By Fox23.com News Staff
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Senator Michael Brooks (D-Oklahoma City) has filed a bill that would require law enforcement officers to receive a court order before they could use facial coverings when conducting search or arrest warrants.
In a video posted to social media, Senator Brooks stated, “The thinking behind this was to be able to limit federal overreach. One of the things that I’m very, very concerned about is perhaps the lawlessness going on with federal law enforcement right now with immigration enforcement. I’m very concerned that lawlessness begets lawlessness on the other side.”
Senator Brooks said the bill intends to protect both civilians and law enforcement officers.
“We find ourselves in more and more complicated situations, so to be able to protect law enforcement from being conscripted and forced to be able to do things that maybe Oklahomans disagree with, I’ve decided to run a bill to require a court order any time law enforcement decides they need a mask. By all means, they can do it, but they’ve got to go to a judge and be able to get an order.”
Senator Brooks said if the new bill is made into law, it will help provide citizens with transparency.
“I believe that transparency, government transparency, law enforcement transparency, is an American value and unfortunately, I’m afraid that we’re getting away from that. To be able to protect those traditional American values that we don’t have unmarked vehicles with masked law enforcement terrorizing neighborhoods, that this is the way the state of Oklahoma can stand up and say it’s not happening here without a court order.”
The bill specifies that protective equipment, such as helmets or face shields, wouldn’t be included as facial coverings.
It’s important to note, the bill has only been filed at this point and will not be made into law unless approved during the upcoming legislative session.
To view the entirety of the bill, tilted Senate Bill 1234, click here.
You can view Senator Brooks’ entire social media message discussing the bill below:
