Crime and Punishment

Every once in a while, I get the urge to make predictions. That's because I believe that if someone claims to understand something, they should be able to successfully predict future developments. My track record, therefore, demonstrates that I don't understand anything. (Oh, sure, I called a few easy ones, like that John Mark Karr didn't really kill JonBenet Ramsey or that … [Read more...] about U.S. v. Julian Assange, A Prediction

Thanks to Scott Greenfield, I just found a new site that just might turn out to be a great source of things to blog about. It's called Right on Crime, and it promises to be about "The Conservative Case For Reform: Fighting Crime, Prioritizing Victims, and Protecting Taxpayers." With a tag line like that, something tells me they don't have a lot of libertarians on their board. … [Read more...] about Right on Crime

Why does anybody pay attention to what law enforcement employees think should be a crime? This is from Michele Leonhart's confirmation hearing as head of the DEA: "I'm a big fan of the DEA," said [Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama], before asking Leonhart point blank if she would fight medical marijuana legalization. "I have seen what marijuana use has done to young people, I … [Read more...] about Why Does Anyone Think Cops Know What Should Be a Crime?

I've pointed out before that we have so many laws that allow police departments to seize cars that we're turning our police forces into auto theft rings with badges. And I've commented several times on the police practice of conducting home invasions in the name of the War on Drugs. Now, it appears that Orleans Parish in Louisiana has graduated to hostage taking: … [Read more...] about Orleans Parish Takes a Hostage

No-knock warrants are dangerous, lazy, and stupid. The usual excuse for them is they are necessary to protect the arresting officers. Of course, we know this to be a lame excuse. In civilized parts of the world police will often phone the suspect telling him he is surrounded and to come out of the house. In less civilized parts of the world, like Afghanistan, bull horns are … [Read more...] about No-Knock Warrants for Gambling