Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

America's Soft Police State
American Thinker ^ | April 24, 2015 | Mark J. Fitzgibbons

Posted on 04/26/2015 12:43:14 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Today Americans live in a soft police state. We may not sense its severity and doom like runaway slaves or Anne Frank, but the freedoms of the greatest number of Americans have never been more threatened and violated institutionally -- both openly and secretively -- by our own government.

The Fourth Amendment, which is the law limiting government power to search and seize our persons and most private property, has been gutted by executive and administrative actions, Congress, and the courts -- the very bodies that were supposed to enforce it on government. This American Bill of Right is based in English common law, and was written to prevent what’s now called a “police state.”

Although Americans now live in a soft police state, we may not understand how we got to this point, or why reclaiming the Fourth Amendment is essential to retaining our exceptionalism that flows from freedom. Also, a proposed 21st Century Fourth Amendment introduced in the Virginia General Assembly this year is a model that can restore this Bill of Right to its rightful status.

The Fourth Amendment is quintessentially American even though it is based in English common law. It inherently relies on the separation of powers, but that too comes from the common law, and was forged through centuries-old battles between freedom and tyranny.

The Fourth Amendment is written in broad strokes covering many complex concepts, but has three basic parts -- trespass, process, and specificity. Understanding them, and the historical context from which they evolved, will help us reclaim this Bill of Right.

The first clause (or part) reads: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated….”(continued)

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: obama
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-24 last
To: nathanbedford

If drugs didn’t exist, they’d have found another way.


21 posted on 04/26/2015 10:06:28 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Somehow I don't think you would be quite so blasé if I suggested, "they will find a way whether we have or do not have the right to bear arms."


22 posted on 04/26/2015 11:46:22 AM PDT by nathanbedford ("Attack, repeat, attack!" Bull Halsey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: RC one

Hell, just militarize the southern border.


23 posted on 04/26/2015 11:46:23 AM PDT by servantboy777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nathanbedford

The largest Army in the world sits in their “man caves” or living rooms right now, watching sports or out in the shed working on the lawn mower.


24 posted on 04/26/2015 11:59:08 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can help: https://donate.tedcruz.org/c/FBTX0095/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-24 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson