If you want to see DML NEWS APP articles without ads, click here.
As the most reliable and balanced news aggregation service on the internet, DML News App offers the following information published by Fox News:
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday he would not use his veto stamp on a piece of legislation increasing penalties for rioters after he blocked a similar bill in 2021.
The GOP-controlled legislature sent the bill to the governor’s desk last Thursday after it passed with a bipartisan vote in the House and Senate. The Democratic governor had until Monday to sign or veto the bill, which was proposed following the nationwide riots in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
Though Cooper said he would not veto the bill, he announced he would allow the legislation to become law without his signature, according to The Associated Press. The decision means Cooper will potentially delay an override from state lawmakers as the legislature has become more Republican since his 2021 veto.
Despite the bill only increasing penalties for violent rioters and not peaceful protesters, Cooper’s choice not to veto the bill has received criticism from social justice advocates who say the measure will restrict citizen’s rights to protest and practice free speech.
Cooper stated that changes “were made to modify this legislation’s effect” following the veto two years ago.
He added that he is still concerned with the bill’s language, saying, “Property damage and violence are already illegal and my continuing concerns about the erosion of the First Amendment and the disparate impacts on communities of color will prevent me from signing this legislation.”
House Speaker Tim Moore is a huge supporter of the bill.
“Those who hijack otherwise peaceful demonstrations to cause chaos and destruction in our communities must be held accountable. Our communities will be safer now that this bill will finally become law,” Moore said after Cooper’s announcement on Friday.
The bill will increase punishment for those who participate in or incite riot and covers more severe circumstances, such as causing serious bodily injury or brandishing a weapon. These crimes will likely result in longer prison sentences.
Other new crimes will also be created for any rioter who causes death or someone who incites a riot that contributes to a death. Furthermore, assaults on emergency personnel will result in higher felony penalties.
Under the bill, property owners who experience damage during protests will be allowed to seek compensation, from the perpetrator, equal to three times the monetary damage.
Bipartisan Bill Increasing Penalties for Rioting Becomes Law Without Governor’s Signature: https://t.co/GhMyNvUIPm #ncpol #ncga pic.twitter.com/BBQtqp5O1x
— Speaker Tim Moore (@NCHouseSpeaker) March 17, 2023
North Carolina bill increasing punishments for rioters will become law after no governor veto https://t.co/lNhpmZeCGr
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 19, 2023
To get more information about this article, please visit Fox News.
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast is available below. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
All depends on who determines the definition of a rioters.
Good for you NC.