Current Proposed Bill: A Bill to Nullify an Amendment to the Firearm Act - #2
What does this bill do?
This bill is essentially removing the fleeing felon rule in Firestone (for citizens and LEOs).
What is the fleeing felon rule?
The fleeing felon rule was established in the US Supreme Court in the case Tennessee v. Garner (1985) and it basically states when a law enforcement officer is pursuing a fleeing suspect, the officer may not use deadly force to prevent escape unless “the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others.”
Now yes, it is a US Supreme Court case, but our law enforcement, legal terms, and court system work based on the US system. Citizens, that can be debated if they need the fleeing felon rule (as they don’t in real life). However, this law also defended and justified law enforcement in the fleeing felon rule as it applied to CFL holders and officers with their “(and or department provided) firearm.”
(FS) Scenario #1: An officer arrives on the scene at CD, to witness a man beating 5+ with a crowbar, some to red health/death. This suspect is deemed a deadly threat and an officer may use his firearm to neutralize the suspect. The officer begins to shoot the suspect, but as he does the suspect immediately deselects the crowbar and runs away. The fleeing felon rule allows the officer to continue firing his weapon on the subject as they are still a deadly threat. Now, if this bill were to remove fleeing felon rule. We would immediately have to switch to our tasers and try to subdue the suspect. However, as we switch to our tasers, the suspect beings to pull out the crowbar again and beat the officer and more citizens. The suspect would be already dead and everyone safe, due to the fleeing felon rule.
(FS) Scenario #2: This one LEOs see every day, a suspect runs over a crowd of people in his car, as he is driving off and fleeing, LEOs can continue to shoot at him with the fleeing felon rule. However, if this bill passes, LEOs must stop shooting immediately as “he isn’t a threat driving away.”
(Both of these scenarios are factual, and witnessed firsthand by me and many others!)
As a former Senator and FSP Major, I do not want to see LEOs prosecuted by the courts and DPS investigating them if this bill were to pass.
Just know, we have this law for a reason. Don’t take it away, just improve it.
Cough Fedora (Screenshot - f15efe1d047173043864b6e851a80c79 - Gyazo)
I know this is just a game, but in Firestone we have always strived for realism. I believe the fleeing felon rule is essential to our state and LEOs should be backed under it.
Protect LEOs, so they can protect you!