Guilty until fourth amendment shows up

Wash. legislator to introduce DNA testing bill

TACOMA, Wash. -- Rep. Mark Miloscia, D-Federal Way, says he plans to introduce a bill in the 2009 Legislature that will put the state on the same page with the federal government on the subject of DNA testing.

Your right to be secure in your person and your papers includes your DNA. The police may take "non-intimate" body samples from you. These include samples of hair, fingernail or toenail scrapings, and some external body swabs.

However, you cannot refuse to be fingerprinted because it is considered non intimate. Unfortunately we have a long line of prescient set out before now that eviscerates your ability to refuse fingerprinting.

Additionally because of Terry v. Ohio you can be frisked without arrest.

Fingerprints and frisking literally exist on the edge of personal and public space. Personally I argue that subpoena /should/ be required as in order to do either, but that is another subject entirely.

Obtaining DNA is about as intimate as you can get, thus requiring a subpoena to protect against unreasonable search and seizure by the fourth amendment.

Additionally it sets a prescient that can be used to further eviscerate our fourth amendment rights to privacy.

In an age where you are more likely to be jailed then you are to have a crime committed against you (thank you, drug war), this is another nail in the coffin of civil liberties. The creation of a database of citizen's DNA who haven't actually been convicted of crimes opens a door to far greater abuses.

Take for instance that now you can be required to give your fingerprints to the state if you lost your id, putting your thumb print on file for the state/federal government....

Those who fight against Real ID should be the same ones who are queasy right now.

No, /bad/ Canada. Don't follow our example

Canada & US To Exchange Troops During "Unrest"

"Canada and the U.S. have signed an agreement that paves the way for the militaries from either nation to send troops across each other's borders during an emergency, but some are questioning why the Harper government has kept silent on the deal."

"....A very, very bad idea, eh? The reason? Both sides would be more inclined to use violence, since none of it would be directed against their own countrymen."

Europe is having their 1960s

Greek Syndrome' is catching as youth take to streets

If Greek students sneeze, or catch a whiff of tear-gas, young people take to the streets in France and now Sweden. Yesterday, masked youths threw two firebombs at the French Institute in Athens. Windows were smashed but the building was not seriously damaged. Then youths spray-painted two slogans on the building. One said, "Spark in Athens. Fire in Paris. Insurrection is coming". The other read, "France, Greece, uprising everywhere".

Fingerprinting of Cell phone users

Mexican congress approves widening police powers

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's Congress on Tuesday voted to broaden police powers, allowing law enforcement agencies to use undercover agents and taped conversations as evidence in a bid to help them fight increasingly bloody drug cartels.
"Also Tuesday, the Senate voted to create a registry of cell phone owners to combat kidnappings and extortions in which gangs often use untraceable mobile phones to make ransom demands.

Telecoms would be required to ask purchasers of cell phones or phone memory chips for their names, addresses and fingerprints, and to turn that information over to investigators if requested."

Don't worry, that could /never/ happen in our country.

Terrorist socks

Case May Test How Courts Handle Terror Suspects

Fahad Hashmi's case is coming under scrutiny at a time when a new administration will begin taking a hard look at how the U.S. deals with terrorism suspects. Hashmi hasn't been accused of violence; the question is whether his ties to Islamic fundamentalist groups amount to terrorism.

Prosecutors said storing that suitcase was tantamount to providing material support for a terrorist organization, said Hashmi's lawyer, Sean Maher.

The contents of the suitcase? Rain ponchos, waterproof socks.

Pentagon to Place 20,000 armed troops on US soil

Brigade homeland tours start Oct. 1

Part of the reason for the Declaration of Independence was because of the standing armies that were among the Colonies during times of peace. Thus, in the Constitution one of the powers that congress was given was the power to raise and support armies. This was set in by Article 1, section 8: "Congress shall have the power...  "to raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years."

Additionally, Posse Comitatus or Power of Country, was passed into law June 16, 1878. This was done to prevent martial law - or "military police" in the country. Posse comitatus was overturned in 2006 by HR 5122 and then was restored recently by H.R. 4986:

This spits in the face of all of that and just puts standing armies on American soil.

Happy constitution day, freedom lovers.

What the heck is a Fourth Amendment? Against the car citizen.

Court Upholds Conviction From Illegal Traffic Stop

"The California Supreme Court on Monday reinstated the drug conviction of a man based on evidence found during an illegal traffic stop, in a case that had brought the issue of passenger rights before the nation's highest court. ..."

California Supreme Court: Cops can use evidence found in illegal traffic stops

Yes... This will end well.

Army Combat Unit to Deploy within the US

Army combat unit to deploy within U.S.

The United States military's Northern Command, formed in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, is dedicating a combat infantry team to deal with catastrophes in the U.S., including terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
"The U.S. military "is not a Swiss Army knife," ready to fight the Taliban one week, respond to a hurricane the next and put down a major political protest the third week, Healy said."

Why are you using the military to put down peaceful political protests?

IS IT NOT THE RIGHT OF A FREE PEOPLE TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE?

IS IT NOT THE RIGHT OF A FREE PEOPLE TO REDRESS YOUR GOVERNMENT?

There is nothing to see here, America. Go back to your tv

There's No Difference Between Martial Law and the Threat of Martial Law.

Fear Mongering exposed by Rep. Sherman on CSPAN

On the floor of the house Rep. Sherman talks about Representatives getting blackmailed into the vote.

If a bully threatens to beat up a skinny kid if he doesn't give him his lunch money, and the bully doesn't have to follow through because the kid does fork it over, does that mean that the aggressive kid isn't a bully?

There is no difference between martial law and the threat of martial law.

Jesus will shoot missles out of the sky with his lazer eyes!

Anti-terror law requires God be acknowledged

"Under state law, God is Kentucky's first line of defense against terrorism.

The 2006 law organizing the state Office of Homeland Security lists its initial duty as "stressing the dependence on Almighty God as being vital to the security of the Commonwealth."

Specifically, Homeland Security is ordered to publicize God's benevolent protection in its reports, and it must post a plaque at the entrance to the state Emergency Operations Center with an 88-word statement that begins, "The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God."


Or as we call it in the "Fly-to" States, separation of church and ooh shiny!