North Egypt News

Franklin County activist Karen Tucker still fails to see the logic in House Bill 163.

“Just like anyone that believes in law and order, I think this bill is ridiculous,” Tucker told the North Egypt News. “I’m all for police reform, but this is just more of the defund the police talk that will only result in more crime.”

Members of the General Assembly moved during the ongoing lame-duck session to pass legislation that paves the way for a complete overhaul of the state’s criminal justice system, including doing away with cash bails and requiring that every officer across the state be equipped with a body camera.

The measure now awaits the signature of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“I don’t think it should become law as it’s written,” Tucker added. “If anything we need more police, not less, and this legislation will only make it tougher to be a police officer.”

Backed by the Legislative Black Caucus, the bill seeks to do away with chokeholds and require officers to go through more extensive training.

Tucker argues there’s a reason every law enforcement group in the state opposes the bill, even though a provision removing protections for police officers in lawsuits where civil rights violations are alleged was ultimately removed.

“I think this bill still handcuffs law enforcement and will only make matters worse for all of us,” she said. “It ties their hands and leaves them looking over their shoulders just trying to do the job. It will only open the door for letting crime go, and if you’re not going to enforce the law you may as well take it off the books.”

Finally, Tucker argues democrats couldn’t be pushing the bill at a worse time.

“They’re already saying they don’t want you to have guns and now they want to take away the police,” she said. “What are people to do when you strip police of their powers and strip people of their Second Amendment rights at the same time?”