CLAIM: The editorial board at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch claims that legislation before the Missouri General Assembly designed to discourage violent and destructive behavior by protesters at pipelines and pipeline construction sites instead “aims to silence environmentalists.”
RATING: False
FACT CHECK
The text of the bill – Senate Bill 293 – makes clear that the legislation poses no threat to the First Amendment rights of environmentalists to gather peacefully and share their concerns about pipeline projects.
Instead, the legislation states:
A person commits the offense of trespass on a critical infrastructure facility if he or she unlawfully trespasses or enters property containing a critical infrastructure facility without permission. The offense of trespass on a critical infrastructure facility is a Class B misdemeanor. If it is determined that the intent of the trespasser is to damage, destroy, vandalize, deface, tamper with equipment, or impede or inhibit operations of the facility, the person shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
A person commits the offense of damage of a critical infrastructure facility if he or she damages, destroys, vandalizes, defaces, or tampers with equipment in a critical infrastructure facility. The offense of damage of a critical infrastructure facility is a Class C felony.
If an organization is found to be a conspirator with persons who have committed any of the offenses set forth in the act, the organization shall be punished by a fine that is ten times the amount of the fine attached to the offense.
Contrary to claims by the Post-Dispatch, the legislation is directly aimed at reducing violent behavior and activities at pipelines, threatening the safety of workers and vital economic development projects for Missouri and the nation as a whole.