Rand Paul introduces the most sweeping reform of civil asset forfeiture law in decades

Rare.us ^ | March 17, 2017 4:16pm | Rare

[M Kehoe]

About time.

These laws were to be a deterrent against breaking the law (i.e. drugs and RICO).

What the law has done is cause corruption and graft in government, and tyranny upon the people.

Reform maybe, but I say get rid of them.

5.56mm

[Svartalfiar]

That is wrong thinking and we should all be able to agree - if the person is convicted of the crime and the fruits of the illegal acts are shown to be part of the crime it stands to reason that “seizure” is part of the punishment so crime does not pay.

But the problem with your whole post is that this isn't civil forfeiture - this is criminal forfeiture, and requires there to be proof of wrongdoing before the government can take your (or not yours) property. Civil forfeiture requires YOU to prove that the property they took, simply because it 'looked suspicious', isn't from a crime. It's absolutely ridiculous. If they can't prove a crime, then they shouldn't be taking property. Period. Here's a decent link that does a good job explaining the differences.

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/forfeiture-as-an-effective-law-enforcement-tool

[servantboy777]

Asset theft by Law Enforcement needs to stop muey pronto. This is just about as wrong as it gets.

[Drew68]

The end of the world must be nigh. Never thought I’d see movement toward restoring property rights. Indeed a revolution is in the offing.

Rand Paul has long been on the right side of this issue. Sadly, all too often a lonely voice in the wilderness.

[Drew68]

So who is going to oppose this act? The dims?

Prepare to be disappointed.

I expect strong bipartisan opposition, to include the president.

[CARTOUCHE]

Rand Paul has long been on the right side of this issue.

And his father if I recall correctly.

[Fhios]

It was a good idea when Reagan introduced it. But as all things people and governments are corrupt in many ways. I thought this used to be a ‘kingpin’ type law, but somewhere along the way they dropped the ‘kingpin’.

[Reily]

Where it went wrong was one they allowed local LEO organizations to financially & materially benefit from asset seizure.