VRT Gump

iTrader: (4)

they never arrested him. And like I said earlier, if he is that nervous to be there and that pushy to just leave, I would go with probably cause.
They have so many people go through there with illegal this and illegal that, but when you have someone who is acting "funny", and you can not say that he was, you have to think something is up. We have rights, but at the same time, you cant be a douche and expect to be treated like a upstanding citizen.

Also, what does him being a priest have to do with anything. Wont really touch that one, but the job you do does not make you a better person or worse person.

aboothman

iTrader: (8)

My statement had NOTHING to do with the videos in this thread. It was based on my personal experiences with the police. They have N-E-V-E-R helped me, and they have harassed me for little to no reason many, many times.

I think that import car profiling is a perfect example. We have police harassment due to laws that are intended to protect our environment, generate revenue, and protect people from street racing. One would think that with all of the real crime (according to police and pro-police people) their time would be better spent elsewhere. The number of street racing deaths does NOT justify blanket harassment of everyone with a car that MAY be common in street racing. For that matter, ANY car can be street raced...not to mention that street racing (actually ALL racing) has been around since cars were invented.

My point is, the ends do not justify the means. I have NEVER street raced my car, so I should not be suspected of street racing based on what I drive. Police doing so is a clear violation of my civil rights, and I am within my rights to resist their harassment when I have not committed a crime.

The mentality of "If you have nothing to hide then why not cooperate" is bull****, as Paul is fond of saying. We have rights created specifically with the intent of protecting us from such harassment. Invoking our rights is NOT a reason for further harassment (which is clearly stated in many bodies of law), and we should not be considered "suspicious" for insisting that our rights are followed. Police are paid by OUR TAXES, and their job is to protect us...not only from criminals but from violation of OUR RIGHTS.

I have NEVER committed a crime that affected anyone else mentally or physically. Having been a GOV'T employee and thus being subject to an absurd amount of rules, regulations and "sensitivity training", I have learned to think about my actions and what I say, and how it affects others. But I digress...

Inevitably, there are so goddamned many laws that every citizen of the U.S.A. can be considered a criminal. This does not mean that we should be treated as such during every encounter with the police. However, police use the insane number of petty bull**** laws to gain access to our property and persons to further an agenda akin to oppression and government tyranny. It is clearly a violation of our most basic human rights as outlined by the Constitution, and to argue otherwise suggests a disturbing increase in a Pro-Communist attitude in our country.

Which is the exact reason we have the second amendment

I may act "funny" when I am being unlawfully harassed by police too. I do not take kindly to blatant violation of my rights, and as outlined above and previously in this post, insistence that my rights are being followed is NOT a reason to violate them due to my "suspicious refusal to obey all commands."

Police are not gods. There are very clear laws protecting me, and I am NOT required to do EVERYTHING ordered by a police officer. I guess the people ignorant of their rights are "better of safe then sorry" though...at least that is the feeling I get from the pro- police/harassment people on here.

Obviously a little tack goes a long way, but unfortunately individual social training is not part of public school curriculum, and most people are uncomfortable in large crowds...as well as when they are confronted. In any country as diverse as ours you are going to have the full range of personalities to deal with, as well as a wide range of reactions to an uncomfortable situation.

Maybe I am just a suspicious dude with a criminal nature (which apparently has not been reflected in my numerous federal background checks), but blanket screening and suspicion of criminal activity makes me uncomfortable.

It is not a crime to know my rights, and it is not a crime to insist that my rights are followed. It amazes me how quickly people surrender their rights when confronted by an alpha male douche with a badge swinging his **** around.

What amazes me even more, is that there are so many people suggesting that we should just lie town and take it in the *** because "you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide."

iLoqin

iTrader: (5)

@aboothman, pretty well said. I have no teaching credentials, but I think opening up a "streets smart" class would be a pretty interesting course for highschool/college. Educate people on their rights, educate people on how to fight tickets, educate people period on **** like credit cards, and bank accounts, mortgages, car payments, cell phones, solicitors, stock markets, etc. Maybe a little bit of self defense, or role playing would be involved. Hell, maybe even educating people on twitter/facebook and all the social things that are normal at this day and age. Maybe even a kindle, you could expand this pretty far! curriculum would always change.

c32c7

iTrader: (1)

LOL at what this guy did at a similar Border Patrol checkpoint. Seems like he was well aware of his rights and knew exactly what they can/cannot do.

http://www.videosift.com/video/Am-I-Being-Detained