Garland TX wants everybody's house keys

Examiner.com ^ | 11/15/2011 | Garry Reed

[servo1969]

Garland wants to be your boss, your big brother, your nanny, your wet nurse and your house sitter all rolled into one.

Heather Fazio, Texas Libertarian Party Membership Coordinator, issued the following Action Alert about Garland's city council meeting scheduled for November 14:

Council is requested to consider the recommendation of the Building and Fire Code Board and the Plumbing and Mechanical Code Board to adopt the 2009 International Fire, Residential, Building, Energy Conservation, Plumbing, Mechanical, Property Maintenance and Fuel Gas Codes along with local amendments.

What this means, Fazio explains, is that the city wants to make it mandatory for everyone to place a key box, like the ones used by real estate agents, on all doors to local businesses and homes so the Fire Department, or whomever they appoint, can enter your home or business at any time.

If you have a gate, they want a copy of that key too. "If you refuse," Fazio says, "the City will be able to refuse services, i.e., let the fire burn!"

[DCBryan1]

Sure...here is your copy of the back door....mind you that’s where I keep the Rattlesnakes.

[OldEagle]

Unwarranted search. Somebody needs to talk to Heather.

[sodpoodle]

What happened to breaking the doors and windows with axes?

Having access to keys is an invitation for burglaries. Are all employees with access codes etc., going to have security clearance? What about liability and insurance? What about sending emergency personnel to the wrong address?

Unintended consequences?

[sockmonkey]

I had never heard of such a thing until recently. My daughter’s friend in New Jersey was recently “surprised” when she walked into her kitchen, and a fireman was standing there. There was no fire in the neighborhood.

[Lady Lucky]

Camel’s nose in the tent, there.

[ShadowAce]

I find it interesting that this supposed "warning" comes a day after the council meeting--much too late to actually do anything about it.

[Lady Lucky]

Whut? For pity’s sake, tell us the rest of the story!

[TSgt]

I’m sorry, I shoot people who aren’t supposed to be in my house.

God bless the castle doctrine.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Residents should send them thousands of keys...all unlabeled of course with no return address.

[Carry_Okie]

This is the kind of crap we get from the combination of public employee unions (worker safety) and the lawsuits for which cities get nailed when they screw up.

[HereInTheHeartland]

This is great satire; I assume.

No one would be dumb enough to let any politician stay in office for more than 60 seconds if they tried this;
I think.

[Rightly Biased]

so are you gonna just leave us hanging or finish the story?

[rabscuttle385]

What this means, Fazio explains, is that the city wants to make it mandatory for everyone to place a key box, like the ones used by real estate agents, on all doors to local businesses and homes so the Fire Department, or whomever they appoint, can enter your home or business at any time.

Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here.

[muir_redwoods]

I believe Heather gets it; she’s the one who sent out the alert. A day late, granted, but she isn’t in favor of this 4th amendment violation. Oh, BTW, will Garland residents be getting keys to the firehouse and the police station in the event they they want to take a look around at 3:00 AM?

[6SJ7]

In the not so distant past, there was a very good use for tar, feathers, and rails. Perhaps that time has again arrived.

[LBG11]

Maybe if it were pleasantville it could work but no way in Garland... Why would they encourage crime?

[humblegunner]

Not necessarily.

The Examiner is mostly a source of viruses.

I’d take anything read there with a grain or two of salt.

[TaxPayer2000]

The Residential Knox-Box® is a high security key safe designed for single family homes that only local emergency responders can access. With a Residential KNOX-BOX installed, emergency responders can respond quickly, without forcing entry. They simply remove your entrance key stored inside, provide medical assistance and re-lock your door when they leave.

[Still Thinking]

"If you refuse," Fazio says, "the City will be able to refuse services, i.e., let the fire burn!"

So obviously if you're "opting out" by not bending over and grabbing your ankles on the key issue, they're going to stop charging you the portion of your taxes that fund fire protection, and refund that portion of THIS year's payment already made. Oh, they're not?? See, they think they can deny service to people who've already paid for it. I say sue them for fraud.