The Volokh Conspiracy

Why is it considered so much more risible to expect killers to voluntarily stop killing than it is to expect them to voluntarily turn in their guns?

I mean ... it is ... but ... is it just that we're more used to pols calling for the one than for the other that the one is expected and the other is not?

1L Torts hypo:

Bob, who has a gun at his hip, says to Alice, "I would shoot you if it were not 40 hour moratorium on homicide time." Does Alice have a claim for assault?

Discuss.

Does anyone know if Jack Bauer will be abiding by the resolution or is there an exception for CTU employees?

Jack only kills people one day a year. The odds that the moratorium will happen on that day are pretty low.

You mean all the hundreds and thousands of murders in LA over recent years could have been prevented if the city council just had gotten their act together and declared a moratorium on homicide earlier?!?

Those BASTARDS!

And why stop at 40 hours? Why make it a non-binding resolution? If they were actually serious about this issue maybe they could go all the way and make homicide illegal.

Oh wait...

Los Angeles City Council members ... plan to vote today on a 40-hour moratorium on homicide, a symbolic gesture that comes as the city has seen an uptick in killings in recent months.

I would vote for an April Fool's Day joke, but for the fact that:
1. The 40 hours is longer than one day, and, therefore, the moratorium outlasts April Fool's; and
2. It's L.A. Do we really expect anything different?

I think ras wins the thread.

They should make it binding. Have they no compassion?

I like to calm myself by remembering this: if these people were not spending their time on this issue, they might be trying to do something substantive.

It also works for Congress.

I'm just glad it's a non-binding resolution, can you imagine what the would be like if killing people were illegal? Oh wait a minute... .

Were all actions of all legislative bodies Non-Binding we could rest knowing our persons and wallets are secure awhile from legislative thuggery.

My untrained legal mind is aware of no pressing societal problems which could not be solved by absence of legislative corrective action and reform.

If legislators must meet to justify their salary and perks, then I propose they receive a ten-fold increase in their current pay contingent on salary deductions of 30% net for authoring any new law, 20% net for co-sponsoring any new law, and 10% net on voting Yea each new law. Voting No or Present on any new law would result in no deduction.

Speaking outside the legislative assembly on public policy matters would result in automatic forfeiture of all salaries and benefits for a time equal to the term of office, and require involuntary continuation of their office if it be their first offense. Recommended punishments for additional offenses are under study by a select committee and will be published when determined by the committee.

Legislators gone fishing, golfing, visiting mistresses, and similar harmless activities for an entire legislative session are granted an exemption equal to the length of the session from paying income taxes. Those doing so for their entire term of office are granted income tax exemption for double the number of years the legislator is elected to serve.

My proposal may have minor flaws VC readers will be able to identify and correct.

Regards to all.

How does the moratorium work, exactly?

Do I have to SKIP killing the people I WAS going to kill during that 40 hour period?

Because if I have to catch up, it WILL require overtime!

I am so glad that my circus umm I mean city counsel has been so entertaining. This is supposedly the entertainment capital of the world. Nice to see that the city counsel has lived up to that reputation.