reply to post by whatukno
Except it's not a sensible piece of legislation, going after legal citizens, and subverting the 4th Amendment in search of illegals is not
sensible at all.
How many gosh durn times does this have to be rehashed?
The bill cites -National- laws. It is a policy law that allows an officer to, when stopping someone following observation of a legal infraction,
require proof of citizenship. It is not any different than being asked to show my drivers' license when getting pulled over, being required to
submit to a breathalyzer test if there is reasonable suspicion that I have been drinking.
Would you think it was sensible if you were detained in an INS facility for not having your paperwork on you? Would you think it was all ok,
while they let you sit in a jail cell waiting for them to get around to verifying your identity?
When I went to Korea, we carried a SOFA card around with us at all times. I had at least two, and my Geneva Conventions ID (Military ID/CAC). If
stuff happened and we found ourselves in a jam, it told the Korean law enforcement (who were sure to show up) that we were military and how to get
into contact with our chain of command and get everything sorted out. We checked into that country using our military ID and orders and logged in
their digital system. That way - were we apprehended by Korean national authorities, it would also (eventually) come to light who we were and why we
were there, and who we reported to. Civilians checked in differently, but you had to have a clear reason for being there and you had better mind your
Ps and Qs.
There was none of this "open borders" nonsense. If you got arrested and didn't check in through immigration and have a valid reason for being
there, they stopped just short of crucifying you.
So, you know - there's nothing wrong with requiring people in this country be a citizen of it, or have a damned good reason for being here. I'm not
saying beat and torture people because they don't have their papers on them (or whatever) - but state-issued IDs are almost mandatory to get through
life. If you don't have one that states who you are and why you are here (citizens obviously not needing a reason for being there other than they
want to be and it's their country to wander around in) - then you're living pretty dangerously or minimally, depending upon your circumstances.
I personally would be quite aggravated and angry for the illegal detention and the violation of my 4th Amendment rights.
It's not a violation of 4th Amendment rights. The legislation does not give an officer the authority to ask for proof of citizenship off-hand. You
can't go door-to-door and ask for papers. In fact - the law prevents this abuse of authority (or, rather, forbids it - making it a crime to go
around asking for proof of citizenship). However, if you are out after curfew and get stopped by an officer, he can ask for ID that establishes you
as a legal citizen/visitor to the U.S. This is exactly the way many other countries run their immigration system - many of them belonging to the
European Union.
I guess they will find whatever hot button issue they can in order to take away your civil liberties.
Well, it really wouldn't matter that much if merely existing in this country didn't come with so many perks. Many places offer free health care,
education programs for racial groups, government-subsidized standards of living, etc. If we just had sales tax and didn't try to use the government
to pay for everything, to include our house, then I honestly wouldn't give a damned if ten million of them flooded the border and we let them come
and go as they please. By all means - spend money in our economy, make businesses and jobs, etc. Just don't show up to vote if you aren't a
citizen.
But that's not the case. The fact is that there are - literally - drug wars consuming huge amounts of lives and resources along the southern border.
It is a
serious security risk. If I were a country wanting to attack America - I would smuggle arms, explosives, and operatives in through
the gaping anus of a southern border we have. There is realistically no control over persons and materials crossing the border. Build a wall, dig a
moat, fill it with water, and put Piranhas in it. Think you had a bad day? Try crossing a river filled with coke-crazed piranhas from all of the
slaughtered drug runners.
Seriously - it's beyond ridiculous. There's substantial evidence linking Mexican military members (and possibly endorsed operations) to the illicit
drug trafficking from Mexico.
Foreign military operatives are -operating- within our borders. It's called a wall, armed guards, and "you
don't belong here - GTFO."