Senate File 87

Background: Senate File 87 would make it a felony if while obstructing law enforcement, bodily harm is suffered by a law enforcement officer.

Our Stance: The ACLU of Wyoming opposes Senate File 87.

We don't believe any law enforcement officers should be harmed while in the line of duty, but civilians also have rights. This bill attempts to impose felony-level criminal penalties for unintentional conduct that may arise while a person is engaging in constitutionally protected speech that some may find distasteful. Such government retribution will chill protected speech in violation of the First Amendment and unnecessarily enshrine harsh, unnecessary criminal consequences in state law.