pigs and doughnut eaters

[urban.one]

What about telling them that my tax dollars pay their salary?

Ban insults to police, Montreal council urged

'Doughnut eater' slur could prove costly under proposed ban

Jan 27, 2009 04:30 AM

Andy Blatchford
THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL–Montreal police have asked the city to make it illegal for citizens to hurl insults such as "pig" and "doughnut eater" at officers.

Mayor Gérald Tremblay said yesterday his public security committee is mulling the request by Montreal's police brotherhood to slap offenders with fines.

The union wants Tremblay to make it illegal for the public to fire insults at police, regardless of whether they are profanity-laced.

"It's something that will be addressed – we know that other cities have passed some bylaws considering that subject," said Tremblay, who stressed that the city has not made any concrete decisions about banning indignities directed at police.

Chief-Insp. Paul Chablo, communications director for Montreal's police force, said lawyers from the department and the city are examining the feasibility of such a rule.

"The key factor is ensuring that it becomes a useful tool for the officers involved, but at the same time it doesn't infringe on anybody's rights," he said.

Chablo said several municipalities across Quebec – including Quebec City – have some variation of a law that prohibits citizens from spewing slurs at police officers.

The 28-year veteran of the force said the law could keep police interventions involving violent citizens from getting out of hand.

But while city council digests the demand to prevent civilians from mouthing off at cops, some experts question whether punishing Montrealers for launching jeers infringes on one's right to expression.

"There are an awful lot of words that are borderline and it's highly subjective – it's too vague," said Ronald Sklar, a McGill University law professor.

Sklar said words can be punishable, but they must threaten bodily harm or incite disorder.

Montreal was also expected to pass a motion last night to meet another police request.

The city is considering a bylaw amendment that would prohibit protesters from covering their faces during demonstrations, except in certain situations.

[Jeremiah]

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[sputnik]

Do we really need laws to keep society at large from acting like uneducated redneck dirtbags?

What a sad society we live in.

[Shunsui]

Originally posted by urban.one
Sklar said words can be punishable, but they must threaten bodily harm or incite disorder.

[Eleanor]

How about instead of banning the insults, we let the cops smack the guy hurling the insult with a baton?

I'd vote for that.

Originally posted by sputnik
What a sad society we live in.

You've been saying that a lot lately

[turbotrip]

oink oink mofuggas

[Crymson]

How 'bout trying to create a culture of law enforcement where the law abiding public in general doesn't loathe and fear police as tax-collectors rather then applaud them as selfless protectors as they should.

[HyperZell]

I think I heard the Waaahmbulance coming...

[semograd]

Lets make it illegal to insult the police, question them, look them in the eye...


How about we just fire all the cops and hire the north Korean army in its place.

[TKRIS]

Originally posted by Crymson
How 'bout trying to create a culture of law enforcement where the law abiding public in general doesn't loathe and fear police as tax-collectors rather then applaud them as selfless protectors as they should.

Because that requires real effort.
We, as a society, are only interested in hollow gestures that give us the warm and fuzzies by limiting the right of others.

Actually changing shit means we have to try, and that sounds like it might take more than just pointing at someone and saying "He's the problem. Make whatever he's doing illegal."