Arizona lawmakers want to make it illegal – a criminal offense – to film cops on private property.

In (air quotes) your home.

The air quotes being necessary to impart the appropriate irony.

If SB 1054 becomes law, anyhow.

If it does, AZ residents will be required to obtain the permission of any cop before they may lawfully record his actions. The legality of the cop's conduct is ultimately irrelevant. He will be able to arrest you, if you film or otherwise record him without his prior ok.

This is an important point.

Legally speaking, any video made without prior permission stands on shaky ground as potential evidence – even if the video shows a cop committing crime. The video could be suppressed, dismissed – or more likely, destroyed. And the destruction could be – probably will be – anointed legal because, after all, the video was made illegally.

No surprise, SB 1054 was introduced by a Republican, AZ State Rep. John Kavanaugh of District 8 (see here for more about him). Even less surprisingly, Kavanaugh is an ex-cop. An ex New Jersey cop. New Jersey is a notably corrupt state, run by thugs like Chris Christie – who is known to have used his powers to abuse his political opponents (see here) and steer lucrative state contracts to family and friends like a real-life Tony Soprano (see here).

"Law and order" Republicans like Christie – and Kavanaugh – use the law to order things to their liking. La cosa nostra… this thing of ours.

Capisce?