NFL endorses criminal-justice reform bill in the midst of anthem debate

[Eleazar]

NFL endorses criminal-justice reform bill in the midst of anthem debate

By Karoun Demirjian and Beth Reinhard
The Washington Post
October 16



The National Football League, still in political crosshairs over whether players should take a knee during the national anthem, is throwing its weight behind another cause in Washington’s debate over racial inequality: criminal justice reform.

The NFL’s spokesman said on Monday that the league has decided to endorse a bipartisan bill to reduce mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenders, eliminate “three-strike” provisions that require life sentences and give judges more latitude to reduce sentences for certain low-level crimes.

“We felt that this was an issue over the last months, as we have continued to work with our players on issues of equality and on issues of criminal justice reform, that was surfaced for us, and we thought it was appropriate to lend our support to it,” NFL spokesman Joe Lockhart said Monday during a conference call with reporters.

The owners appear to be seeking middle ground between football players and their critics during a heated national debate over the growing phenomenon of players kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality. It is not clear what effect the NFL’s effort will have on that debate — or on President Trump, who has fueled much of the vitriol against kneeling players through his personal and official Twitter accounts.

...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/power...=.1f86c6a1bf32

So, hoping to curry favor with the players who are kneeling, the NFL is endorsing a piece of soft-on-crime legislation. The optics of that are amusing.

Goodell's winking and nodding at the kneeling players will probably just encourage them to take it further, not make them respect the country again. The NFL will not be better off for bowing to them. Look at Mizzou.

The NFL doesn't seem to understand what's happening here at all. Fans do not want the NFL to be political. Fans are not going to be amused by Roger Goodell wading into politics. ESPN has already made this mistake by becoming another politicized media outlet... it's fascinating that Goodell thinks the way to resolve the fan ire over this conflict is to make the NFL more political.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by bigjosh006

yeah, I have noticed that he interjects thoughts that have nothing to do with your original point.

It's his thing. Spin, twist, and deflect.
I'm surprised he hasn't thrown in a couple "But Obama's" already.
My reaction to him is....well, to quote one of the great intellectuals of our time

"Homey don't play that shit"

[Easy 6]

The way I understood it, the purpose of this meeting was to try and find some sort of compromise, that while not completely satisfying everyone, would at least try to address some of everyones concerns

Doesnt look like that happened at all

Not only will players be allowed to kneel, but now the NFL is going to become an official political lobbying organization for them... and everyone on the other side of this can pound sand

[ThaVirus]

Originally Posted by vailpass

By all means, proceed.

Seems his, and possibly your, view of drug dealers is basically the cartel and crack, heroin and meth dealers shooting up corners for territory. But probably the vast majority of them aren't dealing hard, life-ruining drugs or out there killing people.

People like to alter their state of mind. These dealers aren't putting a gun to people's heads and making them buy. Why is the dude who's selling a little weed a shitty person?

And on topic, haven't you admitted to popping pills while you drink?

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Seems his, and possibly your, view of drug dealers is basically the cartel and crack, heroin and meth dealers shooting up corners for territory. But probably the vast majority of them aren't dealing hard, life-ruining drugs or out there killing people.

People like to alter their state of mind. These dealers aren't putting a gun to people's heads and making them buy. Why is the dude who's selling a little weed a shitty person?

And on topic, haven't you admitted to popping pills while you drink?

Dude selling a few grams of smoke to friends and their friends isn't included in my definition of drug dealer.

I've admitted to nothing, that would imply I did something wrong. I've certainly enjoyed half a perc, gained by legal prescription, with a few cocktails in the water with a lady friend a time or three.

[bigjosh]

Originally Posted by Cochise

I'm going to guess that the street gangs and drug dealers that currently have devoted their lives to running this particular criminal enterprise would not all of a sudden enroll in college if it were gone. They'd simply take to other types of crime.

They will probably go into government like the Kennedy's did when they didn't have to bootleg anymore.

We have seen this show before. What happened to all of the bootleggers when prohibition ended?

[bigjosh]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Dude selling a few grams of smoke to friends and their friends isn't included in my definition of drug dealer.

I've admitted to nothing, that would imply I did something wrong. I've certainly enjoyed half a perc, gained by legal prescription, with a few cocktails in the water with a lady friend a time or three.

well do you know you have broken the law by misusing perscription medication?

Perhaps you should be jailed for a short stay as a felon.

Do it two more times and you stay in for life.

YOU WORTHLESS CRIMINAL SCUM PIECE OF SHIT!!!

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by bigjosh006

well do you know you have broken the law by misusing perscription medication?

Perhaps you should be jailed for a short stay as a felon.

Do it two more times and you stay in for life.

YOU WORTHLESS CRIMINAL SCUM PIECE OF SHIT!!!

That doesn't apply to me.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Dude selling a few grams of smoke to friends and their friends isn't included in my definition of drug dealer.

I've admitted to nothing, that would imply I did something wrong. I've certainly enjoyed half a perc, gained by legal prescription, with a few cocktails in the water with a lady friend a time or three.

It's not your definition of drug dealer that's at issue. It's the law's definition that causes problems. Which absolutely includes the mostly innocent selling of a few grams of smoke.

[bigjosh]

Originally Posted by vailpass

That doesn't apply to me.

i was just being vexatious to prove a point that sometimes laws are silly, have no victim, and can be broken without intent. I in no way actually meant you were a criminal.

there are laws in some states that address misuse of prescription medications as an offense.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by bigjosh006

i was just being vexatious to prove a point that sometimes laws are silly, have no victim, and can be broken without intent. I in no way actually meant you were a criminal.

there are laws in some states that address misuse of prescription medications as an offense.

I knew where you were coming from I was just trying to get you to say vexatious.

[stumppy]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Dude selling a few grams of smoke to friends and their friends isn't included in my definition of drug dealer.

I've admitted to nothing, that would imply I did something wrong. I've certainly enjoyed half a perc, gained by legal prescription, with a few cocktails in the water with a lady friend a time or three.

I agree with you. IMO that's how it should be looked at in the eyes of the law. And the thing is you, if arrested for that, would more than likely be able to lawyer up, at worst plea it out to a misdemeanor and walk away from it all with nothing lost but some legal fees.
The way our legal system is set up a person without means would end up paying dearly for the same 'crime'. This system is set up to profit from those without the ability to get the same treatment. And it keeps them in the system for years and years all the while pointing to them as evidence that it's working.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by stumppy

I agree with you. IMO that's how it should be looked at in the eyes of the law. And the thing is you, if arrested for that, would more than likely be able to lawyer up, at worst plea it out to a misdemeanor and walk away from it all with nothing lost but some legal fees.
The way our legal system is set up a person without means would end up paying dearly for the same 'crime'. This system is set up to profit from those without the ability to get the same treatment. And it keeps them in the system for years and years all the while pointing to them as evidence that it's working.

I'd settle it with the prosecutor over drinks.
But I see your point.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by stumppy

I agree with you. IMO that's how it should be looked at in the eyes of the law. And the thing is you, if arrested for that, would more than likely be able to lawyer up, at worst plea it out to a misdemeanor and walk away from it all with nothing lost but some legal fees.
The way our legal system is set up a person without means would end up paying dearly for the same 'crime'. This system is set up to profit from those without the ability to get the same treatment. And it keeps them in the system for years and years all the while pointing to them as evidence that it's working.

Bingo. Affluent folks can receive drastically different treatment/consequences if they only spend enough money. The more money you have, the less likely you are to be punished. In its simplest terms, that's a horrible setup just begging for corruption.

[bigjosh]

Originally Posted by vailpass

I knew where you were coming from I was just trying to get you to say vexatious.

you got me!

[ARROW2]

Originally Posted by Cochise

Posturing for the labor agreement or not, it's beyond foolish. Encouraging the players who are kneeling will only cause more disrespect, and the league itself becoming a political body will turn even more people off.

Wade into "social justice" and see what happens, Rog

they are not disrespecting a damn thing and have said as much. You stop watching football because of some shit you don't even see? I have the ticket and never see the anthem, the game just comes on. Silly ass shit to not watch because somebody doesn't stand for the anthem. I am watching my damn football. Sports has always been an escape for me. It's not like players are making political speeches before games. Every time this dies down, the divider in chief pipes up when he should be focusing on his own job.