Bill would ban tear gas on crowds

Tear gas cannisters were flying through downtown Lansing the night a protest over the death of George Floyd turned violent.

NIGHT A PROTEST OVER THE DEATHOF GEORGE FLOYD TURNED VIOLENT.A STATE REPRESENTATIVE WANTS TOMAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HAPPENAGAIN... BY BANNING THE USE OFTEAR GAS AGAINST CROWDS.FOX 47'S KYLIE KHAN TELLS US WHYSHE SAYS... IT'S MORE DANGEROUSNOW THANEVER.IT'S BEING CALLED THE TEAR GASPROHIBITION ACT AND IT RESTRICTSPOLICE FROM USING CHEMICALIRRITANTSLIKE TEAR GAS TO CONTROLCROWDS... SOMETHING WE SAW INDOWNTOWN LANSING JUST A MONTHAGO.DEMOCRTATIC REPRESENTATIVE KARAHOPE OF HOLT INTRODUCED THE BILLAFTER SEEING IMAGES OFPROTESTERS COVERED IN THICKCLOUDS OF SMOKE.REP JULIE BRIXIE OF LANSINGSIGNED ON TO THE IDEA.I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS A REALLYIMPORTANT FIRST STEP TO HELP USDEMILITARIZE OUR POLICEDEPARTMENTS.SUPPORTERS BELIEVE THE SUBSTANCECAN MAKE COVID-19 SYMPTOMSWORSE.TEAR GAS IRRITATES THE EYES ANDTHE LUNGS AND THE THROAT AND SOPEOPLE ARE RUBBING THEIR FACESAND COUGHING AND THAT IS REALLYPROBLEMATIC AND CONTRIBUTES TOTHE SPREAD OF COVID-19.THE C-D-C SAYS RIOT CONTROLAGENTS LIKE TEAR GAS CAN CAUSECHEST TIGHTNESS AND SHORNTESSOF BREATH.ONE STUDY SHOWS A SPIKE INRESPIRATORY ILLNESSES INMILITARY RECRUITS WHO WEREEXPOSED TO TEAR GAS.THIS IS A LAST RESORT.

NO AGENCYREALLY WANTS TO USE CHEMICALAGENTS UNLESS THERE'S ASITUATION WITH LIFE SAFETY ANDCONCERN.LANSING POLICE CHIEF DARYL GREENDEFENDED HIS DEPARTMENT'S USE OFTEAR GAS AT A PROTEST INMAY.WE HAD TO MAKE A CRITICALDECISION TO USE CHEMICALMUNITIONS AT THAT PARTICULARTIME BECAUSE WE HAD MULTIPLEFIRES AND WE HAD ACTUALINTELLIGENCE THAT SAID SOMEONEOR SOME PEOPLEARE TRYING TO START FIRES DOWNIN THE DOWNTOWN.WHILE THE CHEMICAL IS LEGAL ISALL 50 STATES, SEVERAL OTHERCITIES INCLUDING SEATTLE,PITTSBURGH AND WASHINGTON D-CAND THAT WAS KYLIE KHANREPORTING FOR US THERE.RIGHT NOW... THE BILL IS IN THEJUDICIARY COMMITTEE.WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IF IT COMESUP FOR A VOT