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Pennsylvania State Senate
07/27/2024 10:43 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=S&cosponId=41489
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: September 27, 2023 09:38 AM
From: Senator Frank A. Farry and Sen. Mike Regan
To: All Senate members
Subject: Crime Package- Rioting Offense Enhancement
 
Over the past few years, crime has sadly changed in dramatic ways across the Commonwealth. Growth in technology, social media, economic turmoil, and certain lax prosecutors have led to many Pennsylvanians becoming victims of dangerous and violent crimes. We need to ensure our criminal laws are modernized to ensure that criminals are being punished appropriately and law enforcement has the tools they need to keep their communities safe. 
 
This legislation below is another piece to deal with the evolution of crime in Pennsylvania.
 
Peaceful assembly and protesting are one of the cornerstones of this country and one of our most cherished rights. This right has been abused by some to turn these peaceful expressions of the people into a violent riot that seeks to harm and destroy the rights of other citizens. We need the ability to punish and stop those who seek to turn peaceful protests into violent and deadly riots.
 
Many of these riots can often by escalated by out of state actors. These actors do not care about the harm these riots cause to the citizens of Pennsylvania. My legislation would increase the felony grading for out of state actors when causing or aiding in rioting. Also, those citizens of the Commonwealth who knowingly assist, coordinate, or recruit out of state actors to cause a riot would be punished as felons.
 
Police, law enforcement, and first responders face the difficult task of trying to contain and stop rioters from hurting innocent lives and property. Rioters assaulting or throwing projectiles at police, law enforcement, and first responders would also face felony charges from this bill.
 
Peaceful protest and assembly are vital to our Country and Commonwealth but those who seek to destroy our Country and Commonwealth through rioting need to be held accountable.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this legislation to protect the rights of peaceful assembly.