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This Is Enough To Make Your Brain Hurt …
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Author:  Traveler [ Tue Sep 28, 2010 2:10 pm ]
Post subject:  This Is Enough To Make Your Brain Hurt …

… but I guess it helps us some how. Who knows?

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/09/28/law-struck-down-on-free-speech-grounds/?refid=0

Quote:
Court strikes down MN law on free speech grounds

September 28, 2010

St. Paul, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Court of Appeals has struck down a state law against making false statements that allege police misconduct.

In a ruling Tuesday, an appeals panel says the law is unconstitutional on free speech grounds. It says that's because the statute "criminalizes knowingly making false statements that allege police misconduct, but not knowingly making false statements to absolve police."


Ah, huh??? I'll just bet that if you are ever arrested, and claim falsely that the arresting officer beat the snot out of you on the ride to the station, the brown shirts WILL charge you with something — and it will most likely stick.

You have to click the link to see the rest of the story. No, I am not Paul Harvey, I'm just erring on the side of caution, so off to the MPR web page with you and be educated and enlightened. :bang:

Author:  joelr [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: This Is Enough To Make Your Brain Hurt …

As much against false reports as I am, this is a good decision; a classic form of retribution is to charge the whistleblower/complainant with making a false charge, the idea being that they may beat the bogus accusation, but not the ride.

The delicate flowers can, if they feel that the complaint is unfounded, just suck it up. SLTF.

Author:  akodo [ Wed Sep 29, 2010 3:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: This Is Enough To Make Your Brain Hurt …

my understanding is that the problem is the law only criminalizes certain false reports, not ALL false reports.

For instance, if you are a witness called upon in a police misconduct case making false statements to HIDE police misconduct is legal....but making false statements to bolster the misconduct case is illegal.

ALL false statements (for or against) should be treated the same. Once you bring in the nature of the statement rather than it's falsehood/truthfulness, you breach the first amendment.

A law that criminalizes false statements in an official report without worrying about the nature of that statement would be legal.


I am personally upset that a law was crafted that actually PROTECTS people that lie to hide police misconduct.

Author:  johngagemn [ Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: This Is Enough To Make Your Brain Hurt …

akodo wrote:
my understanding is that the problem is the law only criminalizes certain false reports, not ALL false reports.

For instance, if you are a witness called upon in a police misconduct case making false statements to HIDE police misconduct is legal....but making false statements to bolster the misconduct case is illegal.

ALL false statements (for or against) should be treated the same. Once you bring in the nature of the statement rather than it's falsehood/truthfulness, you breach the first amendment.

A law that criminalizes false statements in an official report without worrying about the nature of that statement would be legal.


I am personally upset that a law was crafted that actually PROTECTS people that lie to hide police misconduct.


Upset, but not surprised...

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