bill of rights

“Gun Control” Means More State-Licensed Gun Violence

"Barack Obama paid a brief visit to Minneapolis today to rally support for his administration’s proposals to restrict private firearms ownership. Significantly, he didn’t address the public; instead, he met with police officials at the Minneapolis PoliceDepartment Special Operations Center. The White House praised Minneapolis as 'a city that has taken important steps to reduce gun violence and foster a conversation in the community about what further action is needed.' One of those steps was the overt militarization of law enforcement through the promiscuous use of SWAT teams." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“Gun Control” Means More State-Licensed Gun Violence

Charge three officers in squad car asphyxiation death of suspect, jury recommends

"Three of the officers involved in the arrest of Williams, who died after gasping for air in the back of a squad car, should be charged with failure to render aid by a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of nine months in jail, jurors concluded. Officer Richard Ticcioni put his knee across Williams' back during the arrest. Officers Jeffrey Cline and Jason Bleichwehl each spent time in the front seat of the squad car as Williams struggled to breathe for nearly eight minutes in the back, a squad video shows. The three officers refused to testify during the inquest, citing their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharge three officers in squad car asphyxiation death of suspect, jury recommends

Armed protesters rally at Washington State Capitol

"A group of protesters brandished their guns at the Washington State Capitol on Saturday to defend their right to bear arms. The event was organized by the group 2nd Enforcers, which warned many of the 30 gun-related bills to be considered by the state legislature were a threat to people’s Second Amendment rights. The bills would expand background checks to cover all gun purchases in the state, make leaving a loaded gun in a location accessible to children a crime of reckless endangerment, allow cities to prohibit guns at parks or recreational facilities, and ban guns from school campuses, among other things." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingArmed protesters rally at Washington State Capitol

House Democrat Wants States To Get Paid To Seize Guns

"Rep. Mike Thompson, a Democratic congressman from California, has introduced a bill that would call for the federal government to pay states to take guns away from criminals and the 'dangerously mentally ill' who are prohibited from owning them. The Armed Prohibited Persons Act of 2013 would create a program within the Justice Department to give money to states that track down people who are barred from having firearms but own them anyway." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHouse Democrat Wants States To Get Paid To Seize Guns

Apparently, Perjury Isn’t a Crime When Police Commit It

"Last October third, a Salt Lake City SWAT team, working with a federal Drug Task Force, kicked in the door of a 76-year-old woman. It turned out that the raiders had attacked the wrong home; the target was the house next door. An internal review learned that officer responsible for the raid, Detective Cooper Landvatter, falsified information in the affidavit filed to obtain the warrant. Police Chief Chris Burbank imposed a 20-hour suspension on Detective Landvatter. However, the officer faces no further disciplinary action or criminal charges for committing perjury and abetting a home invasion that terrorized an elderly woman." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingApparently, Perjury Isn’t a Crime When Police Commit It

“For Your Own Protection”

"Every day in this supposedly free country, police commit an act that was impermissible for their antecedents in imperial Rome: In the name of 'officer safety,' they handcuff American citizens who are not criminal suspects while conducting investigations. Police also routinely inflict summary punishment – using batons, Tasers, pepper spray, or other means – against those who resist being detained without cause. Within a few years police will have at their disposal handcuffs that can impart electrical shocks to detainees." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“For Your Own Protection”

Wash. state bill allows police to search students without parental consent

"A Washington state bill, S.B. 5618, that would allow police officers, or 'school resource officers,' to search students without probable cause or parental consent, passed the State Senate Monday, 30-19. The legislation would allow police to search a student's person, locker and possessions if they are believed to be violating the law or any school rule. Currently under Washington state law, if a school employee has a reasonable suspicion to search a student, they have the right, but a police officer serving as a school resource officer cannot search a student without probable cause." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWash. state bill allows police to search students without parental consent

U.S. diplomat warns of global effort to curb Internet freedom

"A number of countries are aggressively trying to control the Internet, a top US diplomat cautioned Thursday, insisting Washington would give no ground when it comes to curbing freedoms on the Web. The fact that many countries appeared to be investing heavily, 'billions and billions of dollars', in next generation surveillance technologies was an indication of their intentions to clamp down on Internet freedoms, Ross warned. The clamp-down was coming amid a clear shift of power all over the world from governments and other state hierarchies towards citizens and networks of citizens, he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. diplomat warns of global effort to curb Internet freedom

Texas proposes one of nation’s “most sweeping” mobile privacy laws

"Privacy experts say that a pair of new mobile privacy bills recently introduced in Texas are among the 'most sweeping' ever seen. If passed, the new bills would establish a well-defined, probable-cause-driven warrant requirement for all location information. That's not just data from GPS, but potentially pen register, tap and trace, and tower location data as well. Such data would be disclosed to law enforcement 'if there is probable cause to believe the records disclosing location information will provide evidence in a criminal investigation.' Further, the bills would require an annual transparency report from mobile carriers to the public and to the state government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas proposes one of nation’s “most sweeping” mobile privacy laws

Man spends 2 years forgotten about in solitary after DWI arrest

"A New Mexico man who said he was forced to pull his own tooth while in solitary confinement because he was denied access to a dentist has been awarded $22 million due to inhumane treatment by New Mexico's Dona Ana County Jail. Stephen Slevin was arrested in August of 2005 for driving while intoxicated, then thrown in jail for two years. He was in solitary at Dona Ana County Jail for his entire sentence and basically forgotten about and never given a trial, he told NBC station KOB.com Tuesday night." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMan spends 2 years forgotten about in solitary after DWI arrest