bill of rights

Justin Raimondo: Snowden a Hero to Americans

"American voters say 55 – 34 percent that Edward Snowden is a whistle-blower, rather than a traitor, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. In a massive shift in attitudes, voters say 45 – 40 percent the government’s anti-terrorism efforts go too far restricting civil liberties, a reversal from a January 14, 2010, survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University when voters said 63 – 25 percent that such activities didn’t go far enough to adequately protect the country. Almost every party, gender, income, education, age and income group regards Snowden as a whistle-blower rather than a traitor." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJustin Raimondo: Snowden a Hero to Americans

Customs & Border Protection Logged Eight-Fold Increase in Drone Surveillance for Other Agencies

"Daily flight logs from Customs & Border Protection (CPB) show the agency has sharply increased the number of missions its 10 Predator drones have flown on behalf of state, local and non-CPB federal agencies. Yet, despite this increase—eight-fold between 2010 and 2012—CBP has failed to explain how it’s protecting our privacy from unwarranted drone surveillance. CBP already appears to be flying drones well within the Southern and Northern US borders, and for a wide variety of non-border patrol reasons. The agency is planning to increase its Predator drone fleet to 24 and its drone surveillance to 24 hours per day / 7 days per week by 2016." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCustoms & Border Protection Logged Eight-Fold Increase in Drone Surveillance for Other Agencies

States with toughest gun laws have triple the amount of gun deaths

"The ten states given the highest ratings by the Brady Campaign for having the most stringent gun control legislation have about triple the amount of gun deaths compared to the ten states that have the least restrictive gun legislation, according to data compiled by the Examiner. Using data from Slate, the Examiner also found that the Brady Campaign's highest rated state for having the most restrictive gun legislation, California, also had the highest number of gun deaths(677) since the Sandy Hook shooting. The state with the fewest restrictions on firearms (and therefore the lowest scored), Utah, has had 29 gun deaths since Sandy Hook." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStates with toughest gun laws have triple the amount of gun deaths

Indiana Supreme Court Upholds Drug Stop For Legally Tinted Windows

"Photographs of of the vehicle taken by police show the car's steering wheel and windshield wiper could be seen through the rear window. Officer Minch confirmed at trial that this matched what he saw but that it was 'kind of gloomy' that day and he was unable to verify Sanders' age, sex and ethnicity through the back window. Sanders is black. Officer Minch did not try to identify the driver through the front or driver's and passenger side windows, which were untinted. An expert's measurement determined the tint was well within the standard, allowing 38 percent of light to pass through. That was not enough to allow Sanders to walk." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIndiana Supreme Court Upholds Drug Stop For Legally Tinted Windows

College Girls, Bottled Water and the Emerging American Police State

"Public outcry has gone viral over an incident in which a college student was targeted and terrorized by Alcohol Beverage Control agents (ABC) after she purchased sparkling water at a grocery store. The girl and her friends were eventually jailed for daring to evade their accosters, who failed to identify themselves or approach the young women in a non-threatening manner. What makes this particular incident significant is the degree to which it embodies all that is wrong with law enforcement today, both as it relates to the citizenry and the ongoing undermining of our rule of law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCollege Girls, Bottled Water and the Emerging American Police State

Maryland County Eyes Drone Ban: ‘This Is Not The Soviet Union’

"Commissioner Robin Frazier intends to draft a resolution about drone usage in Carroll County following a drone discussion by the Board of County Commissioners in open session Thursday. Frazier said she was concerned about drone use as it relates to citizens’ 4th Amendment protections against unwarranted search and seizures. Specifically she referred to the use of drones to enforce environmental regulations on farmers. Sara Love, Public Policy Director for the Maryland ACLU, said the ACLU is concerned about the FAA being allowed to change airspace rules to make it easier for police agencies to use drones for surveillance." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMaryland County Eyes Drone Ban: ‘This Is Not The Soviet Union’

Judge Napolitano: President Obama Puts Politics Above the Rule of Law

"What's going on? What we have is a runaway government, dismissive of the Constitution it has sworn to uphold, contemptuous of the law it is required to enforce and driven by its own values of maximum control and minimum personal freedom. And we have a Congress supine enough to let this happen, as well as a judiciary so tangled in its own arcane procedures that immeasurable human freedom will be destroyed and Obama out of office before any meaningful judicial review can be had. Is this the rule of law? What shall we do about it?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge Napolitano: President Obama Puts Politics Above the Rule of Law

Star-Spangled Confederates: How Southern Sympathizers Decided Our National Anthem

"Debate raged in the press and the streets. For supporters of the 'Banner,' the song was the perfect symbol of national feeling, and anyone who disagreed might not be patriotic. The Veterans of Foreign Wars organized an Americanization committee that promoted the song as a litmus test of loyalty. Critics of the 'Banner' found their patriotism questioned. Stetson was investigated, subpoenaed, and forced to testify in March 1924 about the source of her funds. No, she had not been funded by foreigners, she said. She had spent $16,000 of her own money on newspaper, and she would spend more. She took out anti-“Banner” ads in March 1924 and August 1925." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStar-Spangled Confederates: How Southern Sympathizers Decided Our National Anthem

Justice Department backs off on secret seizure of reporters’ records

"Under heavy criticism from media organizations and others, the Obama administration has pulled back on one important aspect of its crackdown on government leaks: the ability of prosecutors to secretly seize reporters' records while investigating leaks to the media. In an announcement Friday, the Justice Department said it is toughening the guidelines for subpoenaing reporters' phone records while also raising the standard the government needs to meet before it can issue search warrants to gather reporters' email." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJustice Department backs off on secret seizure of reporters’ records