I have no great problem with punishing those who vandalize pipelines, either during construction or, especially, during operation.
States and the feds moving to punish protesters that impede or disrupt construction with multi-decade prison terms? Yeah, that seems (sadly typical) pressing of the government’s thumb down on the scales in favor of a highly lucrative (and controversial) big business.
I mean, it’s not like there aren’t other laws on the books — for vandalism, for trespass, etc. — that can address such protesters in a more balanced fashion. But twenty years? That’s beyond penalties for Assault with a Deadly Weapon (felony) using a machine gun.
Do you want to know more? Trump pushes up to 20 years in prison for pipeline protesters – ThinkProgress