WA lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers
WA lawmakers advance bill making it a felony to threaten election workers
The Washington state Senate has voted overwhelmingly to make harassing election workers a felony.
The Washington state Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to make harassing election workers a felony, three months after four county election offices received envelopes containing suspicious powder — including three testing positive for fentanyl — and had to be evacuated.
But, how else are conservatives supposed to bully and intimidate people at voting locations? Just another extreme-left fascist law to oppress Republicans! Sad!
Looks like Washington has gone woke. ^/s
Why does the US not have severe penalties for threatening anyone? Or do they?
That might start infringing on everyone's right to shove a gun in each other's face.
We do, but we also love to elevate the punishment for crimes that annoy whatever group at the moment. A felony is more severe than a misdemeanor, and carries lifelong consequences.
Iirc most laws do cover threats but aren't enforceable due in large part of the first amendment. So threats are only enforced when there is real, imminent danger to the victim.
Even in cases of threatening the president, you get a visit from the Secret Service and charges are rare.
I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice.
... it wasn't already? 🥲