PoliceWar on Drugs and Police Militarization
When the legislature creates victimless crime laws, and tells the police to enforce them, it creates a lot of problems. This is most apparent in the war on drugs. We need to end the war on drugs. The best first step is to legalize the sale and use of marijuana. We need Libertarian legislators who will act like grown-ups, instead of running scared whenever the issue comes up. Police militarization leads to unnecessary expense, violence, and death. We need legislation that will reduce the use of SWAT teams, and we should just say no to offers of federal military equipment for Texas police departments. End Qualified Immunity The Civil Rights Act of 1871 is a federal law that allows individuals to sue government officials who violate their rights. Over time, those civil rights have been eroded by a legal doctrine called “qualified immunity.” In the wake of the killing of George Floyd by police, it’s time for Texas to protect its citizens from abusive police. As long as qualified immunity protects police from federal lawsuits, the Texas legislature should pass a law that allows victims of police abuse to sue their abusers in state court. Asset Forfeiture “Civil asset forfeiture” is a process where police claim that property has been used in connection with criminal activity, and then seize that property. There is no requirement that the owner be convicted of a crime. In Texas, the police departments who seize the property can keep most or all of it for themselves, creating a huge incentive for corruption. Civil asset forfeiture is a tragic and needless violation of people’s rights. According to the Institute for Justice, a leading opponent of civil asset forfeiture, Texas is “one of the worst states in the country on this issue.” We need Libertarian legislators who will stand up to the law enforcement lobby and eliminate this terrible practice. |
Police
• End the war on drugs.
• Stop police militarization. • End qualified immunity. • End civil asset forfeiture. LibertarianBoosterPAC.org |
