"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
I'm no liberal, but I thoroughly believe in civil liberties. The U.S. government can now open mail without a warrant in addition to wiretapping. They say this is only under extraordinary circumstances; does anyone believe that?
2007-01-04 05:44:59 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
It doesn't matter if it's only under "extraordinary circumstances" maybe, right now it's only being used to combat terrorism. But if you give a government a power like that sooner or later they will use it for something bad.
2007-01-04 05:54:30 · answer #1 · answered by Jessy 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This has been happening for quite a while now. It started in the 80's as a tool in the war on drugs. The police could seize your belongings and force you out of your home just based on an arrest for drugs. Notice I said just an arrest. No need for a conviction. They passed what they called "Public nuisance" acts that allowed this and no one objected. Now that we have allowed this to happen illegal search and seizures are the norm. People, wake up, we are slowly turning into a quasi-communist country. The democrats move this along with all of their "entitlement" programs. Don't worry, the government will take care of you. There will soon be only two classes, the very rich and the very poor. Just take a look at France to see what our future holds.
2007-01-04 05:54:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It IS still important. What you are describing is blatantly unConstitutional. You need to write to your Congressmen and complain. Then VOTE!! If enough people did this, then something would be done about it. Unfortunately, most people think that it can't happen to them, or they do not care.
I'll never understand why they can't at least get a warrant, even in supposed "extreme circumstances." Before the government started breaking the law, you could even get one in retrospect. In other words, if you had a probable cause, you could go ahead and check what you needed to check and get the warrant later. I'd settle for that. All us "terrible" liberals are asking for is that this be handled in a legal and Constitutional way. Prove that you have probable cause and then get a freakin' warrant! Otherwise, we are in serious danger of limiting, not promoting, freedom. What's the point of democracy with no freedom?
2007-01-04 05:51:56 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Taco 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The fourth amendment states. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.
2016-05-23 03:04:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you against this because you have something to hide? Does this affect you directly? Are you with the terrorists being able to claim civil liberties that have nothing to do with them? You must be, because if you have nothing to hide, this will affect you in absolutely no way. These laws were put into effect so when the government does foil the next terrorist plot, it can hold over in court and the terrorist doesn't walk free because he claims the 4th amendment that he has no right to in the first place. We're at war, we need to protect our country. Wake up buddy.
2007-01-04 05:50:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, in those circumstances they do have probable cause that is supported by oath or affirmation. The only people that have anything to worry about are the people wearing tin-foil hats and terrorists.
2007-01-04 05:48:46 · answer #6 · answered by Titainsrule 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There are times when you have to stop thinking about your little selves and begin thinking about this country. Are your phone conversations so important and private that we do not want US Intelligence to listen to them? Do we have anything to hide in our own home besides the secret stash of dirty movies? It is important for us to unite during this time of war on terror and beat the evil. If US Government wants to go through my bills as I receive them then be it. If US Government wants to read my e-mails then we'll laugh together at the jokes my friends send me. What do American citizens have to hide from our government? People who do not want to give up their privacy have something to hide, that could be illegal or just simply embarrassing.
There is no such thing as free freedom. There is a price to pay for the lifestyle we enjoy to live; the price is to allow our government to do their job, to protect us.
2007-01-04 05:59:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't have anything that I don't want to government to see so I don't mind. I'd rather give up my privacy and security to the US government than give it up to some terrorist b/c people like you are too scared of the government to look at your mail. And seriously why would they look through mine? I highly doubt they would. Should they be looking through yours? Is that why your so worried about it? Anyway it reads "but upon probably cause" they wouldn't open it unless they feel the need like they think something is in it so don't worry and let them protect us and our country.
2007-01-04 05:49:59 · answer #8 · answered by Lovely Lady 27 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm against Mail-Opening.
Unless it saves a lot of our lives.
Then I'm for it.
I'm assuming that the letters are to known terrorists, just like the wiretapping of calls to known terrorists.
2007-01-04 05:49:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
I heard that mentioning the Constitution could put you on the list for being a terrorist.
2007-01-04 08:49:54 · answer #10 · answered by lalalalaconnectthedots 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋