Spurred by the fatal police shooting of unarmed Black man Stephon Clark , California lawmakers yesterday (April 3) introduced a measure that would alter the standard for when law enforcement officers can use deadly force. Titled the Police Accountability and Community Protection Act (the full text of which is not yet available via the California State Assembly ), the measure would change the standard of firearm use from “reasonable use” to “necessary force,” meaning officers would be permitted to open fire only when there is no other reasonable alternative to prevent injury or death. “We need to ensure that our state policy governing the use of deadly force stresses the sanctity of human life and is only used when necessary,” Democratic Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, who introduced the bill, said at a press conference yesterday. “Deadly force can be used, but only when it is completely necessary.” The bill’s introduction comes less than three weeks after Clark, 22, was killed by Sacramento police in his grandmother’s backyard.
Source: California Lawmakers Challenge Police Lethal Force Standard After Stephon Clark Shooting
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