DC Police to do Door to Door Gun Search

GeneticsDave · Mar 25, 2008

DC police want to go around neighborhoods in Washington DC searching for weapons in homes. If weapons are found, they will be destroyed (unless needed for evidence in criminal cases). Confiscation under the guise of a safety program, not to mention attempting to fool residents into believing that the police have the right to search your home without a warrant. This is an outrage!

:evil:

Police Ask Residents To Submit To Voluntary Searches

whiptrackercracker · Mar 25, 2008

I'd be willing to bet they come back with a warrant when you deny them entry to search too. Under suspision of holding illegal contraband or some stupid issue. Probable cause goes right out the door. Our founders would be shamed by this behavior supported by our government. Its a sad place in our countries capitol that a person who follows the constitution could be made a crimminal by the locale. This is seriously socialist/communist type behavior and I hope the supreme court steps up and stops this stuff. But I fear they will only skirt it and leave room for the laws to remain as they are.

mom of 3 angels · Mar 25, 2008

"Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said the "safe homes initiative" is aimed at residents who want to cooperate with police. She gave the example of parents or grandparents who know or suspect their children have guns in the home."

Man, they sure try to sugar coat it! And of course if you don't allow them in you are one of those people who don't "want to cooperate with police". This is ludicrous!

And parents who suspect children have "illegal" (they forgot that word in the report) guns in their home should be able to search their own home for them and not need police to do it for them.

What else is crazy is the little unscientific survey with that news story:

"If you thought there might be a gun in your home, would you invite police in to search?"
As of my vote, 39% of respondants actually said yes!

Take some responsibility for your own home and family, you don't need the police to do it for you! The mentality of some people just makes me crazy! (okay, I'm done ranting now)

whiptrackercracker · Mar 25, 2008

It goes back to that Nanny State idea where the government knows best in our affairs. They are playing on the fears that guns are dangerous creatures. Who knows, it may accidentally discharge in your closet. They can call it all sorts of friendly, but when they use the same type of words that nazi troops or russian stazi use, I start to get extremely worried. Don't worry folks, we are concerned for your safety. We want you to wear these little stars on your clothing. That way when your out in public we know who you are and we can protect you. Better yet, why don't you get on this train, we have a nice camp that you can live at where we can better protect you. People need to respect authority with their eyes open. Its ok to question authority, if we don't they may grow into something we don't like. There tends to be this trend that one must follow authority and not question their motives. ERRRR WRONG, those in the past who have done so have woken up to a society that is to far from repair. Ok, I feel better. A little more ranting helps. It just amazes me that MY country is doing this type of behavior. I seriously hope SCOTUS puts their big fat boot into the DC camp of government.

Cinhil · Mar 25, 2008

Whiptrackertracker,

I agree with you! +1

xmirage2kx · Mar 25, 2008

:agree:

Mazellan · Mar 25, 2008

:agree: I am tired of this socialist crap! :nilly:

Paul · Mar 25, 2008

:jawdrop:

I was going to post that barfing emoticon but it has disappeared.... What gives? that was my favorite.

Mazellan · Mar 25, 2008

uke: Right there just click on view more emoticons

T-Man · Mar 25, 2008

I can't even wrap my head around this. Whose idea was this anyway? Violate the 4th Amendment in order to make sure we can keep violating the 2nd? The fact that this is happening in our nation's capital just scares the crap out of me.

Car Knocker · Mar 25, 2008

T-Man said:
Violate the 4th Amendment in order to make sure we can keep violating the 2nd?

No violation of any Amendment. As desribed, consent of the homeowner/renter is required for the police to enter and search.

Car Knocker · Mar 25, 2008

PW said:
:jawdrop:

I was going to post that barfing emoticon but it has disappeared.... What gives? that was my favorite.

:dunno:

GeneticsDave · Mar 25, 2008

Car Knocker said:
T-Man said:

Violate the 4th Amendment in order to make sure we can keep violating the 2nd?

Click to expand...

No violation of any Amendment. As described, consent of the homeowner/renter is required for the police to enter and search.

It's still a violation of their position as police officers. If they told the inhabitants that they would like to do a search, but weren't legally able to unless they had permission, then I would agree with you. But I can guarantee they aren't going to say that. They will ask to search the premises for illegal weapons - they won't inform the people that they can say "no". This is an abuse of power and position and effectively violates the 4th amendment.

UtahCFP · Mar 25, 2008

They say this is all about removing drugs and guns and not about catching criminals.

Still, they *will* test any guns confiscated to see if they were used in a crime. If a gun was used in a crime, but they've given "immunity", then what?

GeneticsDave · Mar 25, 2008

Well then they can close cases. Despite granting amnesty, they could bring up charges on other counts or at least clear their cases and make their numbers look better. This is all about making it look like they are doing their job, while not actually serving Justice in any form.

T-Man · Mar 25, 2008

UtahCFP said:
They say this is all about removing drugs and guns and not about catching criminals.

Still, they *will* test any guns confiscated to see if they were used in a crime. If a gun was used in a crime, but they've given "immunity", then what?

Obviously GUNS are to blame for crime. The DC Police have realized this and are simply trying to remove guns from their community.

A police spokeswoman said that if evidence of other crimes is found during voluntary searches, amnesty will be granted for that crime as well.

"Chief Lanier has been clear," Traci Hughes said. "Amnesty means amnesty."

So, if you have used a gun in a crime (for example, armed robbery) and that gun is in your house, all you have to do is consent to the search. Your gun will be confiscated and you will be given amnesty for the crime. Because guns are to blame and it is more important to get guns off the street than to catch the people who actually committed the crime. By taking the gun out of your house, the police would assure that you would go on to live a long and prosperous life as a law-abiding citizen.

[/sarcasm]

GeneticsDave · Mar 26, 2008

Ahh, rank with sarcasm... love it!

Car Knocker · Mar 26, 2008

The American Civil Liberties Union went door to door in a Ward 8 neighborhood. They're warning people not to voluntarily let police search their home for guns under a new plan police launched this week.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/News ... geId=3.2.1

Ty · Mar 26, 2008

This isn't the first time police have done a city wide permission based search.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articl ... _in_homes/

And I think it's happened in California once as well. Still looking for the link.

Car Knocker · Mar 26, 2008

Here is an excerpt from an article dated yesterday on Boston's program. It appears that the NY program may be garnering the same sort of opposition from the community.

Boston police officials, surprised by intense opposition from residents, have significantly scaled back and delayed the start of a program that would allow officers to go into people's homes and search for guns without a warrant.

The program, dubbed Safe Homes, was supposed to start in December, but has been delayed at least three times because of misgivings in the community. March 1 was the latest missed start date.

One community group has been circulating a petition against the plan. Police officials trying to assuage residents' fears have been drowned out by criticism at some meetings with residents and elected officials.

Officers may begin knocking on doors this week, officials said yesterday, but instead of heading into four troubled neighborhoods, as they had planned, officers will target only one, Egleston Square in Jamaica Plain, where police said they have received the most support.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... ns?mode=PF