Texas lawmakers are on the verge of passing a horrifying bill, House Bill 2436, that would exempt police officers from being charged with deadly conduct while on duty. This bill is not about protecting good policing. It is about making sure officers can shoot and kill without fear of accountability, even when their actions are reckless and unjustified.

If this bill becomes law, it will create a terrifying police state where Texans have no protection from abuse. It will tell every Texan, especially those already vulnerable, that police are above the law and that no one will answer for their mistakes, no matter how deadly.

We are already seeing the dangers. In 2019, Austin police officer Christopher Taylor shot and killed Mauris DeSilva, a man in a mental health crisis. Prosecutors, and DeSilva’s grieving father, agreed Mauris was not a threat. A jury found Taylor guilty of deadly conduct. Under this new law, even that small measure of justice would have been impossible.

This bill is not about safety. It is about power. It removes the critical checks that prevent violence from spiraling even further out of control. When police know they cannot be held accountable, reckless violence becomes inevitable.

We deserve better. Texans deserve police officers who are respected and held to the same standards as everyone else. Accountability is not political. It is a basic requirement for justice and public trust.

We demand that Texas lawmakers reject House Bill 2436 and any similar legislation. We demand that the people sworn to protect us be held accountable when they harm us instead.

Say NO to House Bill 2436.

Photo: AP news