But then the state's largest police union criticized the bill on the basis that it would give citizens too much freedom to record them in public.

After all, they say, making it illegal for citizens to record cops from within 25 feet essentially makes it legal for citizens to record from at least 25 feet.

And that would make it harder for officers to order citizens with cameras even further away as they do on a regular basis.

It is twisted logic that only a cop would understand because anybody with any legal sense could see that the entire bill is unconstitutional. Especially after the landmark Glik case ruled that all citizens have the right to record police in public as long as they are not physically interfering.

But now that Villalba has failed to win the support of cops, not to mention the support of fellow republicans, the 44-year-old native Texan is expected to withdraw the bill.