In Kentucky, politicians are preparing to vote on a law that would authorize the use of force against unhoused people who are found to be camping on private property.

In Kentucky, politicians are preparing to vote on a law that would authorize the use of force against unhoused people who are found to be camping on private property.

Republican politicians in Kentucky are rallying behind a new bill that would authorize the use of force—and potentially deadly force—against unhoused people who are found to be camping on private property. The bill would also criminalize unsanctioned homeless encampments and restrict cities and towns from preempting state laws.

The bill, known as the “Safer Kentucky Act,” or HB5, would target homelessness, drug possession and mental illness by drastically increasing criminal penalties for a range of offenses. Introduced last week by Republican state representative Jared Bauman, it already has 52 sponsors in Kentucky’s House of Representatives. A vote is scheduled for this week.

Advocates are most alarmed by one aspect of the “Safer Kentucky Act” in particular: an anti-homeless provision that would authorize violence by property owners on people camping on their property. The bill says the use of force is “justifiable” if a defendant believes that criminal trespass, robbery or “unlawful camping” is occurring on their property.

    • AllonzeeLV@lemmy.world
      56·
      10 months ago

      It’s a shame American Evangelicals can’t read, or they’d realize they’ve been worshipping a filthy commie the whole time.

      • agitatedpotato@lemmy.world
        5·
        10 months ago

        Jesus beating up merchants who set up shop outside a temple is canon. We have evidence Jesus has the will and capacity for violence and what he would do in an American state or federal legislative building would probably freak a lot of people out.

        • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
          6·
          10 months ago

          He didn’t just flip tables and whip the moneychangers. He was so full of righteous fury that he left, and took hours to braid his own whip, came back, and then started flipping tables and whipping moneychangers.

          In my head I like to envision him sitting on a rock, braiding the whip, and muttering to himself. Shit like:

          “Mother fuckers, I swear to Dad, you don’t even know what Monopoly is yet, and I’m gonna show you the proper ending to the Milton Bradley version of that game.”

          While the Apostles are just huddled around bewildered and scared since they have no clue what’s about to happen, since they’d NEVER seen him even irritated before.