Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 24, 2023 12:57 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Christopher M. Rabb |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Prohibiting Law Enforcement from Using Crowd Control Agents |
| While protests against the killing of George Floyd raged around the country, law enforcement was seen repeatedly deploying dangerous chemical weapons, including pepper spray and tear gas, to quell crowds. In Ohio, a 22-year-old protester was gassed and pepper sprayed, passing away two days later, while police used the same chemical riot control agents to break up demonstrations throughout the country. Described as “poison” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and banned in warfare, the unjust overuse of chemical agents against protestors cannot continue. This legislation (formerly HB 2129) aims to end this vicious practice by prohibiting the use of chemical weapons and rubber bullets by state and local law enforcement. Chemical weapons would include all types of tear gas, pepper spray, pepper balls, mace, and any other crowd control agents composed of chemical compounds intended to cause some form of harm to a person. These internationally-recognized weapons of war have absolutely no place being used against American citizens peacefully protesting injustice and exercising their constitutionally-protected rights. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation to protect and empower all Pennsylvanians. |
Introduced as HB1107