G. Gordon Liddy wrote a book a few years ago called, “when I was a kid, this was a free country.” When Liddy wrote the book, it might have been a slight exaggeration. Little events happen everyday that make people wonder how much freedom is left in this country. One such even recently happened in Baltimore.
Christopher Fussell is a photographer and what he likes to photograph are trains. He went through Baltimore and started taking a few photos. This offended the powers that be and three Police Officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority decided to exercise their power over him.
Fussell left his video camera running while the Maryland Transportation Police detained him for forty minutes. Fussell protested politely that he did have the right to photograph at the transit station, which he does have the right to do.
The cops first tell Fussell that he has to have authorization to take photos, and then when he asks whom he has to ask for permission, he is told that there can be no photos because they say there can be no photos.
Fussell is not willing to let this drop and the cops finally invoke the Patriot Act (incorrectly) and then in the tradition of heavy handed police work, demand to see his papers, or in this case, a State of Maryland identification.
The cops towards the end of the encounter threaten to take him into custody but eventually relent. Finally, they let him go on his way after 40 minutes.
This story has hit the local media in Baltimore, where the MTA has admitted its officers are in the wrong.
While most cops are pretty good people, this attitude shown by the Maryland cops is becoming far too common. Too many police officers believe they are not there to serve and protect but they are the final authority. They are there to give orders and you are there to obey those orders.
Unfortunately, there are too many police officers out there who need a refresher in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. We do not have to show the police our identification if we do not want to, unless they have a good reason to ask for it. There are certain lawful activities they may not interfere with, such as photography.
Recently in Michigan, news reports surfaced about the State Police taking people’s cell phones on minor traffic stops, attaching them to a device and downloading all of the information on the cell phone, including phone calls, voice mails and texts. With geotags on cell phones the downloaded data can also be used to track anywhere your cell phone has been and presumably you as well. They are doing this without a warrant.
We conservatives are pretty much a law and order crowd, but that only goes so far. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights exist to protect us against an overbearing government authority.
These police officers in Maryland are the kind of people the Bill of Rights protects us against. If you want to see the whole thing, view the video here, on Tea Party Nation.
Tags: 4th, Amendment, constitution, police
Permalink Reply by Gary L. Sudeth on Permalink Reply by Thomas Jones on Permalink Reply by Robert L. Voelsing Sr. on How many of you have read the "Patriot Act"??? When it comes to our 'rights' in this country,,according to this act,,
WE LOSE ,,,,,,,, THEY WIN,,,,it's just about that simple. When an FBI agent can write out a Warrant for another agent,without the consent of the only person who is legally allowed to write or sign a Warrant,,THE JUDGES,,,,what does that tell you. They can bust into your home at sunrise SWAT style & if you resist or fight back,,,thinking it's burglars,,they can & will shoot you ,,,even if they are 10 to your 1,,,& if it's the wrong house,,,,sorry ,,that's just too bad,,as they usually do NOT have badges or ID's on during a raid. You will have to pay for any damages THEY do,,,so,,do not resist,,,& retain a very good lawyer who knows an ANTI-COP judge to hear the lawsuit.
It happened to a Mr. Olsen in Wisconsin & he was not the bad guy,,,his buddy alledgedly broke the law & Mr Olsen was raided & they "Stole" confiscated ALL of his collection of Legal Firearms & his computer for some else's violation
See what can happen if you are a White ,,Law-abiding ,,Tax-paying citizen,,,,NOT if you are a Panther or a muslim.
Permalink Reply by Norma J. Sears on Permalink Reply by Ron Boyer on Permalink Reply by thomas conn on You are so correct. The first responders are only Heroes in their own minds. As a Shriner and a member of the Legion of Honor I carry the flag in the front of parades many many times every year. And as I go by the "First Responders" NONE of them EVER even stop and stand still as the Colors go by. They NEVER stand at attention, or hold their hands over their hearts. They are always talking, laughing, or scratching their butts as THEIR FLAG passes. To me........that is not any Hero of mine. A veteran dies in Iraq and returns home. Where are the First Responders???? but let one of them die and there are cars as far as the eyes can see???? American Flags everywhere. (they did not die for their country, hell they will not even salute it when it passes in a parade). Thank God for the Patroit Guard Riders.
Will it soon be the end for our freedom or will we draw the line and stand up? 2012 cannot get here soon enough.
Permalink Reply by Debrajoe Smith-Beatty on 
Permalink Reply by Ann G on ...yeah, and the police can give you a ticket for not properly wearing your seat belt...even when you are in the back seat and you are 10 yrs old.
The Govt will protect you and keep you safe from even yourself. I'd rather be free and maybe fall once in awhile and have to dust myself off.
I heard Sarah Palin say most mandates need to be gotten rid of. I agree...most are just chains.
Permalink Reply by james krog on The bill of rights needs to be protected by the 2nd amendment any where you go. Never agree to comply with unconstitutional demands of "law" officers who exceed their authority. If you doubt the right of a demand by law enforcement, first politely ask why they are making the request and under what authority they are doing so. If they cannot explain it satisfactorily ask if they can get someone who can.Get on the phone and call legal advice. If you are going to engage in activities where you anticipate trouble have a lawyer on speed dial. Don't be rude but don't grovel either, be polite, but forceful. Say you are willing to comply with your LEGAL OBLIGATIONS, but decline to volunteer any additional information unless they in return can provide you with explanations and answer your questions in return. Cooperation does require working in both directions.
Remember that in an actual emergency police might have little time to give long winded explanations of their activities so try to be sensible and consider their viewpoint.
Permalink Reply by Thomas Jones on Your advice sounds logical and is, and it reminds me of a Utube video put out by the ACLU (you can probably find it) which showed young college age people "handling" the situation where they are stopped by a cop and have been smoking pot in the car. The police are suspicious and use scare tactics and the kids defend their rights expertly by rolling up the windows, refusing to be searched, quickly locking the doors when told to get out and refusing to give over the keys. The dumb old cop threatens but backs down and they laugh all the way to the dorm. I would love to see that re-enacted in a Texas traffic stop for real. You would rather stare down a rattle snake.
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