police state

Chris Knight's avatar

From August 25th, 2009 at a public meeting between Rep. Jim Moran and his constituents at South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia. As is happening a lot lately, the meeting was to discuss President Obama’s health care “reform”.

And outside the school, this exchange was taking place between a private citizen and polie officer Wesley Cheeks, Jr. During which Officer Cheeks is told that this is America and replies “It ain’t no more”…

The only comment I’ll make is that I’ve seen this sort of thing happening for a long time already. It certainly didn’t start with Barack Obama (I saw much of the same happening on George W. Bush’s watch). And I like to think that now that the shoe’s on the other foot, that some Americans who had been too dense before will start paying attention.

I like to think that, anyway....

Read more

Chris Knight's avatar

I’ve never liked mandatory seat belt laws. For one thing, it should be a matter of personal preference whether one chooses to wear a seat belt or not. In my mind such legislation embodies all the worst aspects of the “nanny state”. I understand that statistically, seat belts do tend to save lives. But I have also known plenty of people for whom seat belts are physically uncomfortable, because of medical conditions or something similar. My grandmother, f’rinstance. Whenever she got into a car she simply looped the belt around her shoulder and rode like that (something that I’ll admit to doing every so often as well 🙂

And then there are those who have argued that seat belt laws have nothing to do with safety at all: that they are designed to be reliable revenue streams for the states that have them. That case is certainly bolstered by the ...

Read more

Chris Knight's avatar

It’s like Barney Fife gone zealous with a genetics lab: legislators in the state of Washington are mulling the idea of getting DNA samples from everyone who is stopped by law enforcement for anything at all, even something so minor as a traffic infraction. And no, they don’t wanna wait until a conviction in court either: everybody arrested would have to yield over their personal deoxyribonucleic acid. Although supposedly the DNA would be destroyed if there is no conviction (yeah right).

Y’all in Washington, you need to fight this as hard as you can. This is a huge intrusion of personal rights and screw what the “bigger government” types are saying about how this is “needed” to be “safe”. It’s not a question of “will this be abused?” because history has proven that if a thing such as this is tolerated, it will be abused!...

Read more

Chris Knight's avatar

In August of 2001, I was p***ed-off enough about the “red light cameras” in Greensboro that I decided to do something about it. So I did some designin’ in Photoshop, took it to a Kinko’s and had it printed up huge and laminated, and for five hours in the hot sun stood next to one robosentinel that had particularly bothered me while holding a sign that read “SMILE: YOU’RE ON KOMRADE KAMERA!” Hee-hee-hee… got lots of supporters who honked in agreement as they drove past on Battleground Avenue.

So I think this next item is bigtime groovy…

Four people dressed as Santa Claus went around Tempe, Arizona a few days ago and put gift-wrapped boxes over three speed and red light cameras around the city. And for good measure they posted the video of their rebellion on YouTube…

It cannot be said enough: America is not her government. America is ...

Read more

Chris Knight's avatar

Slashdot has a humorous story about high school students in Maryland who have targeted those “speed cameras” there for clever abuse. The kids are finding people they don’t like – such as their most-hated teachers – and using laser printers and glossy paper to create high-quality copies of their prey’s license plates. Then they scram past the cameras at excess speed with the bogus plates on their cars and make the teachers or whoever get slapped with a $40 fine a few days later! From all appearances there is no oversight or investigation: the fines get sent out automatically.

We should start doing this with the cars of a lot of busybody politicians and bureaucrats. What say ye?...

Read more

Chris Knight's avatar

The United State Supreme Court has ruled that police can search and seize evidence even though the search itself is illegal.

This will be abused. The high court has just given “law enforcement officers” (God I hate that term) a blank check to stop, search and seize from everyone on even nonexistent grounds.

No doubt there are good cops out there who wouldn’t abuse this… but that does not diminish the fact that this will be abused. And enormously so.

Hell, this would even open the way for corrupt police to plant evidence.

Folks, it’s now patently obvious that this government is no longer of the people, by the people and for the people. It is now government protecting its own sorry ass. And that kind of government, friends and neighbors, is not a government worth our respect or support in the least bit.

Maybe it’s time for good people ...

Read more

Chris Knight's avatar

So far as I can tell this is not a joke! Here is the website for Lamperd, and it includes this video.

So the government now wants to put an “EMD Bracelet” on all airline passengers, and this bracelet would allow the Homeland Security bastitches to shock someone like a taser.

Here’s the video…

They really are getting bold about bringing us a police state, aren’t they? How long would it be before “The Powers That Be” started insisting that everyone wear one of these things, “for the public good”?

I think that anyone who seriously believes in mandating this thing, should have an EMD Bracelet wrapped firmly around their circular reproductive units and rendered the maximum level of electric shock continuously for not less than 24 hours....

Read more

Chris Knight's avatar

If only YouTube had existed in 2000…

In October of 2000 I was a reporter with an independent newspaper. And – through legitimate channels mind ya – I had been given an invitation to attend a rally for George W. Bush during the presidential debate at Wake Forest University. I was hoping to get a chance to ask Bush a few questions: nothing rude mind ya, but I was gonna try to make the most of the opportunity.

Bush staff found out that some “non-corporate” journalists were there and sent Winston-Salem police to track us down. One of them demanded to see my driver’s license and I asked why. About then a Bush staffer with a bullhorn came over and told me that I should do what she says “because whenever someone in a uniform tells you something you’re supposed to obey.”

This guy demanded to see my invitation. He ...

Read more