bill of rights

Kokesh Charged With Openly Carrying Shotgun in D.C.

"Adam Kokesh, seen loading a gun in D.C.'s Freedom Plaza in a video posted to YouTube July 4, has been transferred from Fairfax County and charged in D.C. with openly carrying a shotgun in violation of D.C. laws, reports WTOP. The maximum penalty for those who have not previously been convicted of a felony is a fine of $5,000 and/or up to five years in prison. Those who have been convicted of a felony could face a fine of up to $10,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison. Kokesh had been arrested and charged with drug offenses in Fairfax County earlier in July." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKokesh Charged With Openly Carrying Shotgun in D.C.

Six ways Congress may reform NSA snooping

"The narrow 205-217 vote showed that there is significant support in Congress to reform NSA surveillance programs. Here are six other legislative proposals on the table. 1) Raise the standard for what records are considered 'relevant'; 2) Require NSA analysts to obtain court approval before searching metadata; 3) Declassify Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinions; 4) Change the way Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judges are appointed; 5) Appoint a public advocate to argue before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; 6) End phone metadata collection on constitutional grounds." Continue reading →

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House leaders defend voting against bill to rein in NSA spying

"Republican and Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives defended their support for a spy program that sweeps up vast amounts of electronic communications after it survived a surprisingly close vote a day earlier. Although Speaker John Boehner said he was glad the House had the debate, he was unapologetic about his vote, echoing the contention of the Obama administration and intelligence chiefs that the NSA program was essential for national security. Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House, who voted against the amendment, said Democrats voted on both sides of the resolution, but 'stand together' in their concerns about the program." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHouse leaders defend voting against bill to rein in NSA spying

Congressman Holt pushes to abolish Patriot Act he voted for in 2001

"Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) crafted new legislation that would abolish the Patriot Act, and on Thursday the congressman introduced the bill known as HR-2818 to the House that would do just that. The Surveillance State Repeal Act is aimed to undo not only the Patriot Act but also the parts of the 2008 amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that gives the government the power to have backdoor access to online electronic devices. Rush Holt joins us with more on why he regrets passing the Patriot Act and what he hopes will change." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongressman Holt pushes to abolish Patriot Act he voted for in 2001

DEA raids pot shops in Washington state, where marijuana is legal

"The Drug Enforcement Administration swooped in on several medical marijuana storefronts in Washington on Wednesday, despite the state’s law allowing marijuana possession. Raids took place in Pierce, King and Thurston counties. They were reportedly targeted by a two-year investigation into dispensaries thought to be laundering money and selling marijuana under the table to unlicensed buyers. Voters in Washington passed an initiative last November that legalized adult marijuana possession up to one ounce and directed the state to develop ways of regulating production and taxing sales of the drug." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDEA raids pot shops in Washington state, where marijuana is legal

Eminent Domain and the Decline of Detroit

"Detroit’s sixty year decline, culminating in its recent bankruptcy, has many causes. But one that should not be ignored is the city’s extensive use of eminent domain to transfer property to politically influential private interests. For many years, Detroit aggressively used eminent domain to promote 'economic development' and 'urban renewal.' The most notorious example was the 1981 Poletown case, in which some 4000 people lost their homes, and numerous businesses were forced to move in order to make way for a General Motors factory. The Poletown takings ended up destroying far more development than they ever created." Continue reading →

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TSA: Give Us Fingerprints, Web History and You Can Keep Your Shoes On

"In order to participate in the ‘PreCheck’ TSA program, you will need to allow them to reach down into the proverbial pants of your personal life as well. Under PreCheck, you are required to not only present your fingerprints to the TSA in person and pay a fee of $85, but the agency is also looking to gather all forms of your data as well — which reports state includes your web history and online data. With the help of a third party organization, the TSA seeks to ‘pre-screen’ (think pre-crime) individuals based on their activity in order to determine if they are worthy of bypassing the most minimal of security checkpoints." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTSA: Give Us Fingerprints, Web History and You Can Keep Your Shoes On

Plan To Defund NSA Phone Collection Program Defeated

"A controversial proposal to restrict how the National Security Agency collects telephone records failed to advance by a narrow margin Wednesday, a victory for the Obama administration, which has spent weeks defending the program since media leaks sparked international outrage about the agency’s reach. Lawmakers voted 217 to 205 to defeat the proposal. Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), who as head of the House rarely votes on legislation, voted against the amendment." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPlan To Defund NSA Phone Collection Program Defeated

Bradley Manning Trial: ‘Aiding the Enemy’ Charge is a Travesty of Justice

"The government’s charge that Manning 'aided and abetted the enemy,' which carries a possible life-sentence in prison, is based on the argument that the information Manning leaked was of interest to Osama bin Laden and other terrorist organizations. But as Glenn Greenwald points out in a recent Guardian column, the prosecution’s theory poses a serious threat to the freedom of the press and turns virtually all leaks and whisteblowing into a form of treason. Since bin Laden claimed to have read and recommended Bob Woodward’s journalism, should Woodward also be locked in solitary confinement and stripped of his clothing?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBradley Manning Trial: ‘Aiding the Enemy’ Charge is a Travesty of Justice

NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly defends stop-and-frisk in appeal to public

"With his law enforcement legacy hanging in the balance, New York City’s police chief has turned to the media to defend his most controversial initiatives. Kelly has come under intense criticism for the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices – which disproportionately impact communities of color – and surveillance of Muslims both in and out of the department’s geographic jurisdiction, resulting in multiple lawsuits. With Bloomberg’s tenure coming to an end, Kelly’s future is uncertain. President Barack Obama said Kelly would be 'very well qualified' to head the Department of Homeland Security. Others have disagreed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNYPD commissioner Ray Kelly defends stop-and-frisk in appeal to public