Disclaimer: I’m not a Democrat. I’m not a Republican. I’m a civil rights advocate. I will call out each and every person in power who violates, or promotes the violation of, our rights, regardless of whether there is an (R) or a (D) following his or her name.
On this blog, the subject of police abuse comes up regularly. I’ve personally sued the police for stop-and-frisk, for helping the TSA detain me, for attempting to implement “street body scanners,” and for refusing to issue gun licenses to ordinary citizens. I’ve called out Texas cops for abusive searches, Miami cops for arresting photographers, London police for thinking they’re a spy agency, New York cops for saying that it’s okay to “get a few punches” in during an arrest, and so forth.
Needless to say, I think that there is a massive issue with policing in this country. I think that’s something that most of us can more-or-less agree on: it would be nice if we could get rid of bad cops, because they threaten our freedom and embarrass our country.
So when the President of the United States gets up in front of a crowd, on camera, and says that cops should feel free to rough up illegal immigrants as they are arrested, I take exception:
“Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over? Like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody. Don’t hit their head? I said, ‘You can take the hand away, OK?'”
Now, obviously, few of us feel bad if a murder is injured in his capture, but the problem is that most immigration arrestees are not murderers, and even the ones who are suspected of the same have not been convicted. We have a court system to ensure that those who commit crimes are punished and those who have not are set free. It is not up to the police to begin that punishment at the time of arrest.
I’m apparently not the only one who takes exception.
Los Angeles:
Long Island:
Gainsville:
Mr. Trump’s remarks last week were disturbing. He should take them back. But we all know he won’t.
Professional Troublemaker ® 
this is FAKE NEWS and how the FUCK can i unsubscribe? I’m trapped and your unsubscribe button doesn’t work….
lol, there’s a video of Trump speaking the words… how is this “fake?”
Considering he was talking about MS-13, a very brutal drug gang, I’d prefer life imprisonment and/or a trip to old sparky.
Since he was giving a speech, not a direct order, why do people take every little word so seriously? It’s not like he signed a executive order or legislation forcing law enforcement to do this. Get a grip people.
You used to be very conservative, it seems like your law studies and interactions have turned you more liberal over time. While I don’t find Trump comments at all times within perfection the joke he’s making resonates, it’s strange how some people can’t tell a joke from an order. Where are your cases on getting the TSA ejected from 4th amendment violations? It seems like you’ve stopped, they have no probable cause no exigent circumstance and Congress never amended the constiution to allow this. They have crossed the line into outright assault and abuse and you’re obsessing like some Trump deranged fanatic. Ignore the politics and start looking at rights again, civil liberties are under the same exact attacks they were under Obama.
> You used to be very conservative…
…back when I was challenging the administration of a President with a D next to his name, right?
> …it seems like your law studies and interactions have turned you more liberal over time
With rare exceptions (not mine), law schools are not some kind of liberal breeding ground. Lawyers in general are a conservative bunch. So, no.
> the joke he’s making resonates, it’s strange how some people can’t tell a joke from an order
The President of the United States does not get to “joke” about police abuse. It’s not funny, and it sends the wrong message. That’s why I called him out on it here.
> Where are your cases on getting the TSA ejected from 4th amendment violations? It seems like you’ve stopped
I have a lawsuit against the TSA pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals and have posted 10 articles to this blog regarding the TSA so far this calendar year: https://professional-troublemaker.com/category/tsa/
> They have crossed the line into outright assault and abuse and you’re obsessing like some Trump deranged fanatic.
Ah, there it is. 🙂 Anyone who criticizes Trump is a “deranged fanatic.”
> Ignore the politics and start looking at rights again, civil liberties are under the same exact attacks they were under Obama.
Same to you, and here’s a hint: supporting Trump is neither supporting conservatism nor supporting civil rights.
There was a time when Americans believed in freedom.
The US is dying from a million cuts. Part of the reason the USA is a nanny police state now is that whenever there is a problem, the kneejerk reaction in the US is to call for a new law.
Nanny state laws are not the best solution, however. Nanny state laws lead to more laws, higher fines, and tougher sentences. Thirty-five years ago, DWI laws were enacted that led to DWI checkpoints and lower DWI levels. Seatbelt laws led to backseat seatbelt laws, childseat laws, and pet seatbelt laws. Car liability insurance laws led to health insurance laws and gun liability laws. Smoking laws that banned smoking in buildings led to laws against smoking in parks and then bans against smoking in entire cities. Sex offender registration laws led to sex offender restriction laws and violent offender registration laws.
Nanny state laws don’t make us safer, either. Nanny state laws lead people to be careless since they don’t need to have personal responsibility anymore. People don’t need to be careful crossing the street now because drunk-driving has been outlawed and driving while using a mobile phone is illegal. People don’t investigate companies or carry out due diligence because businesses must have business licenses now.
The main point of nanny state laws is not safety. The main purposes of more laws are control and revenue generation for the state.
Another reason laws are enacted is because corporations give donations to lawmakers to stifle competition or increase sales.
Many laws are contradictory, too. Some laws say watering lawns is required, while other laws say watering lawns is illegal.
Many nanny state laws that aim to solve a problem can be fixed by using existing laws. If assault is already illegal, why do we need a new law that outlaws hitting umpires?
Nanny state laws are not even necessary. If everything was legal would you steal, murder, and use crack cocaine? Aren’t there other ways to solve problems besides calling the police? Couldn’t people educate or talk to people who bother them? Couldn’t people be sued for annoying behavior? Couldn’t people just move away? Even if assault was legal, wouldn’t attackers risk being killed or injured, too? Do people have consciences? Having no laws doesn’t mean actions have no consequences.
If there is no victim, there is no crime.
We don’t need thousands of laws when we only need 10.
Should swimming pools be banned because they are dangerous? Hammers? Bottles? Rocks?
Energy drinks? Pillows?
Where does it end?
Freedom is not just a one way street. You can only have freedom for yourself if you allow others to
have it.
Control freaks might get angry when a neighbor owns three indoor cats, but what did the neighbor take from them? Why should this be illegal? Is outlawing cats something a free country should do? Doesn’t banning everything sound like the opposite of liberty?
Instead of getting mad at people who like freedom, why don’t people realize that freedom is a two way street?
If you allow others to paint their house purple then you can, too.
If you allow others to own a gun then you can, too.
If you allow others to swear then you can, too.
If you allow others to gamble then you can, too.
Who wants to live in a prison?
Think. Question everything.
71 Motorists Arrested at 3 Day Border Patrol Checkpoint In The White Mountains:
http://www.unionleader.com/crime/us-border-patrol-arrests-25-illegals-at-i-93-roadblock-seizes-pounds-of-pot-20170828