Measure Would Increase Penalties for Taping and Posting Video of an Assault

Assembly Republican Whip Dave Rible, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, and Assembly Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick announced that they will sponsor legislation that increase penalties and mandate jail time for videotaping and distributing the recording of an assault.

The Assembly members are sponsoring this legislation in response to a recent attack in which two teenagers beat a homeless man in Wall Township while they videotaped and then posted the attack on the Internet.

“The action taken by these two boys is completely outrageous and calls for serious jail time,” said Rible. “There needs to be severe repercussions put into place to ensure that no one else attempts to reenact this inexcusable attack on an innocent person.”

Two young men followed and attacked a homeless man in a wooded area of Wall Township. They beat the man and then stole his bike while they openly mocked him, videotaping the whole incident as it occurred.

“It is absolutely appalling that two young men found it amusing to stalk and attack a homeless man,” said Angelini. “The fact that the young men posted the attack on the Internet as if it was entertainment is frightening and we must send a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated in our state.”

Under this legislation, videotaping and distributing the recording of an assault will result in an automatic second degree aggravated assault charge. A person convicted of a second degree aggravated assault charge is subject to 5-10 years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

While the attack certainly warrants a response, do we really need another law?

Is this proposed law even advisable?  According to the news reports about this incident, we wouldn’t even know it happen or who did it if the alleged perpetrators had not taped the attack and put it on YouTube.