Our civil liberties are being shredded: Does no one care?
From Reason, here is another frightening article about the abuse of police power and the overuse of paramilitary SWAT teams to terrorize American citizens. We're living in a police state, folks. This country's founding fathers would never have tolerated the abuses that go on daily. Some people wondered why I was so critical of sobriety checkpoints last month. The reason is because sobriety checkpoints represent one more in a truly frightening line of abuses by law enforcement that are chipping away at our civil rights.
In August a team of heavily armed Orange County, Florida, sheriff’s deputies raided several black- and Hispanic-owned barbershops in the Orlando area. There were more raids in September and October. According to the Orlando Sentinel, barbers and customers were held at gunpoint, some in handcuffs, while police turned the shops upside down. A total of nine shops were raided, and 37 people were arrested.
By all appearances, these raids were drug sweeps. Shop owners told the Sentinel police asked where they were hiding illegal drugs and weapons. But in the end, 34 of the 37 arrests were for "barbering without a licence," a misdemeanor for which only three people have ever served jail time in Florida. Two arrests were for misdemeanor marijuana possession. Just one person was arrested on felony drug and weapon charges.
(Emphasis is mine.)
This has to stop, people. We should not have to live in fear of our government.
Previous editorials:
The Waco Massacre: 17 years ago today -- April 19, 2010
April 19, 1993 vs. April 19, 1995 -- April 20, 2010
Don't punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty -- May 25, 2010
People should not live in fear of their government -- May 27, 2010
Alcohol, underage drinking and Big Brother -- August 3, 2010
Seek justice, not convictions (Part III) -- August 5, 2010
Revisit the "War on Drugs" -- August 5, 2010
Extrajudicial assasinations of U.S. citizens: simply wrong -- October 15, 2010
Sobriety checkpoints should be illegal -- August 27, 2010
Trading liberty for security is dangerous -- November 16, 2010
Nanny state ninnies seek to ban alcoholic energy drinks -- November 17, 2010
"Do something" should not be the default -- November 22, 2010
What I choose to take for my cold is none of your business! -- December 17, 2010