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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 11, 2022 04:22 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Summer Lee |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Law Enforcement Deadly Force |
| On June 19, 2018, 17-year-old Antwon Rose II was shot in the back and killed by East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld. Antwon was unarmed, afraid, and fleeing. Despite the clear facts of the case, the officer was acquitted of the homicide charge, thereby exposing a major flaw in the Commonwealth’s police use of force law. Article I, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution protects the citizen’s right to bear arms in their defense. Practically applied, Title 18 empowers police to kill a fleeing citizen who possesses a deadly weapon – regardless of whether that person threatens life or indicates a desire to inflict a serious bodily injury. Mere fear of a constitutionally protected exercise has resulted in countless police murders of civilians who were unarmed. My legislation will eliminate effectuating an arrest as justification for the use of deadly force. Instead, this proposal mandates that lethal force only be used to prevent serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse compelled by force or threat, or an imminent threat to life. Police work is difficult. The General Assembly has made it more difficult and our communities less safe by failing to establish clear use-of-force boundaries understood by citizens and law enforcement alike. Enacting morally sound legislation to emphasize life preservation and threat de-escalation will elevate the professional conduct of officers, decrease the amount of injury and loss of life, and provide a mechanism for justice in the event of unnecessary use of force. Please join me in supporting this vital legislation as we improve professional standards while improving the safety of our communities, and upholding equity and justice for all. |
Introduced as HB2556