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Quicker than anyone could see it happening, Judiciary Committee Chair, Chris Kannady pushed through a freshman's bill to force every Oklahoman to carry legal papers with them at all times. Our rights to remain silent and be left alone would be but a memory, when this law is enacted.
All law enforcement will be able to hold citizens in detention on a suspicion that they might otherwise be committing an unlawful act, or aiding someone else in some contrived narrative of unlawfulness. There is no set limit on that detention listed in the bill. It is authored by Rep. David Smith, of the McAlester area. Smith defeated Democrat Donnie Conditt to gain the seat as perhaps the first Republican in the legislature from that House district? The ACLU has already signaled their intent to defend Oklahomans and have the law struck down on multiple constitutional ground. 2018 Libertarian Gubernatorial Candidate, Chris Powell, is also sounding an alarm for civil liberties and taking notes on who is going to stand for constitutional freedoms. In an earlier post, Sooner Politics detailed the ominous consequences for Oklahomans if this becomes law. It's more than a 'stop & frisk' law (which was rules unconstitutional in how New York City police implemented it. In this bill, every person would be forced to answer several questions by police in the nature of determining their legal identity, address, age, and other personal details. Failure to do so would, in itself, be grounds for arrest, citation or some other police action. The police would also be able to detain (in jail) anyone suspected of possibly planning an illegal activity, or suspected of knowing something incriminating about an illegal action by someone. |
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Chairman Kannady moved quickly on this bill. He's known for controlling his committee with intensity. His bill could go to the full house any day, to get it's first floor vote.
The impact of this police state action could lead to many law-abiding Oklahomans losing employment because of police detainment without charges. Many young people could fail academically, as well. It could result in children separated from parents even when no crime had even occurred. No Oklahoman would be able to sue for family damages resulting from arbitrary police actions enacted by this bill. The Supporters
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Kannady
Frix
O'Donnell
Osburn
Tadlock
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Baker
Manger
Olsen
Sterling
Townley
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The bill had no Democrat support. In fact, Dustin Roberts and Judd Strom were two Republicans who refused to support the bill. Had just two more Republicans in this judiciary committee showed a bit more reservation and withheld support, the vote would have failed. The Republicans who like this bill include; Baker, Frix, Kannady, Manger, O'Donnell, Olsen, Osburn, Sterling, Tadlock, & Townley
Here's the vote tally record in the House Judiciary Committee.
Here's the bill, as written and passed out of committee.
