Quote:
Originally Posted by bkcunningham1
This may be a stupid example, but I love to watch the reality police shows. I am amazed at how a person can be handcuffed and their vehicle and personal belongings searched without a search warrant and they haven't been read their rights or arrested. It is done for the safety of the police officer and the person being questioned they always say. I understand reasonable suspicion and all that. My husband laughs at me for my concern on something like this while watching Cops and says these are crack-heads and hookers.
Did you hear about the case in Pennsylvania where students were given computers to take home? A lawsuit is now alleging that the school administration "spied" on students in their homes.
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I don't mind going through security at airports. I actually had the magic number at Logan recently and had to undergo the more intense search. I didn't mind one bit. I'm not complaining, but somewhere we've lost common sense in the minorities pleas of political correctness.
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I'll take these in order.
Yeah, I used to watch COPS every week. But read that 4th Ammendment again. "unreasonable" search and seizure. "Probable cause". The courts have defined this to be anything that is in plain sight, for starters. And if you're arresting someone, you're allowed to go through their pockets. But if you want to go into their house, unless you have reason to believe life and limb is in danger or a felony is being committed, you need a warrant. Again, reasonable definitions. What galled me about the 'warrantless wiretaps' was that the argument was "what if we don't have time to get a warrant" - ignoring the fact that FISA courts were set up for EXACTLY that reason - so you COULD get a warrant after the fact. That bends, but doesn't quite (IMO) break the 4th Ammendment.
Yes, I heard about the PA case. I'm guessing some dork-witted I.T. dipstick thought it would be cool to see what he or she could do - and got caught. If this turns out to be what it seems, I want to see the people responsible prosecuted. ...and if it was in a kid's bedroom, throw some child pornography charges at them. Put the fear of the courts into ANYONE that thinks they can get away with crap like that.
As far as airport security.. Well, I wouldn't mind it so much if it actually was effective. I mean, how far have we come from Richard Reid to last Christmas? Once again a terrorist smuggled something on a plane, tried to ignite it and was subdued BY THE PASSENGERS. Once again we find that relying solely on technology is NOT the answer. Once again, it's HUMAN BEINGS that make the difference. But, strangely enough, in spite of these proofs, we still have long security lines that move at a glacial pace and we still have to take our shoes off.
It's THEATER, not security.