Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
For the purpose of Section 242, acts under "color of law" include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official's lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim.
The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.
TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
Source and full text: https://www.justice.gov/crt/deprivation-rights-under-color-law
*"Under color of law" definition: "With the apparent authority of the law but it actually conflicts with the law." See https://thelawdictionary.org/under-color-of-law/
I don't disagree with the law I do disagree with how some states are going to extremes. I know some people have been upset with the whole process but what was done was in best interest to protect people. But you cant keep a whole country locked down to long. Georgia is slowly opening with the president advising people to continue with self-protection. I'm 69 and have multiple health issues if I were to get this virus I don't even want to go there and it worries my sons as well. This virus you need to pay attention to what it's doing. This is not your average virus this thing has been created in some its attacking kidneys its attacking lungs and in some its causing blood clots its causing bad damage. They have found that in the beginning some children were infected apparently with SOME it caused severe damage to lungs and they died apparently this thing attacks certain enzymes. I can understand peoples frustrations but when u do open up please be mindful of your most vulnerable citizens we'd like to live long enough to enjoy our retirement😏
Please see my earlier article under the Michigan sub-forum for my thoughts on that. The content of the article generally applies to the other states. Here's a link:
https://www.openthestates.com/forum/michigan/so-called-stay-at-home-orders-are-unenforceable-unconstitutional-and-defy-common-sense
I think something important thing to keep in mind here is that sheltering at home was never designed to keep people from getting the disease. In fact, there's some evidence that it could actually make things worse in the long run. The ONLY thing that it was supposed to do was "flatten the curve" (delay people from getting sick instead of all at once).
Because of how contagious it is there was concern originally (when we were given the bogus predictions of 2.2 million people dying in the US) that hospitals could become full and have to start turning people away leading to a full breakdown of our healthcare system (which could cause lots of people to die even who didn't have COVID-19). The point is that advocating for the end of quarantine is vital to preventing permanent damage to the economy and save millions of jobs. (as-is 1 in 4 Americans are projected to experience food shortages if we continue on like this and that ratio is only getting worse every week that we stay locked down).
I think at this point with the mortality rate plummeting by the day as we get new data in and better treatment options it's time to open (or the cure will be worse than the disease). But this doesn't mean that if you're someone who is older and suffers from pre-existing medical conditions that you shouldn't play it safe. Taking proper precautions and limiting your opportunities for exposure if you're in a high risk group are very important.
Talking about opening up isn't just about getting young people to go back to work either. So many clinics are now shut down and many hospitals have been instructed to turn away patients without covid-19 unless it's a matter of life and death. There's even a thread on here with 2 people talking about the medical nightmares that have occurred from this and my mom know someone who can't find any doctors willing to help them with their kidney stones and is in a huge amount of pain. Imagine for a moment how older people will be affected who can't get regular checkups, exams, or access to non life threatening procedures for 6 months... And some hospitals are already on the verge of bankruptcy over these regulations. If we continue on, I don't even want to think about what the consequences will be (for young and old alike).
Obviously I don't want anyone to die from the virus, but since the lockdowns were never meant to prevent that in the first place I this re-opening is the best path forward for everyone.
Let that sink in... We are locked down for four one-hundredths of one percent!
The numbers for NY state are 24,788 deaths ÷ 20M = 0.001, or 0.1% death rate.
The numbers for CA are 2,287 deaths ÷ 40M = 0.00005, or 0.005% death rate.
We are NOT locked down because of a health pandemic! We are locked down so the Dems can push mail-in voting (which is ripe with fraud and lost ballots -- see Tom Fitton at Judicial Watch for the details). The Dems NEED mail-in voting so they can CHEAT in the upcoming presidential election. Everyone in the world KNOWS the Dems can't beat Trump in a legitimate election. So they have to steal it. Just like they tried to do last time.
*State and CDC numbers are HIGHLY suspect. My brother is an ER doctor, and I have clients who are doctors, and they say the numbers are inflated to 10-20 times higher than their real levels, and hospitals are encouraged to lie about causes of death to get more money for the hospital (they receive $13,000 per "covid" patient, and $36,000 if they get hospitalized and go on a ventilator). The hospitals are getting paid to lie to the public. $1.3 Million per 100 real, presumed, or invented "covid" patients. It's a disgrace.
you are so right well said
Attorney General Barr needs to get on the stick and put and end to what really amounts to unlawful imprisonment. Seeing Governor Hotpants do the perp walk escorted by US Marshals from the State Capital in Lansing would sure do MY heart a world of good!!
If anyone wishes to contact the Department of Justice to let their voice be heard, send them a message using the link below. It's best to be polite and concise.
https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice