Posted on 05/18/2013 7:06:20 AM PDT by Rennes Templar
A program in Palm Beach County intended to encourage residents to report suspicious behavior is attracting resistance from around the state.
Under the proposed "Violence Prevention Program," anyone who sees a potentially dangerous situation — a schizophrenic person with weapons, a war veteran making threats to passersby — could call a 24-hour hotline. Legitimate-sounding calls would trigger a visit by specially trained deputies in plain clothes or by mental health professionals.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff says violence prevention unit could thwart would-be killers like the recent mass shooters in Connecticut and Colorado. The program will cost $3.2 million in the first year. The Florida Legislature agreed to pay $1 million of it.
Despite Sheriff Ric Bradshaw's ostensibly good-willed intent, the plan has been compared to Big Brother, the KGB, Castro's Cuba...
Conservative bloggers around the country are condemning this as a First Amendment violation. They say the government of Palm Beach County is trying to encourage residents to tell on their neighbors for anti-government speech. Email messages have spilled into Gov. Rick Scott's inbox, where hundreds of Florida residents urged him to line-item veto the state funding for the program.
~snip~
In the article, Bradshaw said, "We want people to call us if the guy down the street says he hates the government, hates the mayor and he's gonna shoot him. What does it hurt to have somebody knock on a door and ask, 'Hey, is everything OK?'"
~snip~
Dmitry Levin, of Boca Raton, grew up in the Soviet Union, where he said the government encouraged neighbors to "snitch on everybody."
"It's a specific telephone line to report your neighbor who doesn't like the government," Levin said. "When I read that, my jaw dropped. That's KGB in its finest form. The next step would be, what, bonuses for reporting?"
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
What does it hurt to have somebody knock on a door and ask, ‘Hey, is everything OK?’”
What could possibly go wrong. Hide your dog!!!!
We vets are really what is wrong with this country!!!sarc/on
But if a caller describes a demographic that is associated with the majority of violent crime, don't expect any response at all.
Janet Napoleonitonoh thinks so
spot on. leave the aspiring rap artist turning his life around alone.
Not sure how I come down on this one.... On one hand, I get that the government it intrusive and that this service could be abused... On the other hand, there are plenty of examples where had the alarm been sounded, a tragedy “may” have been avoided.
I don’t think I have a problem with it.
Check back with me after noon, Friday night should be worn off by then.
Any good Freeper hangover remedies out there??
They might have had a better response if they said to report Muslims carrying pressure cookers.
No cures but love your tagline.
Sen. Feinstein Says All Our Veterans Are Mentally Ill And Can’t Own Guns
The sheriff overlooked "Here are your Starbucks and Apple iTunes gift cards, Good Citizen. Thanks for the tip."
Knock on door?
Yeah, a BIG one that knocks it down.
The suspicious behavior noways is the Government
Maybe we could have ‘suggestions’ that two men who look like the might be gay - might ‘do it’ in a public bathroom - be turned in... Or how about a bunch of ‘Occupy’ brats? They could be planning on using drugs - let’s stick the police on them... You know, two can play these games...
People already report suspicious behavior but this sheriff is trying to redefine that to include anything perceived as a threat or criticism of government. He obviously expects a lot more calls with this expanded definition which is why he needs more money.
Have another beer for that hangover. It always worked for me when I was younger.
There is nothing to stop anyone calling right now about someone who is acting threatening .
Never has been.
The difference is setting up a program designed to encourage reporting people who are critical of the government.
1.- No tipsters regarding the Religion of Peace need call.
2.- No Tipsters regarding black uprisings need call.
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