Police State

537 Taser-Related Deaths In The United States Since 2001

"Between 2001 and 2008, 351 people in the United States died after being shocked by police Tasers. Our blog has documented another 186 taser-related deaths in the United States in 2009-2012. That means there have been 537 documented taser-related deaths in America. I think that something is wrong in America when the police electrocute folks on a WEEKLY basis with their taser arsenal … and the public is mute in its response. Sometimes it takes a lawsuit … like the one recently settled in Ohio … to get the police to cool it. The police in Cincinnati, Ohio took the hint … they changed their taser policy!" Continue reading →

Continue Reading537 Taser-Related Deaths In The United States Since 2001

Students, troops clash in Venezuela over election

"National Guard troops are firing tear gas and plastic bullets to disperse students protesting the official results in Venezuela's disputed presidential election. The students are hurling chunks of concrete and stones back at the troops on a highway in the capital of Caracas. The students are trying to reach the western part of Caracas, where most of the government is headquartered and where Nicolas Maduro is being declared winner of Sunday's election to replace the deceased Hugo Chavez. Citizens around the capital also are banging pots and pans to protest the proclamation of Maduro as the victor." Continue reading →

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Arizona House Panel Says Cops Can Destroy Marijuana, Even If Patients Had Right To It

"An Arizona House panel voted on Tuesday to let police destroy marijuana they have seized, even if it was seized from legal medical marijuana patients who had a right to possess it. The panel ignored the pleas of Arizona's former top federal prosecutor, who told members of the Judiciary Committee that SB 1441 -- supposedly meant to 'tighten up' the state's medical marijuana law -- is an improer end-run around the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, approved by voters in 2010, reports Howard Fischer at Capitol Media Services." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingArizona House Panel Says Cops Can Destroy Marijuana, Even If Patients Had Right To It

Missouri Highway Patrol gave concealed carry permits data to feds

"Missouri's database of concealed weapon permits was twice given to federal authorities investigating Social Security disability fraud in a move that has enraged lawmakers already angry over potential abuses in a new driver's licensing system. Missouri State Highway Patrol Col. Ron Replogle was questioned for nearly an hour this morning by the Senate Appropriations Committee after he revealed to Chairman Kurt Schaefer yesterday that his agency had turned over the data. The delivery of the information to federal authorities has become a huge issue for lawmakers since they began raising questions about new driver's licensing procedures." Continue reading →

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Feds force Oregon to surrender medical marijuana patient records

"Federal agents have forced the Oregon Public Health Division to turn over an untold number of patients’ medical marijuana records. Department of Justice Special Agent Michael Gutensohn applied for a warrant to seize the records that was executed in November as part of an investigation into medical marijuana growers who were suspected of selling goods illegally. 'I have probable cause to believe that records from the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program will contain evidence and instrumentalities of marijuana manufacturing and trafficking and conspiracy to commit marijuana manufacturing and trafficking offenses,' he wrote." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds force Oregon to surrender medical marijuana patient records

Florida Police use Driver License Faceprints to Investigate Public At Large

"In Florida, the police are using facial biometrics gathered and stored by the DMV for Real ID with facial recognition technology to identify and investigate individuals in public, at will. Presumption of innocence? Probable cause? Not necessary when everyone is a suspect. We are just at the edge of an onslaught of similar stories that whether revealed or not are rooted in Real ID. You and I have the dubious honor of being located in the slice of our generation that is going to gain a deep understanding of the value of our privacy. We will learn because we are the ones who once, having the luxury of relative obscurity, are watching it slip away." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida Police use Driver License Faceprints to Investigate Public At Large

New Book on EU Corruption Gets Author Investigated

"No, I am not making this up. My memoirs A Mote in Brussels' Eye describing my five years in the Brussels lunatic asylum came out as an eBook at the end of January. Today, March 5, nine policemen arrived unannounced at my front door armed with a warrant to search our home. Much of my book details my efforts on behalf of the taxpayers of SE England to expose the gross misuse of public funds by the EU, and hold them accountable. Such an unusually fast reaction by Brussels tells me they are both very angry and terrified. My book is obviously causing them trouble." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Book on EU Corruption Gets Author Investigated

Homeland Security agents indicted for falsifying records in corruption investigation

"Two Department of Homeland Security employees have been indicted in a scheme to falsify investigative documents to disguise a lack of progress on cases in their South Texas office. The Justice Department announced Wednesday that 49-year-old Eugenio Pedraza was indicted Tuesday on charges of falsifying records, obstructing justice and conspiracy. Pedraza is a former head of DHS's Office of the Inspector General in McAllen. Agent Marco Rodriguez also was charged. The IG's office investigates wrongdoing in the DHS, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection." Continue reading →

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Can Police Read Text Messages Without A Warrant?

"In this case, police seized a cell phone during a drug investigation and monitored incoming messages. Officers responded to several texts, setting up meetings that resulted in two arrests, without first getting a warrant. Prosecutors have argued that no warrant was required because there should be no expectation of privacy in text messages, as anyone can pick up someone else’s phone and read what’s stored there. But in two related amicus briefs filed Monday, EFF argues that searching the phone for the texts without a warrant clearly violates the Constitution." Continue reading →

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Shocking the Gate-Rapists

"Three engineers in India have come up with something that ought to wallop the TSA's deviants into better behavior: they've 'invented a set of electrified underwear to help prevent rape.' No doubt they meant the unofficial sort, but heck, this should work on federal gate-rapists, too. 'The underwear, called Society Harnessing Equipment (SHE), deploys a 3,800kV charge to anyone touching the outside of the underwear while protecting the wearer with a polymer lining. A person trying to molest a girl will get the shock of his life the moment pressure sensors get activated...,'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingShocking the Gate-Rapists