Police State

Private Pilot Nearly Shot Down for Violating “Secret No-Fly Zone”

"Despite the fact that he had done nothing wrong, Fleming was handcuffed, charged with 'breach of peace,' and held for more than 24 hours before being interrogated by FBI and Homeland Security officials. The charges were dismissed after he showed the investigators that the zone wasn’t marked in aviation charts – but he was required to sign a document promising that he wouldn’t file a lawsuit against the officials who had illegally detained him. He later learned that local police officials had made preparations to shoot down his glider if he hadn’t landed as quickly as he did. Fleming did nothing illegal – yet he was brutalized by people prepared to kill him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrivate Pilot Nearly Shot Down for Violating “Secret No-Fly Zone”

D.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

"The gun ban had an unintended effect: It emboldened criminals because they knew that law-abiding District residents were unarmed and powerless to defend themselves. Violent crime increased after the law was enacted, with homicides rising to 369 in 1988, from 188 in 1976 when the ban started. By 1993, annual homicides had reached 454. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department also waged a war on firearms by creating a special Gun Recovery Unit in 1995. The campaign meant that officers were obliged to spend time searching otherwise law-abiding citizens." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingD.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

D.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

"The gun ban had an unintended effect: It emboldened criminals because they knew that law-abiding District residents were unarmed and powerless to defend themselves. Violent crime increased after the law was enacted, with homicides rising to 369 in 1988, from 188 in 1976 when the ban started. By 1993, annual homicides had reached 454. The Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department also waged a war on firearms by creating a special Gun Recovery Unit in 1995. The campaign meant that officers were obliged to spend time searching otherwise law-abiding citizens." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingD.C. Prosecutor: A Gun Ban That Misfired

New York passes tough new gun control laws

"The NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NY SAFE, includes a full ban on sales of military-style rifles. It reduces the maximum magazine size from 10 rounds to seven and extends the requirement for background checks to all sales, including private deals. An existing law allowing judges to order mentally ill people to get treatment was strengthened. Opponents questioned whether focusing on assault rifles was wise, given that handguns are used far more frequently in crimes. They also accused Cuomo and his allies of violating the US constitution’s guarantee of the right to bear arms." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York passes tough new gun control laws

New York passes tough new gun control laws

"The NY Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NY SAFE, includes a full ban on sales of military-style rifles. It reduces the maximum magazine size from 10 rounds to seven and extends the requirement for background checks to all sales, including private deals. An existing law allowing judges to order mentally ill people to get treatment was strengthened. Opponents questioned whether focusing on assault rifles was wise, given that handguns are used far more frequently in crimes. They also accused Cuomo and his allies of violating the US constitution’s guarantee of the right to bear arms." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York passes tough new gun control laws

Lawsuit Accuses Fired Utah Trooper of Falsifying D.U.I. Arrests

"Corporal Steed was named trooper of the year by her superiors in 2007, her career seemingly heading toward the inevitable promotions. Ms. Steed made a career of pulling over drivers who she claimed were driving drunk or under the influence. There was only one problem. Some of the drivers Ms. Steed arrested had not been drinking, or at least not enough to be reasonably impaired, according to the lawsuit, brought by a group of Utah lawyers on behalf of two plaintiffs. In several cases, those who were arrested did not drink alcohol, said Robert Sykes, one of the lawyers who filed the complaint." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawsuit Accuses Fired Utah Trooper of Falsifying D.U.I. Arrests

Driving under the influence of NyQuil banned in New Hampshire

"A new law that took effect at the beginning of 2013 bans driving under the influence of not just illegal drugs, alcohol and prescription painkillers, but all over-the-counter drugs as well, along with 'any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person’s ability to drive.' The bottom line is, if an officer suspects a driver is impaired and that driver admits to taking any kind of drug, an arrest will be made. 'There is no shortage of these drivers out there,' a state police spokesperson told the Tribune. 'We are targeting them aggressively.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDriving under the influence of NyQuil banned in New Hampshire

ICE Agents Raid Wrong House In Moore, OK

"With guns drawn in the home he's lived in for over 10 years, Estrada says agents realized after about five minutes they had the wrong guy. But he says he was kept in handcuffs for another 40 minutes to be fingerprinted. He says he was even asked for his green card. Carlos says he's done nothing but try to do what's right and obey the law. He's been a legal U.S. citizen since 1988. He was told he had been under surveillance by ICE agents for three years and was showed a picture of himself at his job in 2010." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingICE Agents Raid Wrong House In Moore, OK

Camden, NJ Agrees to Pay $3.5M to Victims of Police Corruption

"The City of Camden has agreed to pay $3.5 million in damages to 88 people whose convictions were overturned because of widespread corruption in the Camden Police Department. The settlement stems from a series of lawsuits filed against Camden Police in federal district court and state superior court over the last two years, after five officers were charged with a number of federal civil rights violations from conduct involving evidence planting, fabrication of reports and evidence, and perjury." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCamden, NJ Agrees to Pay $3.5M to Victims of Police Corruption

German activists start campaign to destroy surveillance cameras

"German activists are attempting to destroy security cameras in anticipation of the European Police Congress in Berlin in February, according to Michael Ebeling, an opponent of public surveillance writing for France 24′s The Observers. The group organizing the actions, CAMOVER, believe such cameras lead police to discriminate and use stereotypes in search of criminals and criminal activity. They are encouraging people to participate in the 'game' until Feb. 19, when the congress convenes. The country’s Interior Ministry claims the cameras have been shown to reduce crime by almost 20 percent." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGerman activists start campaign to destroy surveillance cameras