Gates is more than likely racist, but did he violate any laws?

vanity | 8/2/09 | billg64

[Turret Gunner A20]

...one can not be disorderly on their own property (or where they rent).

Now you are getting downright comical. Why don't you quit while you aren't too far behind in being rational about this thing?

[End Times Sentinel]

No government official can come into one's home on a call from a second hand witness.

So when the 99 year old woman across the street hasn't been seen or heard from in a couple of days, she should just lie there? If my neighbor's away on vacation and billowing smoke, the fire has to be fought from outside. If I know my neighbor is at work and his front door is kicked in and I see a couple of mexicans rounding up all his belongings, the cops can't do anything until they leave the property?

But, one can not be disorderly on their own property (or where they rent).

Does that mean I can walk around my porch naked? Can I blast rap music all night long? Can I stand in front of my house and scream that my neighbor is the spawn of hell?

If that is allowed, I can call 911 any time anyone pisses me off and claim someone told me this person threatened to do some sort of crime.

You don't think you'd be arrested for filing a false police report?

Look, your libertarian impulses are a good thing. Far better than the authoritarian impulses of the left. But think things through before you couch them as reasonable in a civilized society.

It's one thing to adopt these policies in a private encampment in a rural area. It's another to try to function with them in an urban area.

[Billg64]

There are legal laws, laws that prevent one from violating the rights of another. Then there are laws that I mat choose to call controlling laws. Simply because a law is on the books, does not mean it is a legal law, ie the bill that just passed the house limiting executive pay, any examination of that bill would render it not legal, but it will soon be a law.

I am not attacking Mr. Crowley's character, nor am I minimizing the fact that Gates is a terrible racist and would probably be arguing the other side of this issue had the situation been reversed (black cop white home owner, but the constitution provides us a reasonable assumption of safety in our own home and that extends to our front yard.

[DGHoodini]

Actually, Gates was threatening him with the use of political power, with false charges of racism that would ruin the officers career, and cost him his livelihood. He theatened to 8se his public status as a tool to bring greivious harm to the officer by inciting racial tensions as a means to exact personal revenge.

I call those not only threats, but terrorist threats.

[digger48]

No government official can come into one's home on a call from a second hand witness.

Ever hear of Child Protective Services?

[stephenjohnbanker]

If you interfere with an officer performing his duty, you go to the hoosegow. Gates interfered from the getgo.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Actually, Gates was threatening him with the use of political power, with false charges of racism that would ruin the officers career, and cost him his livelihood. He theatened to 8se his public status as a tool to bring greivious harm to the officer by inciting racial tensions as a means to exact personal revenge.”

EXACTLY.

[muawiyah]

Harvard owned rental housing ~ a "riot"?

I'm LOL.

[MosesKnows]

Racism is not against the law.

you have got to be l kidding!!!

Racism is simply the belief that different races and cultures are not equal and as such is benign. However, when a person acts out on that belief in a bigoted fashion there may be recourse in law.

[Turret Gunner A20]

Actually, Gates was threatening him with the use of political power, with false charges of racism that would ruin the officers career, and cost him his livelihood. He theatened to 8se his public status as a tool to bring greivious harm to the officer by inciting racial tensions as a means to exact personal revenge.

I call those not only threats, but terrorist threats. And you are right,

Billg64, take note.

[muawiyah]

911 calls are hardly anonymous. It was obvious the house had been entred BY FORCE, and that may be a basis for the police checking things out in Massachusetts.

What we need here is a NO CALL LIST. It would consist of people like Gates who do not want the police to call should their property be endangered, or thought to be endangered.

[depressed in 06]

By definition, Crowley is the racist here. He should be fired and replaced with a Justice Department approved Black Panther from New Jersey.

[Turret Gunner A20]

Racism is simply the belief that different races and cultures are not equal and as such is benign. However, when a person acts out on that belief in a bigoted fashion there may be recourse in law.

What else did you think I was talking about??

[muawiyah]

Obvious forced entry ~ made this a reasonable search ~ no warrant needed. Plus, the informant was known and available near the site when the police arrived.

You should read the 4th Amendment sometime and ask yourself "what does this mean" and do that for every single word.

[Billg64]

I'll address your questions; When the 99 yr. old has not been heard of for a couple of days, and the neighbor reports it: a) the neighbor is giving a first hand account, b) the police will investigate before entry. If their is smoke pouring out of my home, their is direct evidence of a problem When your neighbor's door is kicked in and the police come to the door, reasonable suspicion has been established because a) again you are a first hand account b) there is real evidence for the cops to see When you walk around your porch naked, you violate teh rights of others; some would argue this but lose. Again society has determined the rights of the neighbors are violated with loud music past certain hours. I may be arrested for filing a false report, but it would be hard to convict me.

I agree with you that police have a tough potentially lethal job to do. Were I the cop, I would probably desire to put that idiots teeth down his throat. But, insulting a cop should never be considered a crime. It is unfortunate that Gates didn't just say thanx for looking after my home here is my ID, I live here. He didn't! Once the police determined he lived there (and they did), they should have left; maybe patrolling frequently to ensure the situation fully defused itself. They didn't!

Good discussion though!

[Uri’el-2012]

In that case you would not be on your personal property, he was.

Sorry, your facts are wrong !

Gates does not own the property; he rents.

[Billg64]

not second hand ifo, must be first account

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

The police didn't have the right to enter the house?

The call was for a B&E.
The person at the door refused to give identification.
Of course the police had the right to enter the house!
That's their freaking job!

Should he have been arrested after the incident?
Judgment call. Considering he wasn't a risk to the public, the officer or himself, he likely should not have been. But I don't know how belligerent he was, I haven't seen or heard the tapes.

It's like saying “should the loudmouth in the bar have been punched out?” without knowing exactly what and how the loudmouth was talking. There is a point where speech crosses the line and stops being offensive and starts being criminal.

But Gates saying “Sure, I'll get you my ID” means we wouldn't be talking about this today.

[Billg64]

He interfered with a government official illegally entering his home Smarter people than me have stated that the cop had no right to enter his home.

[digger48]

According to the police report, the caller was the first one approached by Crowely. She also stated the SHE SAW 2 men shoulder down the door.

Where did this “anonymous caller” and “second hand” come from?