Replies

Sorry, Counselor, but if you don't see this as a 4th Amendment violation, then we really do have a huge difference on this issue.

Explain the reasonableness of searching my "papers and effects" by FORCING a retailer to collect my personal identification for a CASH purchase? This law in effect creates several million agents of the national government, searching me unreasonably in response to a private act. Please note that we're talking about retailers who are NOT corporations here.

It is impossible to have a rational discussion on an issue if one of the parties keeps changing the definitions. My previous comments to you were about whether the law is per se "unconstitutional". You think so. You think because you think so, it makes it so. You also seem to believe (as do many others who have flamed me) that the right to privacy is absolute, that there is never any scenario under which it is reasonable for the government to ever ask you any question. That is your belief. That is the way you think the world should be. My error was in trying to explain the way the law is when obviously all you want to do is talk about the way the law should be. That is not my function as an attorney. When I am defending a client, I have to deal with reality. I hope if you ever need an attorney you can find one who can deal with reality too.