it would be enforced.

Mr. Wiener pointed to an opinion from the legal scholar Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, who argued that the policy is constitutional because it does not only apply to federal agencies. State and local governments can require that federal agencies comply with general laws, Mr. Chemerinsky wrote, such as speed limits and restrictions on the use of force.

“There is no rule saying that just because you work with federal government, you’re exempt from all state law,” Mr. Wiener said.
The California State Senate passed the bill on Thursday, two days after the State Assembly approved the legislation.

Similar bills have been introduced in other states — including New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Michigan — but have not yet passed.
California lawmakers also passed a companion bill on Thursday that would require local, state and federal agents to wear identifying information such as their name or badge number. That bill was less controversial, and while some law enforcement agencies opposed it, the legislation received support from the major association representing local police officers in California.

Really ironic coming from Cali after their draconian covid laws.

Curious if they will also ban mask for peotesters.

 

[avenue94]

Really ironic coming from Cali after their draconian covid laws.

Curious if they will also ban mask for peotesters.

Oh look, another person who doesn't understand the constitution.

 

[PainIsLIfe]

Oh look, another person who doesn't understand the constitution.

Oh look, another lefty that wants to target law enforcement while they hide their own face.

You realize that they mandated mask for covid. Even arrested a guy surfing by himself.

 

[avenue94]

Oh look, another lefty that wants to target law enforcement while they hide their own face.

You realize that they mandated mask for covid. Even arrested a guy surfing by himself.

Yes, because there was a compelling public interest in it that outweighed the sacrifice in individual rights.

Otherwise, the 1A takes precedence.

 

[PainIsLIfe]

Yes, because there was a compelling public interest in it that outweighed the sacrifice in individual rights.

Otherwise, the 1A takes precedence.

You want to tell me the compelling reason to see an officers face? If badge is visible there isn't a reason.

 

[PainIsLIfe]

Yes, because there was a compelling public interest in it that outweighed the sacrifice in individual rights.

Otherwise, the 1A takes precedence.

And bull shit on a compelling reason to take away my rights.

 

[avenue94]

You want to tell me the compelling reason to see an officers face? If badge is visible there isn't a reason.

I think it's very important for police to feel that they are accountable to citizens, and that citizens feel the same.

Hence you don't see police operating while wearing masks in most developed countries, beyond very specific roles.

And bull shit on a compelling reason to take away my rights.

Which one of your rights was taken away by wearing a mask? I can't believe we still have people butt hurt about wearing masks 5 years ago.

 

[PainIsLIfe]

I think it's very important for police to feel that they are accountable to citizens, and that citizens feel the same.

Hence you don't see police operating while wearing masks in most developed countries, beyond very specific roles.

Which one of your rights was taken away by wearing a mask? I can't believe we still have people butt hurt about wearing masks 5 years ago.

You still haven't explained how showing their face will make them more accountable. Unless you consider doing an officer accountability.

SWAT covers their face all the time. Drug task force is around 50/50 on wearing them.

Although I didnt mind wearing a mask personally; Let's go with the pursuit of happiness. How was a guy surfing alone on a beach by himself causing a health crises? Cali arrested a pastor for holding church service, but called liquor stores vital.

And ftr, you can't compare right of whatever country you live in to the rights Americans are supposed to have guaranteed.

 

[oldshadow]

Oh look, another person who doesn't understand the constitution.

You're the one that doesn't understand it. Show me where it's a constitutional right to wear a mast.

 

[avenue94]

You still haven't explained how showing their face will make them more accountable. Unless you consider doing an officer accountability.

SWAT covers their face all the time. Drug task force is around 50/50 on wearing them.

The same reason I expect nearly any public servant to not try and hide their identity. Trust is extremely important, as is public servants knowing that their neighbors and community know who they are.

I'm fine with SWAT and those participating in things like no knock warrants covering their faces. ICE is not operating in that environment, most of who they sweep up are nonviolent offenders at this point.

Although I didnt mind wearing a mask personally; Let's go with the pursuit of happiness. How was a guy surfing alone on a beach by himself causing a health crises? Cali arrested a pastor for holding church service, but called liquor stores vital.

Do you want to reference which surfing guy or church we're referring to in particular?

And liquor stores are unfortunately a vital public health need during lockdowns, hence the exemption.

And ftr, you can't compare right of whatever country you live in to the rights Americans are supposed to have guaranteed.

I'm American lol. Should I take your refusal to answer as you not knowing of other developed democracies letting police mask up for immigration raids?

 

[avenue94]

You're the one that doesn't understand it. Show me where it's a constitutional right to wear a mast.

It is covered by freedom of religion and freedom of speech in many instances, and the Supreme Court has repeatedly tossed out laws that have a chilling effect on the 1A.

 

[oldshadow]

It is covered by freedom of religion and freedom of speech in many instances, and the Supreme Court has repeatedly tossed out laws that have a chilling effect on the 1A.

Bullshit name one state law banning mask wearing that has been overturned by the Supreme Court. Freedom of religion is covered in the mast laws i have seen. It has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

So yeah you are making up Bullshit.