Terror From On High: Bioterror Act - quarantine population, take property, ration food and guns

Village Voice ^ | 4/3/02 | James Ridgeway

[dead]

Big Governor Is Watching You
Terror From On High

Cloaked in the favorite conservative lingo of states' rights, the Bush administration has drawn up a proposal that ought to give even the president's staunchest backers the willies. Presented as a draft, the "Model State Emergency Health Powers Act," written by the Centers for Disease Control, sets forth procedures and rules so that a state government could respond to a sudden outbreak of smallpox, anthrax, or other form of bioterror attack. Granting governors the power to declare a "bioterrorism emergency," the proposal, as originally written, would have allowed them to quarantine the population, take property, and ration food and guns. People who don't go along could be jailed.

The act has been introduced in 12 state legislatures and is expected to be scrutinized by every state legislative body sometime this year. Key provisions:

• Governors could declare a public health emergency without consulting the legislature, courts, or public health officials.
• An "emergency" could be prompted by any "disease caused by a living organism" that "may, or may not, be transmissible from person to person, animal to person, or insect to person." This definition, in the eyes of some, could include the flu or other ordinary viral illnesses.
• Public health officials could quarantine people "suspected of having" an "infectious disease," make vaccination mandatory, order medical exams, and fine doctors if they don't comply.
• The state could mobilize its "organized militia," presumably the National Guard, and seize control of private property, including "communication devices, real estate, fuels, food, clothing, and health care facilities."

  So far, three states—South Dakota, Utah, and New Mexico—have enacted the law, and a version has passed the Florida legislature. Similar proposals have been defeated in four states: Idaho, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

  In New York, the law has been introduced and is being considered by the state senate's public health committee.

[dead]

Does anybody know where to find the actual "Model State Emergency Health Powers Act"?

[boris]

Excuse me, where does it speak of "rationing guns"?

[dead]

Excuse me, where does it speak of "rationing guns"?

In the article? Right here:

the proposal, as originally written, would have allowed them to quarantine the population, take property, and ration food and guns.

As for the act itself, I don't know. I haven’t seen it.

[Icthus]

"..Public health officials can assume control of hospital and clinic operations. State control of communication facilities, food distribution, fuel supply, and real estate is authorized.

State rationing of food, fuel, clothing, alcohol, firearms, and other commodities is authorized.

The Model State Emergency Health Powers Act, prepared for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was written by Lawrence O. Gostin, J.D., Professor and Director of the Center for Law and the Public's Health at Georgetown University Law Center. It is meant to provide a template for state legislation. A draft version of the Act was released October 23, 2001..."

I was somewhat skeptical too, until I looked it up. From the sounds of things, Uncle Sam is expecting a Bioterrorist attack in the not to distant future.

[AAABEST]

This looks like pretty scary stuff.

That said, if "rationing" guns means I can go down to the DMV and get a nice new 9mm just for waiting on a line, that part sounds pretty kool!

[LurkedLongEnough]

The Model Act:

§ Grants specific authority to the governor and public health department to empower states to protect the health and safety of its population;
§ Addresses the public health powers needed by authorities to respond effectively to the risk of mass civilian casualties;
§ Authorizes the official collection of data and records, control of property, regulation of individuals and business, and access to communication;
§ Facilitates early detection of a health emergency and allows for immediate investigation of the emergency by granting access to individuals' health information under specific circumstances;
§ Gives state officials the authority to appropriate and use property (including health care facilities) as necessary for the care, treatment, and housing of patients and for the destruction of contaminated materials;
§ Gives state officials the authority to appropriate necessary vaccines and medications to treat infected or exposed persons;
§ Protects the civil rights, liberties, and needs of infected or exposed people when states must use compulsory powers to isolate or quarantine them; and
§ Protects citizens' and state officials' access to reliable information regarding a health emergency.

Original Source (perhaps): www.publichealthlaw.net/MSEHPA/MSEHPA.pdf

[dead]

From the sounds of things, Uncle Sam is expecting a Bioterrorist attack in the not to distant future.

Rationing guns is the surest way to exacerbate the problem.

[thinden]

"Granting governors the power to declare a "bioterrorism emergency," the proposal, as originally written, would have allowed them to quarantine the population, take property, and ration food and guns. People who don't go along could be jailed."

hear there's a nice little fixer upper down the road from you.

[Icthus]

I'd bet it means that ALL guns & ammunition will be controlled by the State. In other words....if you don't have any....you're not getting any.

[Just another Joe]

HERE it is.
It's in Adobe format (.pdf).

[Icthus]

Good thing I planned in advance. :)

[Steakumm]

Drastic times need drastic measures, Remember those who scream the loudest about thier civil rights are also the ones who are against defending those rights, we need to have plans in place for the worst possible senario, to not do that would be incredibly stupid.

[Psalm 73]

You would be wise to not even let your neighbors (and family members) know if you have anything stock-piled for 'shelter-in-home' contingency plans.
Don't even mention it in casual conversation.
Protect your immediate family at all costs.

[DLfromthedesert]

Sorry, this gives one person way too much power. Why bother electing Republicans if this is their definition of less government?

[Icthus]

Unfortunately, I think the day will come where each of us will be "own our own" so to speak. Yep, your right. People will do strange things in desperate times.

[Dan from Michigan]

1.What's the bill number.

2. I WILL NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE be quarantined. I will not be moved from my property. I will not give up my guns or a generator.

[AAABEST]

2. I WILL NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCE be quarantined. I will not be moved from my property. I will not give up my guns or a generator.

BUMP!!

[Icthus]

Boy....you best be handed over that there generator!

[jpsb]

This does not brother me, I realize that it could be used for evil purposes, but in the event of a real bio-terror attack then government MUST be able to move quickly to defeat the attack. That might very well mean rounding up everyone in the affected area and quarantining them, might even be neccessary to burn houses, and seize private hospitals.

War is hell, and we are in one, I am glad they are thinking and planning. Might just save your life and mine.

[AAABEST]

Sorry, this gives one person way too much power. Why bother electing Republicans if this is their definition of less government?

I used to think they were the party of less government, until recently. The truth is they're the party of more government, only they're arrogant enough to think they can do more government better than the other fools that went before them.