Vandals and rioters could be blocked from getting federal unemployment benefits under a new bill proposed by Republican Congressman Jim Banks.
Banks introduced the ‘Support Peaceful Protest’ that aims to stop looting, vandalism, and riots that have occurred across the nation in the past few months.
Those charged with vandalism, looting or rioting could be forced to pay for police costs and have their unemployment benefits stripped.
Banks told WIBC: “Due to enhanced federal benefits, taxpayers are giving wages to jobless rioters that are destroying our communities.
“We need to cut them off from their funding and make them feel the full financial consequences of their actions.”
He said that he introduced the bill after an elderly couple were harassed by demonstrators. The pair hung to each other as they left a nomination acceptance speech by President Trump at the White House.
Banks continued: “What we’re seeing happen in big cities and around the country are angry mobs showing up at federal properties, tearing down monuments on federal properties, especially in Washington, D.C. and it’s got to stop.
“What my bill would do is add new consequences to those individuals who are breaking the law.”
He added: “The people who are acting out in violence are very different from those who are showing up peacefully and it’s easy to see the difference.”
Banks also said that defacing federal property or causing harm to another person is not okay.
“We should take those tax dollars away and say that those who break the law in violent protest shouldn’t receive taxpayer dollars.”
The new bill will still need to pass the US House and Senate before it can become a law.
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Replaced!