4 ms·

The ballot questions were what really motivated me to show up to the polls. I predicted that RtR would pass. I expected Ranked Choice voting to be close and pro

by abnry 6y ago

The ballot questions were what really motivated me to show up to the polls. I predicted that RtR would pass. I expected Ranked Choice voting to be close and probably not pass. Still, I am disappointed MA residents didn't choose to use ranked choice voting.

jcranmer 6y ago
In my jurisdiction, we had an additional question asking if the state representative should support legislation that treats police officers murdering unarmed and restrained citizens as first degree murder. The result in my town was an emphatic "yes".
- abnry 6y ago
  To me, that's a strange question. First degree murder means premeditated intent, and almost all police shootings aren't premeditated. Do you mean that police murdering someone was voted to be treated with the same consequences as first degree murder, but not necessarily classified as first degree murder? In my area we had a ballot question about committing to 100% renewable energy in 20 years.
  - jcranmer 6y ago
    The actual text of the question in its entirety: "Shall the representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that penalizes officers on duty for the murder of unarmed and restrained citizens similarly to the penalty of first-degree murder?"
  - tpxl 6y ago
    >unarmed and _restrained_ citizens You probably missed the restrained part. Shooting a restrained person is nothing but 1st degree murder.
    - sokoloff 6y ago
      Targeting and shooting a restrained person? Yes. Crossfire or negligent discharge? Probably not.
      - tpxl 6y ago
        I agree. I was referring to the recent murder that caused the protests, which did not use a weapon, but a restrained person did die.
  - bluGill 6y ago
    I give police power to do things in an emergency that are required. I then put them in a position where they are the most likely person to be there (respond) when such an emergency happens. In return I expect them to be highly trained and not kill people just because they can.

by abnry 6y ago

jcranmer 6y ago

In my jurisdiction, we had an additional question asking if the state representative should support legislation that treats police officers murdering unarmed and restrained citizens as first degree murder. The result in my town was an emphatic "yes".

abnry 6y ago
To me, that's a strange question. First degree murder means premeditated intent, and almost all police shootings aren't premeditated. Do you mean that police murdering someone was voted to be treated with the same consequences as first degree murder, but not necessarily classified as first degree murder? In my area we had a ballot question about committing to 100% renewable energy in 20 years.
- jcranmer 6y ago
  The actual text of the question in its entirety: "Shall the representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation that penalizes officers on duty for the murder of unarmed and restrained citizens similarly to the penalty of first-degree murder?"
- tpxl 6y ago
  >unarmed and _restrained_ citizens You probably missed the restrained part. Shooting a restrained person is nothing but 1st degree murder.
  - sokoloff 6y ago
    Targeting and shooting a restrained person? Yes. Crossfire or negligent discharge? Probably not.
    - tpxl 6y ago
      I agree. I was referring to the recent murder that caused the protests, which did not use a weapon, but a restrained person did die.
- bluGill 6y ago
  I give police power to do things in an emergency that are required. I then put them in a position where they are the most likely person to be there (respond) when such an emergency happens. In return I expect them to be highly trained and not kill people just because they can.