Posted on 06/15/2012 4:43:54 AM PDT by marktwain
Army 1st Sgt. Matthew Corrigan learned the hard way that the District of Columbia doesn’t believe it has to abide by the Constitution like the 50 states do. For nearly 40 years, the nation’s capital completely ignored the Second Amendment.
(This is the final part of a four-part series. Click here to read part one.)
On Feb. 3, 2010, the Metropolitan Police Department also didn’t give much thought to the Fourth Amendment right of Americans to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. The department’s SWAT team blew through due process and into the home of Sgt. Corrigan without a warrant because the reservist was suspected of having an unregistered personal gun in his home.
When the incident was taken to court, the city realized its prosecution was jeopardized by the lack of a warrant. Officers came up with various cover stories of “exigent circumstances,” but the scheme unraveled before going to trial. Though all charges were dropped last month, the veteran who volunteered to serve a year in Iraq has suffered immensely. He is suing the city for a minimum of $500,000 in damages. The story of how the city’s case against Sgt. Corrigan fell apart says a lot about the contempt in which the District holds gun owners.
On the night of his arrest, SWAT team members woke Sgt. Corrigan at 4 a.m. and ordered him out of his home. They demanded the keys to his English basement apartment. When the soldier refused, the officers broke down his front door, ransacked his apartment, threw his dog Matrix in the pound, and seized his three personal guns and seven types of ammunition.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
...it’s only when their names are exposed that penalties will apply....
Waiting for the jackboot lickers to come forward and say how these police weere only doing their jobs.
Who are these "DC officials"? Whence comes their authority?
Lets see: Article I§8: "To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States".
OK. So it's Congress, which has the EXCLUSIVE right to LEGISLATE in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER in the District of Columbia.
SO - these "officials" act with the authority of Congress - remember, the EXCLUSIVE authority (exclusive, meaning no other), and however convoluted the law (US law, not DC "law", there being no such thing), however Congress has contrived to conceal their SOLE authority and SOLE responsibility, it is to Congress we must look to rectify the farce of DC gun control.
No police department ever does because the police never have to face any significant consequences. At worst they may get paid leave while something is "investigated" (read whitewashed) and they will have been found to have "followed departmental procedures" Funny how "departmental procedures" always allow any excess. Indiana has the right idea, but their law allowing deadly force to be used againt police illegally entering your home doesn't go far enough.
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.