Reason's Radley Balko on "dynamic entry" and other paramilitary tactics used by police forces around the country.
Remember Kathryn Johnston, the 92-year old Atlanta woman shot to death last year by police serving a drug warrant after being led to her house by a false tip? Well, that was just the beginning of the scandal; I have no idea why the media haven't been jumping all over the subsequent details of the case, including:
1. After mortally wounding Johnston (who apparently believed she was being robbed, a logical conclusion when masked men break down your door and come running at you with guns drawn), the officers handcuffed her and left her to die on the floor.
2. After failing to find any drugs in the house, one of the officers goes out to his car, retrieves a few bags of marijuana and claims to have "found" it in her basement.
3. After returning to the station, stated that a paid informant told them that he had purchased cocaine at the house. This was completely untrue.
4. Then, they approach a drug dealer they had used in the past as an informant, and tried to pressure him to make the claim they had already stated in point #3. The informant, Alex White, to his credit, refused to do so and instead went to the media with what happened.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
YouTube: Judge Andrew Napolitano
4-part video featuring Judge Andrew Napolitano, author of Constitutional Chaos: What happens when the government breaks its own laws, speaking at the Future of Freedom Foundation.
Napolitano is an excellent speaker, and one of the foremost defenders of civil liberties today (representing the "loyal opposition" over at Fox News). Part 1 is an introduction from the conference chair, and Napolitano opens with an endorsement of Ron Paul, a few jokes, and an apology for giving electoral advice to G.W. Bush. Then he goes on to his main topic, Civil Liberties in Wartime.
Well worth a half hour of your time.
Napolitano is an excellent speaker, and one of the foremost defenders of civil liberties today (representing the "loyal opposition" over at Fox News). Part 1 is an introduction from the conference chair, and Napolitano opens with an endorsement of Ron Paul, a few jokes, and an apology for giving electoral advice to G.W. Bush. Then he goes on to his main topic, Civil Liberties in Wartime.
Well worth a half hour of your time.
Man arrested for photographing arrest
This is a trend I have been following for some time - citizens arrested or threatened with arrest for photographing police activity in plain sight. I believe it is one of the most, if not the most disturbing trend in law enforcement in recent years.
Many LEOs are under the impression that any sort of photography or recording of their activities is illegal. With a few exceptions, that is untrue. As a general rule, you can take a photograph of anything that is publicly accessible, unless there is a sign posted to the contrary (and of course I believe most of those restrictions are blatantly unconstitutional, though the courts haven't always agreed).
But why this is so disturbing is that this gives police the power to squelch evidence of their own wrongdoing. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the ability to cover up malfeasance (and thus prevent an investigation) is certainly a giant leap in the march toward absolute power.
In the words used by many police, if they aren't doing anything wrong, then they have nothing to be worried about, right?
Many LEOs are under the impression that any sort of photography or recording of their activities is illegal. With a few exceptions, that is untrue. As a general rule, you can take a photograph of anything that is publicly accessible, unless there is a sign posted to the contrary (and of course I believe most of those restrictions are blatantly unconstitutional, though the courts haven't always agreed).
But why this is so disturbing is that this gives police the power to squelch evidence of their own wrongdoing. Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the ability to cover up malfeasance (and thus prevent an investigation) is certainly a giant leap in the march toward absolute power.
In the words used by many police, if they aren't doing anything wrong, then they have nothing to be worried about, right?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The new blog is up!
Hello everyone,
The new Columbia Libertarians blog is up and running!
Expect to find here many interesting stories and our takes on them. We will also be bringing up the website in the very near future, so stay tuned for exciting updates!
The new Columbia Libertarians blog is up and running!
Expect to find here many interesting stories and our takes on them. We will also be bringing up the website in the very near future, so stay tuned for exciting updates!
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