Submit testimony to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary about the importance of passing H.4150: An Act banning the use of tear gas by law enforcement.

In 2020, the MA Legislature passed a comprehensive police reform legislation. The bill did many important things, but it had significant limitations.

Among the limitations: the bill's failure to ban the use of tear gas by law enforcement. (The House took a vote on doing so; you can find how your state rep voted here.)

The use of chemical weapons is banned in war, and it should be banned on our streets.

Last year, amidst the outbreak of protests following the murder of George Floyd, the president of the American Thoracic Society called for a moratorium on the use of tear gas and chemical weapons by police: “They cause significant short- and long-term respiratory health injury and likely propagate the spread of viral illnesses, including COVID-19.” [1]

The American Academy of Ophthalmology likewise condemned the use of tear gas, noting that it causes “serious eye injuries, including hyphema, uveitis, necrotizing keratitis, coagulative necrosis, symblepharon, secondary glaucoma, cataracts and traumatic optic neuropathy and loss of sight.” [2]

It's time for MA to listen.

[1] https://www.thoracic.org/about/newsroom/press-releases/journal/2020/tear-gas-use-during-covid-19-pandemic-irresponsible-moratorium-needed,-says-american-thoracic-society.php

[2] https://www.newswise.com/articles/nation-s-ophthalmologists-condemn-use-of-tear-gas-and-rubber-bullets