Should people who report suspicious activity in good faith to authorities be protected from lawsuits?

Question

There is legislation in the Congress to accomplish this, but it appears the Democratic leadership was trying to defeat it.

What say you?

Answer 1

No man or woman should be intimidated into not reporting suspicious activity . That makes the citizen a criminal and is backwards .
Case in point . Right now there's a rape case where the judge has ruled that the victim cannot use the word 'rape' in her testimony . The judge said she could use words like 'sexual intercourse' . Hopefully this will eventually get reversed by a higher court , but for now this poor woman must say 'he had sexual intercourse with me' . That alone removes the crime from it's very implications .
hehe .. . .Are you stocking-up on food ? I am .

Answer 2

There is a saying, "all it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing". I think this might apply to your question, but a key concern in my mind is - who determines the "good faith"? Human relations are such a gray area - not so easy to say yes or no, wrong or right, as it is for a computer - I think that would be key to the issue, though all right thinking people should want to stop socially bad actions - but again, who decides is of primary importance. Anybody who EVER says they have never made a mistake, has either already made one, or lived a VERY sheltered life!

Answer 3

I don't understand the democrat leadership. Since they've been in power there has been attacks on the 1st, 2nd and 13th amendment, and now they want those who have the guts to protect their community or environment to be quieted. Am I the only one who sees this as a concern?

Answer 4

Yes, I believe people have an obligation to help keep their communities safe by reporting suspicious activity.

I think it would be absurd to allow someone to be sued for performing a duty that used to be considered good citizenship.

Answer 5

They already are protected. Civil laws already protect anyone who makes a report in good faith.

The law being debate in Congress grants ABSOLUTE immunity, even in the event of bad faith or blatant racial profiling. It goes far beyond the good faith protections that already exist.

That's why it's a bad idea. It's redundant for those acting in good faith, and those acting in bad faith shouldn't be protected from civil liability.

Answer 6

if the information they provide is sound and helps to obtain a conviction or legal action, they would be protected where appropriate... its called witness protection

Answer 7

snitches? nah, those people are trash. NEVER TRUST THE AUTHORITIES.