>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT WAS A BUSY DAY IN THE LEGISLATURE, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, A QUICK UPDATE ON COVID-19 WITH SOME GOOD NEWS FOR THE STATE.

THE NUMBER OF ALABAMIANS HOSPITALIZED WITH THE VIRUS STANDS AT 1,027, WHICH IS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE OMICRON PEAK A MONTH AGO.

THE DECLINE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS IS SIGNIFICANT AS THAT METRIC SHOWS HOW MANY ARE SEVERELY ILL. AT LEAST 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE CONTRACTED THE VIRUS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND JUST SHY OF 18,000 DEATHS HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO COVID-19, INCLUDING 1,242 THIS YEAR.

NOW, TO THE SESSION.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 13TH LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

THERE ARE TWO MORE LEGISLATIVE DAYS PLANNED THIS WEEK MEANING WE'LL BE AT THE HALFWAY POINT BY THIS TIME ON THURSDAY.

THE SENATE TOOK UP BILLS THAT WOULD GIVE RETIRED TEACHERS AND RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES A ONE-TIME LONGEVITY BONUS.

SENATE BILL 111 FROM SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON APPLIES TO RETIRED STATE EMPLOYEES WHILE SENATE BILL 30 FROM SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON APPLIES TO RETIRED TEACHERS.

BOTH BILLS WOULD CALCULATE THE BONUS AT TWO DOLLARS PER MONTH OF EACH YEAR OF SERVICE.

FOR SOMEONE WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE, THE BONUS WOULD AMOUNT TO $240 DOLLARS.

FOR 30 YEARS, IT'S $360 DOLLARS.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING TO THIS POINT WITH US, TO BE ABLE TO MIRROR THE TWO BILLS SO EDUCATION AND STATE RETIREES ARE SOMEWHERE ON THE SAME PATH.

I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS.

>> LOOK, WE'VE HAD OUR DISAGREEMENTS.

THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE, WHILE CORDIAL, WERE NOT NECESSARILY FRIENDLY.

[LAUGHTER] >> THERE WAS GIVE AND TAKE.

THERE WERE ISSUES THAT CONTINUED ON.

BUT WE FINALLY HAMMERED OUT THE SOLUTION THAT WAS ACCEPTABLE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE.

>> BOTH BILLS PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW GO TO THE HOUSE.

THE SENATE ALSO DEBATED AND PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD DELAY BY TWO YEARS THE HOLD-BACK PROVISION OF THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT.

SENATE BILL 200 FROM SENATOR ROGER SMITHERMAN WOULD DELAY THE LAW'S REQUIREMENT THAT THIRD GRADERS HAVE BASIC PROFICIENCY IN READING IN ORDER TO BE PROMOTED TO THE FOURTH GRADE.

GOVENOR KAY IVEY HAD CALLED FOR A ONE YEAR DELAY BUT SMITHERMAN'S BILL CALLS FOR TWO.

>> SO, ABOUT TWO OR THREE, MAYBE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT MAY FEED IN THAT SYSTEM, ONE OF THOSE PRINCIPALS, WHEN I WAS WALKING ACROSS THE FLOOR AT JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY, ACROSS THE FLOOR, SHE WAS MAKING A BEE LINE TO ME, BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE LOCKER ROOM.

AND RIGHT THERE IN THE CORNER OF THE FLOOR, IN FRONT OF EVERYBODY IN THE GYM, THIS LADY HUGGED ME!

SHE SAID, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO TO HELP ME GET IN A POSITION TO TRAIN MY KIDS, HELP THEM TO WHERE THEY WON'T HAVE TO BE RETAINED.

>> THAT BILL PASSED 20-12 AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE TOOK UP A CALENDAR FULL OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS OF THE SESSION.

BILLS DEALING WITH RIOTS, HANDGUN PERMITS, AND TRANSGENDER STUDENTS WERE ALL ON THE AGENDA, WHICH LED TO FIERCE DEBATE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

HOUSE BILL 272 FROM REPRESENTATIVE SHANE STRINGER WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT GUN OWNERS OBTAIN A PERMIT TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN.

THIS WAS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR HOUSE REPUBLICANS TOUTING IT AS A PRO SECOND AMENDMENT MEASURE, BUT DEMOCRATS VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED IT SAYING IT MAKES LAW ENFORCEMENT LESS SAFE.

>> 21 OF THESE STATES HAVE THIS CURRENTLY, NONE OF THE 21 HAD ANY MEETINGS OR HEARINGS TO REPEAL THE LAW.

I HAVE SPOKEN TO SHERIFFS IN EVERY STATE THAT HAS THE LAW, AND EVERY ONE OF THEM TOLD ME THERE'S NO MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE BILL.

AND THE WORST THING, COMING UP WITH PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST SOMEONE AND NO PERMIT TO ADAPT IN THOSE STATES.

>> FOR YOU TO SAY THAT YOU TALKED AND GOT PERMISSION, YOU GOT SOME UP THERE, AND IF I ASKED YOU IN THE WHOLE OF THIS, IF THEY ARE FOR THE BILL, HOLD UP YOUR HAND.

NOT ONE HELD UP THEIR HAND.

SO, GOT TO BE A LIE SOMEWHERE.

NOT ONE OF THEM HELD UP THEIR HAND.

>> THE BILL PASSED 65-37 AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

ALSO PASSED WAS HOUSE BILL 2 FROM REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN TREADAWAY, WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF RIOTS IN STATE LAW AND INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN ONE.

THIS BILL SPRUNG OUT OF THE PROTESTS IN BIRMINGHAM IN 2020 IN RESPONSE TO THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD, SOME OF WHICH TURNED VIOLENT AND DESTRUCTIVE.

DEMOCRATS SAY THE MEASURES GO TOO FAR IN INFRINGING ON FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

>> THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND YOU SAY YOU ARE BRINGING THIS TO PROTECT LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> EVERY ONE, BUILDINGS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROTESTORS, CITIZENS.

>> HOW?

>> WHAT I SAW HAPPENING IN BIRMINGHAM WAS REFLECTING OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN TO HIGHJACK THESE PROTESTS.

IT WAS WELL FINANCED, AND THEY KNEW THERE WAS A $300 CASH BOND AND THEY HAD THE CASH AT THE BACK OF THE JAIL.

AND THE GUY COULDN'T GIVE A SINGLE NAME BUT HE SAID I'M HERE TO BAIL OUT EVERYBODY WHO WAS ARRESTED AT THE PROTEST UP THERE.

SO, IT CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE BUILDINGS SET ON FIRE WERE USED WITH INCENDIARY DEVICES.

WE HAD PEOPLE WORKING LATE TO CLEAN THIS UP.

THIS IS NOT A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL.

THEY WERE INTEND ON BRINGING DOWN THE BUILDINGS.

IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS, IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

>> THAT BILL ALSO GOES TO THE SENATE.

I'LL SPEAK WITH BOTH MR. TREADAWAY AND REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYN GIVAN ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> NEXT UP I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE ALLEN TREADAWAY, FROM MORRIS, ALABAMA.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, YOU HAD A BILL ON THE FLOOR TONIGHT.

IT PASSED.

AND THIS IS HB2, A BILL YOU PASSED LAST YEAR AND IT'S DEALING WITH THE DEFINITION OF RIOTS AND STATE LAW PENALTIES.

>> THIS HOLDS FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE, WHAT WE SAW HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY IN SUMMER OF 2020 CAME TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

I WAS ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF WHEN IT CAME TO BIRMINGHAM.

SO, WE HAD INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO OUR CITIES, PLANTING THESE INCENDIARY DEVICES, SLEDGEHAMMERS, BRICKS, AND GASOLINE.

IT WAS PRE PLANNED AND THEY PLANTED THEM OUT THE NIGHT BEFORE.

AND THEY HIGHJACKED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A PEACEFUL PROTEST.

THEY LOOTED, BURNING BUILDINGS AND ASSAULTING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IN 34 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD NEVER SEEN.

IT WAS ORGANIZED, FINANCED, AND PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER, PROTESTERS AND ALL.

WHEN YOU START SETTING BUILDINGS IN FIRE AND PEOPLE WORKING IN THE BUILDINGS, WE'RE TALKING WITH THE ONES THAT ARE 20-30 FLOORS.

AND YOU GOT CLEANUP CREWS IN THE BUILDING, THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS MATTER.

I FELT WITH MY DUAL ROLE AS A LEGISLATOR, TO BRING SOMETHING TO THIS.

>> AND NOW, THERE WAS A FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ABOUT THE BAIL SITUATION.

SO, A PROTESTOR CROSSES THE LINE, GETS ARRESTED, IMMEDIATELY GOES TO JAIL BUT IS BAILED OUT IMMEDIATELY AND GOES BACK TO THE PROTEST.

HE WAS SAYING THAT REALLY TRAINS PERSONNEL FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S WHY I HAVE A 25-HIRE HOLD ON THIS.

IN CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, THE FOLKS KNEW WE HAD A $300 CASH ONLY BOND.

AND THERE WAS AN INDIVIDUAL AT THE BACK OF THE JAIL, THEY ARE WILLING TO BOND OUT ANYBODY ARRESTED.

AND THIS IS PRIOR TO ANY ARREST EVEN TAKING PLACE.

IT WAS WELL ORGANIZED AND SOMEBODY IS FINANCING ALL OF THAT.

AND THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BAILED OUT, CIRCLING AROUND AND YOU STILL HAVE THE FIREFIGHTERS TRYING TO GET THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL.

AND IT CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO PUT A MANDATORY HOLD IN THERE.

AND UNDERSTAND, THIS EFFECTS ONLY PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR.

IT'S NOT THE FOLKS THERE TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.

DOESN'T EFFECT THEM, CURFEW VIOLATORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> WELL, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BILL.

WE JUST HEARD ON THE FLOOR, INFRINGEMENT OF RIGHT OF SPEECH, PEACEFULLY.

ADDRESS THAT CONCERN.

>> RIGHT, YEAH, I AGREE, THAT'S A VALID CONCERN.

AND I WORKED HARD ON THE BILL TO TARGET THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INCITING THE RIOTS AND RIOTING AND PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER.

FOR 36 YEARS, I PRO AT THE PARTICULAR TIME HAD THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PEACEFUL PROTEST.

WE'RE NOT TALKING PEACEFUL PROTEST IN THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE COMING IN, HIGHJACKING THE SITUATION AND MANY PLACES DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT I WORKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE, THOSE WHO LOOT, BURN, AND ASSAULT FOLKS AND STILL KEEP IN PLACE YOUR RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.

>> LIKE WE SAID, LAST YEAR, DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AND JUST LESS THAN 1/2 THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, WHAT ABOUT THE SENATE.

>> WELL, I WILL TURN MY ATTENTION TO THE SENATE.

I WANTED TO GET IN IT COMMITTEE, LAST YEAR I WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL BUT I HOPE THAT'S THE CASE THIS YEAR.

AND THEN WE JUST HAVE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT DONE.

>> GIVEN YOUR EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SITUATION IN BROOKSIDE, WHICH MADE HEADLINES LAST MONTH.

THE SPEED TRAP SITUATION.

YOU SAID YOU HAD 31 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HOW DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT BUILD UP OVER TIME WITH NOBODY KNOWING?

SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING DEVELOPED OVER TIME.

>> SEEMS LIKE THAT PROBLEM HAS GROWN OUT OF CONTROL.

THAT'S DISTURBING, THE RECORDS THAT I'M HEARING AND I HAVE RECEIVED SOME OF THOSE COMPLAINTS.

YOU HAVE A DEPARTMENT WHICH HAS GROWN WAY BEYOND WHAT'S NECESSARY TO PROTEST THE COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO KEEP THE DEPARTMENT INTACT AND YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND BASICALLY CREATE REVENUE.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY IS ABOUT.

I DON'T THINK YOU FIND MANY PEOPLE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS A SITUATION OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T BELIEVE, REFLECTS LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A WHOLE.

BUT CAN IT HAPPEN IN SOME OF THE SMALLER TOWNS, WELL, WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN.

AND HERE WE GO.

WE HAVE A SITUATION IN BROOKSIDE.

AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT, IT'S COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE RIGHT FOLKS AND BEING RESOLVED AND HOPEFULLY THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN WRONGED, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT.

AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE'LL LEARN FROM IT.

BETTER TRAINING, AND BETTER PAY IN SOME OF THESE TOWNS.

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT EXIST ON THE REVENUE THEY CREATE.

AND SOMEHOW, YOU LOSE WHAT YOU ARE REALLY SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

KEEPING THE SENATE SAFE.

>> A PERVERSE INCENTIVE IF YOU WILL.

SHOULD THERE BE ANY KIND OF LAW OR STATE REGULATIONS ADDRESSING THIS.

>> SEVERAL HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AND I WILL LOOK AT THEM.

BUT LOTS OF TIMES WHEN HAVE YOU A SITUATION THAT'S NOT REFLECTIVE -- WE HAVE, WHAT, OVER 400 MUNICIPALITIES IN THE STATE -- AND IF IT'S JUST ONE OR TWO, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT.

THERE'S LAWS AND THINGS CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS, AND YOU SEE IT HAPPENING IN BROOKSIDE, IF IT RESOLVES IT, I'M NOT SURE YOU NEED ADDITIONAL LAWS WHEN 99.9% OF THE CITIES ARE NOT ENGAGING IN THAT TYPE OF POLICING ACTIVITIES.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY, IN THIS STATE AND EVERYWHERE.

AND JUST GIVEN ALL OF THE STRESS AND ANXIETY THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, YOU ARE A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

AND NOW, BEEN A STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

HOW DOES YOUR EXPERIENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORM YOUR ACTION LAW MAKING.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT I OBSERVE, YOU ARE RIGHT, LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT NOW IS THE MOST DIFFICULT TIME IN MY LIFETIME WHAT'S HAPPENING.

58% INCREASE IN KILLING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

AND POLICE HAVE A TARGET ON THEIR BACK AND WE'RE STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN OFFICERS.

ONES IN THE JOB ARE GETTING OUT OF THE JOBS AND YOU ARE SEEING DEPARTMENTS STRUGGLING TO HAVE OFFICERS.

AND THEN THEY HAVE OFFICES NOT SUPPORTING THEM.

IT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.

I DO BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER.

UNFORTUNATELY, THINK IT'S GOING TO BE WORSE THAN IT DOES.

AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET BACK AROUND TO SUPPORTING POLICE OFFICERS.

THIS IS NOT EVERY ONE OBVIOUSLY.

BUT AS A WHOLE, THE DEMONIZATION OF THE PROFESSION HAS HAD A CHILLING EFFECT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A CRIME WAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO ADDRESS IT.

THEY ARE NOT COMING TO THE PROFESSION, THEY ARE LEAVING IT.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVES TREADAWAY, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> Todd Stacy: NEXT, I'M JOINED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYNN GIVAN OF BIRMINGHAM.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON, DELIGHT TO BE BACK IN THE STUDIO AND SEE YOU AS THE NEW HOST.

>> THANKS.

THAT'S VERY KIND.

I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON BECAUSE YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THE CITY OF BROOKSIDE.

PART OF THAT IS IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> CORRECT.

>> IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE THERE WAS A SPEED TRAP, CRAZY CIRCUMSTANCES, EXPOSED LARGELY THROUGH THE REPORTING OF AL.COM.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE LATEST SITUATION THERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

THERE'S BEEN A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR THAT WAS ENGAGED.

HIS NAME IS KEN SIMON WHO IS ALSO A FORMER CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE IN THE TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

MOST RECENTLY, RECEIVED CONFIRMATION TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

HE'S A VERY LEARNED PROFESSIONAL IN THE LEGAL FIELD.

AND HE'S A FORMER JURIST, AS WELL AS NEUTRAL, AND ONE OF THE FEW NEUTRALS THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> IS THIS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE?

>> NO, ACTUALLY, THE CITY OF BROOKSIDE, THEIR LEGAL TEAM DECIDED TO GO AHEAD ON BECAUSE OF THE UPROAR AND CRIES FOR HELP AND SUPPORT TO ENGAGE THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR.

HE HAS REASSURED US, HE WILL HAVE A REPORT COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THOSE DETAILS OF THE REPORT ALSO WILL BE SHARED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AS WELL AS OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

WHAT'S HAPPENED TO GET TO THIS POINT.

IT WAS DEVELOPED OVER YEARS AND YEARS.

I DON'T LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM BUT WERE THERE RUMORS ABOUT IT, HOW DID IT GET TO THIS POINT?

>> I THINK IT WAS A PROGRESSION, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BEFORE BUT JUST AS ANYTHING, YOU ARE THINKING, OH, THIS IS A SIMPLE TRAFFIC STOP.

BUT THE REPORTS BEGAN TO GET MORE NUMEROUS THAN NOT.

SO, YOU GET A FEEL AT SOME POINT AND SAY, NO, THIS IS NOT JUST SOME DISGRUNTLED CITIZEN THINKING OR SAYING THEY HAVE BEEN STOPPED.

>> NO ONE LIKES TO GET A TICKET.

>> RIGHT.

NO ONE LIKES TO GET A TICKET.

SO, I MADE INQUIRES AND OTHERS MADE INQUIRIES AND THE MEDIA FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS HAVE MADE INQUIRIES AND NOTHING WAS DONE.

SO, I WANT TO CLEAR THIS UP.

WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, FOLKS ARE NOW JUST GETTING INVOLVED.

BUT WE JUST BROUGHT IT.

NO, WE WERE ALREADY INVOLVED.

WE JUST DOESN'T GET ANYBODY TO RESPOND.

AND CITIZENS REACHED OUT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AS I MENTIONED, THE MEDIA.

AND I WAS TRYING TO GET ANSWERS AND ALL OF US COLLECTIVE TRYING TO GET THE ANSWERS.

THE STORY BROKE WITH JOHN ARCHIBALD, WITH AL.COM, AND SHINED A LIGHT ON HIS INVESTIGATIVE WORK AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I THINK IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS, PROBABLY BEFORE THAT.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD SITUATION, SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT PLAGUED THE UNITED STATES OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST YEAR AND CERTAIN THINGS WERE BROUGHT TO LIGHT.

IT'S JUST NOW, ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE, THE STORIES.

>> THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE INTO THE NEXT TOPIC.

THE RIOT OR ANTIRIOT BILL, HOWEVER YOU SEE IT THAT WAS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY.

THIS IS THE BILL THAT REPRESENTATIVE TREADAWAY SPONSORED AND SPONSORED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF RIOT AND STATE LAW AND ALSO INCREASE PENALTIES.

YOU WERE OUTSPOKEN IN THE OPPOSITION TO THIS BILL.

>> TOTALLY, I'M TOTALLY LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORD, I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO RECEIVE ME A TWEET, OR SEND A MESSAGE ON INSTAGRAM.

I SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT NOW, ALWAYS.

HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.

I DO BELIEVE THERE'S A LESS RESTRICTIVE MEANS THAN HB2 BY MY GOOD FRIEND, ALLEN TREADAWAY, DECORATED OFFICER FROM THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, RETIRED JUST LAST YEAR.

THERE'S IS A LESS RESTRICTIVE MEANS FOR PEOPLE TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST WITHOUT HAVING THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS STRIPPED AWAY FROM THEM.

IF YOU ARE A BAD ACTOR, AND POLICE ARE THERE, THEN OF COURSE, THE POLICE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB.

AS LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE THROUGH ANY CITY, MAJOR CITY OR RURAL ALABAMA.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

>> Todd Stacy: I WAS TALKING WITH REPRESENTATIVE TREADAWAY AND REX REYNOLDS, FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THEY WERE BRINGING UP THE ISSUE, ONCE A BAD ACTOR CROSSES THE LINE FROM PEACEFUL PROTEST TO THAT, VIOLENCE OR DAMAGE.

THE SITUATION IS, THEY WERE ARRESTED AND WERE IMMEDIATELY BAILED OUT TO COME BACK TO WHEREVER THE RIOT WAS GOING ON TO CAUSE MORE HARM.

NOW, IS THAT A COMPROMISE FOR THAT?

>> WELL, A, MANY INSTANCES, WHAT'S HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO, WITH THE GEORGE FLOYD KILLING.

YOU HAD PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY CAME FROM ALL OVER.

IT WAS NOT JUST FOLKS IN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM OR CITY OF BIRMINGHAM LIMITS.

YOU ARE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A BAD ACTOR.

IN THE BEST MOVIES, THE LEAD ACTOR IS TYPICALLY THE BAD CHARACTER.

DOES IT MAKE IT RIGHT?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

BUT DO YOU, AT THAT POINT, RESTRICT THE GOOD ACTORS?

DO YOU RESTRICT ME AS A CITIZEN IN MY ABILITY AND MY DESIRE TO SIMPLY RAISE MY HAND IN OPPOSITION OF SOME MATTER THAT'S TAKEN PLACE OR ISSUE THAT'S TAKEN PLACE, WHETHER IT'S NATIONAL OR LOCALLY.

YEAH, THESE FOLKS ARE GOING TO GET OUT.

THEY ARE GOING TO GET OUT ANY WAY.

THE COURT SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE THE NECESSARY MANPOWER TO ALSO THESE TYPES OF ENCOUNTERS.

GOING TO BE OVERBURDENED, OVERTAXING AND THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE, JUDGES, BAILIFFS, CLERKS TO PROCESS THE APPEAL.

SO, BOB, THE BOTTOMLINE IS, THEY WILL BE ARRESTED BUT THEY GO RIGHT BACK, JUST AS THEY HAD ALREADY DONE.

SO, WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

>> Todd Stacy: WELL, I'M HEARING A LOT ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS A PRETTY TOUGH DAY, CALENDAR, IN TERMS OF PRETTY RED MEAT REPUBLICAN ISSUES.

YOU ARE IN THE MINORITY AND YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY STOP THE ISSUES.

BUT WHAT'S SOME OF THE TACTICS THAT YOU USE TO SLOW THEM DOWN?

>> TODAY, WE HAD A CLOTURE CALENDAR.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU FOLKS WHO DON'T KNOW, WHEN YOU CLOTURE SOMEONE, YOU CUT OFF THE RIGHT TO DEBATE.

WHEN I WAS ELECTED 12 YEARS AGO, I SAID I WAS RUNNING FOR THE POSITION FOR VOICE, LEADERSHIP FOR HOUSE DISTRICT 66.

AND MY PEOPLE EXPECT ME TO COME DOWN HERE AND FIGHT FOR THEM AS BEST INTEREST.

AND WE SERVE AS VOICES FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND WHEN YOU BRING THE CLOTURE MOTION, YOU ARE BASICALLY SAYING, MY VOICE IS NOT WORTHY OF BEING HEARD.

YOU ARE CUTTING OFF MY ABILITY TO HAVE MY VOICE RING LOUD ENOUGH SO SOMEBODY AT HOME KNOWS THAT I TOOK OPPOSITION TO HB272, EXCUSE ME, 322.

SO, MY POSITION IS SIMPLE.

THERE'S A LESS RESTRICTIVE MEANS OF DOING THIS.

DO YOU HAVE TO CUT OFF THE DEBATE.

WE'RE ALL GROWN AND WE'RE ALL ELECTED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

AS STATED EARLIER, THIS WAS THE HOCUS-POCUS CALENDAR THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE IT TOOK A LOT OF STIRRING IN THAT POT TO USE THAT RULE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RULED SINCE I WAS THERE.

AGAIN, I AM IN THE MINORITY PARTY; BUT I SPEAK FOR A MAJORITY OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

AND MY VOICE SHOULD BE IN A POSITION OR SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RING LOUD ON THEIR BEHALF.

>> CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON AND SHARING IT WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Todd Stacy: ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THE CARVER THEATER WAS ERECTED IN 1935, ON FOURTH AVENUE AND 17 STREET NORTH IN BIRMINGHAM.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE SEVERAL THEATERS OFFERING FIRST RUN MOVIES TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

AND TODAY, CALLED THE CARVER THEATER FOR PERFORMING ARTS, THE SPACE HAS BEEN THE HOME OF THE ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME SINCE 1993 SERVING AS A MUSEUM AND PERFORMANCE VENUE.

>> AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FOR OUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.