Denver Police trying to keep the man down

[Five-0]

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9882885

Denver police propose law to take pipes, chains out of protesters' hands

By Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 07/15/2008 12:31:18 AM MDT





A draft law proposed by the Denver Police Department would ban the possession by protesters of materials such as weighted pipes and chains and items that can make urine and feces bombs.
Police say that such materials are potentially dangerous. The City Council Safety Committee will review the proposal July 23.
An earlier version also would have made it unlawful to possess bulletproof vests and gas masks.
Safety Manager Al LaCabe, who oversees the police department, said the proposed ordinance requires authorities, before they make an arrest, to find an intent to use the material to obstruct the public's right to move freely.
"We certainly don't want to interfere with anyone's First Amendment rights and the right to be heard," LaCabe said. "But it has to be done in such a way that it does not obstruct or endanger the general public or the police department."
Denver Councilman Doug Linkhart, who chairs the safety committee, objected to the original proposal that banned gas masks and bulletproof vests. He said many of his concerns have been eased.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said in a statement that he supported the proposal: "Our manager of safety, police chief and police officers have requested this ordinance to help them protect public safety." The proposed ordinance would ban material, such as weighted pipe and chains, to fashion what are known as "sleeping dragons." Protesters have chained themselves to such devices at other protests to make it difficult for police to arrest and remove them.

Be sure to read the comments.

[HudsonHawk]

I LOLed at the comments.

[Code6]

Heck with the protestors, if they want to chain themselves to a the freaking ground let em. When they end up blocking traffic, or becoming violent. Well, a few sting ball grenades and a whole lot of OC from a protecto jet, will get em squirming. If Denver wants to deal with the urine and feces bombs they are going to have to ban squirt guns and ziploc bags too.