The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill this week that would grant legal immunity for motorists who strike violent rioters that block roads and assault vehicles, behavior often associated with thuggish Black Lives Matter mobs. The bill also raises the punishment for individuals involved in looting and rioting.
House Bill 1674 was approved by the overwhelming margin of 79-18 on Wednesday, according to Courthouse News.
The bill states, “A motor vehicle operator who unintentionally causes injury or death to an individual shall not be criminally or civilly liable for the injury or death” if the “injury or death of the individual occurred while the motor vehicle operator was fleeing from a riot . . . under a reasonable belief that fleeing was necessary to protect the motor vehicle operator from serious injury or death.”
Motorist would also not he held liable if they “exercised due care at the time of the death or injury.”
Punishments for rioters and looters are also increased in the legislation.
“If any murder, maiming, robbery, rape or arson was committed in the course of such a riot, such person is punishable in the same manner as a principal in such crime,” HB 1674 states. “Such person shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment.”
The bill has already generated intense outrage and mass ululation from left-wing activists, who believe the ability to obstruct traffic and assault passerby is crucial to their political expression.
A bill empowering Florida residents to shoot violent looters was drafted in November 2020:
Ron DeSantis, the Republican Governor of Florida, is moving forward with legislation that will empower citizens to defend themselves and defend businesses with deadly force against roving mobs who commit mass looting and rioting, as is the style of violent left-wing political groups like Black Lives Matter and Antifa.
A key component of DeSantis’ “anti-mob” legislation includes an expansion to the state’s famous “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows citizens to use deadly force if they fear for their lives.
The expansion would empower citizens to use force against rioters who engage in criminal mischief that results in the “interruption or impairment” of a business.
Looting, which the draft defines as theft burglary within 500 feet of a “violent or disorderly assembly,” would also become recognized as criminal behavior that could be legally repelled with a use of force.
Riots and looting associated with Black Lives Matter and Antifa are expected to resume in intensity during the George Floyd murder trial.