Creeping Totalitarianism

The folks at the TSA just keep having bright ideas: If there is any truth to the old military expression that "the uniform makes the man," then new garb might do wonders for the morale of the nation's airport security screeners. That, and generating more respect from the flying public, is the hope of the Transportation Security Administration. On Thursday--the seventh … [Read more...] about Change of Costume at the Security Show

My post a few months ago on the evils of Civil Forfeiture just drew this response: Hmmm....you wouldn't have to worry about civil forfeiture if you weren't committing crime. Property is seized (money, cars, jewelry ect) when located in immediate proximity of narcotic related sales and when they are used in the commission of felony crimes. That's not quite how it works. … [Read more...] about More On Civil Forfeiture

Just when I think police militarization couldn't possibly get more disturbing, Radley Balko and Pete Guither find this: The Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff's Department has acquired an armored personnel carrier complete with a turret-mounted .50-caliber belt-fed machine gun for its Special Response Team.Sheriff Leon Lott told the Columbia State newspaper that he hoped the … [Read more...] about Richland County Kill Zone

One of the signs of emerging totalitarianism is the intrusion of the state security apparatus into areas where they don't belong, have nothing to contribute, or can cause serious harm by usurping the authority of true experts. For example, DEA agents have increasingly been interfering with medical decisions, first with painkillers and now with medical marijuana. Now Jim … [Read more...] about TSA Intrusions Endangering Passengers

Sgt. Joseph Chavalia, the Lima SWAT team member who killed Tarika Wilson and wounded her infant son, was not convicted. Not knowing all the facts of the case, that may even be the right decision. I've always felt that the problem with these tragedies is not necessarily with the officers who pull the trigger, but with the very idea that it's a good idea to have cops doing armed … [Read more...] about Tarika Wilson’s Killer Found Not Guilty