> "Many states have passed hate-speech laws that protect the police from verbal or symbolic abuse, such as stomping on a “Back the Blue” sign while “smirking in an intimidating manner” (the crime for which a woman in Utah was prosecuted)."
Wow... this is just... The police have a monopoly on the legalized use of violence. Police carry at minimum one deadly weapon (a handgun), but usually have multiple so-called less-than-lethal weapons such as tasters and batons. And often more lethal weapons such as a shotgun or assault rifle in their car. But they are so fragile that a smirk can intimidate them?
I'm not sure how someone wearing body armor and carrying multiple weapons that can incapacitate or kill someone can be intimidated by a smile.
Wow... this is just... The police have a monopoly on the legalized use of violence. Police carry at minimum one deadly weapon (a handgun), but usually have multiple so-called less-than-lethal weapons such as tasters and batons. And often more lethal weapons such as a shotgun or assault rifle in their car. But they are so fragile that a smirk can intimidate them?
I'm not sure how someone wearing body armor and carrying multiple weapons that can incapacitate or kill someone can be intimidated by a smile.