RobertN Wrote:

Lord Stanley Wrote:Don't question my patriotism! Or something like that.

Why not? The right has questioned mine for 8 years now we can't question yours?

The key distinction being that you were - and remain - unpatriotic.

(03-19-2009 07:44 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I'm sorry...If I am arrested for speeding...there is no victim. It is simply arbitrary enforcement of a statute. I have no problem with arresting those that are "driving dangerously" such as driving under the influence ..but..56 in a 55 is not dangerous driving and yet it is by statute a violation.

By the FBIs own stats for 2007..There were aprox 600,000 arrests for violent crimes in the US. Conversely...there were 775,000 arrests for simple possession of cannabis. Again...a crime that has no victim.
In addition...Nationwide there were just over 2million arrests for violent+property crimes and 1.65 million arrests for cannabis related charges.

The disturbing part of the drug war is that cannabis arrests fuel the police state. It is undeniable...and here again are the FBI stats. In 2007 there were just over 1,800,000 drug arrests in the US...1,600,000 for cannabis related charges. That leaves aprox. 200,000 arrests that involve what most of us call dangerous drugs. This disparity suggests that the focus is NOT on dangerous drugs but cannabis. Hey...busting a pothead for a nickle bag is much less dangerous than going after Meth and Coke producers.

Just imagine how much money is generated by arrests and prosecution of simple possession for cannabis in the US....I could not give a figure..but..It does not take an accountant to understand that this is simply a case of "ringing the cash register" for the state and the police bureaucracy.

Legalize cannabis. Give officers more time to concentrate on arrests and prevention of real crimes of violence,theft and fraud.

Trip...I urge you to goto: LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) and research what many former officers are saying about the war on drugs.

Like I said Fo, if you happen to get that Speeding Ticket while going by that house the home owner called a Speeding Complaint from or thru that Speeder Hot Zone on a certain stretch of Highway the public is screaming about, then the Complaining Parties, are the Victims ..... Now if you are out on the Interstate and it is pedal to the metal, then it pretty much is just you and the wind and you are most likely having to race just to keep up.

And as far as our "Drug Laws" go - - we have all the power we need on the books to pretty much eradicate all the Drug Lord Vermin out there, they just don't use it either correctly or wisely.

I mean going after millions of street level bag punks is just a foolish waste of time if you are trying to Stop Drugs Flowing - - BUT, it is an awesome way to make sure you ALWAYS have fresh meat to justify your agencies Drug Enforcement Budget.

You get rid of the Drug Lords and you make your self obsolete and unemployed.

As I have said, 'they' aren't really trying all that hard no matter how many "supposed Big Bust" they make .... it is mostly flash in the pan for public consumption and for Budget Committee meetings.

.

(03-20-2009 06:06 AM)Tripster Wrote:  

(03-19-2009 07:44 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  I'm sorry...If I am arrested for speeding...there is no victim. It is simply arbitrary enforcement of a statute. I have no problem with arresting those that are "driving dangerously" such as driving under the influence ..but..56 in a 55 is not dangerous driving and yet it is by statute a violation.

By the FBIs own stats for 2007..There were aprox 600,000 arrests for violent crimes in the US. Conversely...there were 775,000 arrests for simple possession of cannabis. Again...a crime that has no victim.
In addition...Nationwide there were just over 2million arrests for violent+property crimes and 1.65 million arrests for cannabis related charges.

The disturbing part of the drug war is that cannabis arrests fuel the police state. It is undeniable...and here again are the FBI stats. In 2007 there were just over 1,800,000 drug arrests in the US...1,600,000 for cannabis related charges. That leaves aprox. 200,000 arrests that involve what most of us call dangerous drugs. This disparity suggests that the focus is NOT on dangerous drugs but cannabis. Hey...busting a pothead for a nickle bag is much less dangerous than going after Meth and Coke producers.

Just imagine how much money is generated by arrests and prosecution of simple possession for cannabis in the US....I could not give a figure..but..It does not take an accountant to understand that this is simply a case of "ringing the cash register" for the state and the police bureaucracy.

Legalize cannabis. Give officers more time to concentrate on arrests and prevention of real crimes of violence,theft and fraud.

Trip...I urge you to goto: LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) and research what many former officers are saying about the war on drugs.

Like I said Fo, if you happen to get that Speeding Ticket while going by that house the home owner called a Speeding Complaint from or thru that Speeder Hot Zone on a certain stretch of Highway the public is screaming about, then the Complaining Parties, are the Victims ..... Now if you are out on the Interstate and it is pedal to the metal, then it pretty much is just you and the wind and you are most likely having to race just to keep up.

And as far as our "Drug Laws" go - - we have all the power we need on the books to pretty much eradicate all the Drug Lord Vermin out there, they just don't use it either correctly or wisely.

I mean going after millions of street level bag punks is just a foolish waste of time if you are trying to Stop Drugs Flowing - - BUT, it is an awesome way to make sure you ALWAYS have fresh meat to justify your agencies Drug Enforcement Budget.

You get rid of the Drug Lords and you make your self obsolete and unemployed.

As I have said, 'they' aren't really trying all that hard no matter how many "supposed Big Bust" they make .... it is mostly flash in the pan for public consumption and for Budget Committee meetings.

.

This Monday night my Optimist Club held it's annual "respect for law" program. It is basically just an award dinner honoring local officers from the clerk of court to wildlife officers...Most of which are good people that are well meaning. The HP candidate had the distinction of having written over 2200 tickets in 2008.....I joked with one of the members afterward that they should put a cash register in his patrol car.
I found it interesting that the Sheriff and DA made a huge deal out of the amount of loot that they confiscated during drug arrests. I counted in my head over $500,000 while talked about just "some" of the arrests that were made in 08. Hey..I'm talking about SENC...which is very rural. Imagine the amounts confiscated in urban areas.

(03-20-2009 08:09 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  This Monday night my Optimist Club held it's annual "respect for law" program. It is basically just an award dinner honoring local officers from the clerk of court to wildlife officers...Most of which are good people that are well meaning. The HP candidate had the distinction of having written over 2200 tickets in 2008.....I joked with one of the members afterward that they should put a cash register in his patrol car.
I found it interesting that the Sheriff and DA made a huge deal out of the amount of loot that they confiscated during drug arrests. I counted in my head over $500,000 while talked about just "some" of the arrests that were made in 08. Hey..I'm talking about SENC...which is very rural. Imagine the amounts confiscated in urban areas.

Well see there is another Pos for Law Enforcement to play games with Low and Mid Level Players .... the constant flow of "Confiscated Booty" (no not that kind of booty).

ALL ASSETS from Illegal Activity can be seized by the Primary Department and used as needed. We are talking Mansions, Log Cabin River Camps, Planes of all sizes and types, Cars from $5000 to $500,000, Boats from 12 Foot Aluminum up to Yachts worth Millions ... and on and on.

The Lower and Mid Level Players are usually the guys playing super-star and going on Bling Binges - - they have the best goodies and Law Enforcement knows this.

Sure, if your Budget is only $500,000 and you can grab an additional $500,000 from Confiscation, you have hit the jackpot. I know it doesn't sound like much money, but there are a combined pile of Hundreds of Millions of dollars being pushed around all over this country from this type of Confiscation.

It is what a lot of poorer Law Enforcement Agencies rely on for that extra break they need to fund their departments without begging for New Taxes or Federal Funds that have asinine strings attached to them.

I know a Forensics Tech that drove around in a Confiscated $50,000 dollar Cherry Red Jeep Grand Cherokee, with Gold Plated Wire Spoke Wheels and a high dollar boom boom sound system ( ) - - that was his Departmental Vehicle ..... LOL

He never complained ...

.

Quote:Fo, Trip

Hang with me here.

I have no problem confiscating contraband from criminals. That way all the 7th graders get to see the 89 Corvette painted in DARE colors.

What cheezes me to no freakin end is when Police Departments use these funds (or other means of funding) to purchase excessive surplus military items for everyday policing. I'm not talking about M-16's to keep in the trunk of the patrol car, I'm talking about armored cars, miltary camo etc, massively armed Swat team to arrest old ladies ratted out by neighbors, etc.

I think I would win a City Council seat running on "No excessive military hardware for Police, and damn it all Police should dress in blue, not camo and black. They can still kick your ass if you talk back, but they'll be in blue."

Silly point, but the militarification of our civilian police force is something that is a concern for me. Sounds ridiculous, but I would like to see the police ditch the black and camo for blue.

(03-20-2009 11:30 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

Quote:Fo, Trip

Hang with me here.

I have no problem confiscating contraband from criminals. That way all the 7th graders get to see the 89 Corvette painted in DARE colors.

What cheezes me to no freakin end is when Police Departments use these funds (or other means of funding) to purchase excessive surplus military items for everyday policing. I'm not talking about M-16's to keep in the trunk of the patrol car, I'm talking about armored cars, miltary camo etc, massively armed Swat team to arrest old ladies ratted out by neighbors, etc.

I think I would win a City Council seat running on "No excessive military hardware for Police, and damn it all Police should dress in blue, not camo and black. They can still kick your ass if you talk back, but they'll be in blue."

Silly point, but the militarification of our civilian police force is something that is a concern for me. Sounds ridiculous, but I would like to see the police ditch the black and camo for blue.

No, I am with you on this one.

There was a time when Police were actually Legally Outgunned and Out Armored .... Cops were wearing hand-me-down used Tactical Vest and the Gang Members and Armed Robbers had the latest light weight $4000 dollar Body Armor.

With the passing of laws and a more aware populace, Police Agencies have been able to Arm and Protect them selves better and better.

But as you see, it is becoming more and more Military'esque and most Departments are getting training that places them in the Category of being a "Paramilitary Organization" which can morph right in with the Actual United States Military when Martial Law needs to be invoked.

This is most definitely by popular design and in some cases it is a good thing, but in most, it is at best, scary.

For a long time and I mean a Long Long Time, I was the only guy around with a M16 - - nowadays, every bloody Commissioned Officer is assigned one it seems, if not assigned more.

Give them all the "Proper Protections they Need", but you best watch the overkill - - it just may come to that (overkill).

.

(03-20-2009 11:30 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

Quote:Fo, Trip

Hang with me here.

I have no problem confiscating contraband from criminals. That way all the 7th graders get to see the 89 Corvette painted in DARE colors.

What cheezes me to no freakin end is when Police Departments use these funds (or other means of funding) to purchase excessive surplus military items for everyday policing. I'm not talking about M-16's to keep in the trunk of the patrol car, I'm talking about armored cars, miltary camo etc, massively armed Swat team to arrest old ladies ratted out by neighbors, etc.

I think I would win a City Council seat running on "No excessive military hardware for Police, and damn it all Police should dress in blue, not camo and black. They can still kick your ass if you talk back, but they'll be in blue."

Silly point, but the militarification of our civilian police force is something that is a concern for me. Sounds ridiculous, but I would like to see the police ditch the black and camo for blue.

I totally agree and I don't think you are making a silly point. It makes me think that there is a plan afoot to eventually merge the military and the police together.