In this case, not standing up for your rights might not only be more convenient but also the right thing to do. There are no constitutional protections that prohibit congress from giving merchants the right to search their customers while on their premises.
If retailers feel that shoplifting or lawsuits brought by guys like the author of this article become too much of a problem, they are not above lobbying congress for such laws to be passed.
I guess I am too stupid to see your point or to see the difference between having a right that you do not exercise and having Congress passing a law that does away with that right.
On the other hand our rights are protected by the Constitution and our rights are protected from infringement by the Federal Government not corporations.
On another hand I don’t think a law is necessary. Circuit City could make the case that they have an implied contract with their customers giving them the right to search all bags or packages. Posting a sign at the entrance to the store stating that management reserves the right to search all packages would give weight to such an argument.
Showing your packages and receipts is very different from strip searches decided on by bored or horny employees. Right now people arguing that they shouldn’t have to show their packages as it constitutes illegal searches are not only being cry babies but risk degrading the rights of all of us against illegal searches.
“On the other hand our rights are protected by the Constitution and our rights are protected from infringement by the Federal Government not corporations. “
True, and right now we are protected against illegal searches by the constitution, even on private property, however congress is usually quite willing to abrogate those rights. Gun laws are a good example.
Technically they could pass a law allowing retailers to do strip searches on anyone they find 'suspicious', in other words ‘anyone’, by stipulating that you agree to waive your constitutional right against such searches by shopping on their premises. See how it would work? If you want to retain your rights and don’t want to risk being searched, you are barred from shopping in physical stores. Obviously you couldn’t be strip searched if you do all your shopping on-line.
“On another hand I don’t think a law is necessary. Circuit City could make the case that they have an implied contract with their customers giving them the right to search all bags or packages. Posting a sign at the entrance to the store stating that management reserves the right to search all packages would give weight to such an argument.”
You would think, however courts in this country aren’t reasonable or rational. In practice it doesn’t work like that.