#Ben Carson says now is ‘probably a good time’ to look at police reforms

Ben Carson, the secretary of Housing and Urban Development, said Sunday the time is “probably” right to take a close look at police reforms following the nationwide protests that erupted over the death of George Floyd.

“We need to look at appropriate reforms and this is probably a good time to shine the spotlight on it and get it done,” Carson said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I think that’s one of the things the president has made very clear. This is an issue, it will be looked at, it will be dealt with.”

But he wouldn’t say whether the president would support proposals by House Democrats to ban chokeholds, limit qualified immunity for police officers and create a national database of misconduct.

“I expect the president and the administration to engage appropriate stakeholders and to look at everything,” Carson said. “Obviously we do not want to create a situation where the police are under the microscope and they don’t want to do their jobs because they’re afraid.”

“When people make decisions based on anger or emotion, seldom are they good decisions,” he added.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has tasked Sen. Tim Scott, the only black GOP senator, to act as point on a package of criminal justice reforms in the chamber.

But Scott, of South Carolina, said limiting qualified immunity for officers that would subject them to legal and civil actions is a non-starter.

“From the Republican perspective, and the president has sent a signal that qualified immunity is off the table. They see that as a poison pill on our side,” he said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” “We can use the decertification of officers, except for the law enforcement unions say that’s a poison pill.”