Terrorism and fear exact a heavy price on keeping us safe
We can debate whether or not what happened in San Bernardino was a case of radicalized Islamic terrorism or a case of workplace violence; but it doesn't really matter. The point is that this is almost certainly going to be the catalyst for a major change in how we (and therefore the rest of the world) is going to try to stop this scourge.
The news media was trying to make a story out of the fact that the FBI and other agencies investigating this heinous act can no longer access five years of this couple's phone records data collected by the NSA because the legal authority for such searches has expired. Ask yourself, now that this data can't be passed on to investigators, do you wish that the ability to use that data still existed? I do not. When probable cause exists to subpoena records, then that can be done. This isn't a case where there is an urgent need to get those records. But such cases will come up in the future.
I have no problem with the NSA collecting so-called "meta-data" as long as it isn't available for being used or searched on a whim. If the data is collected and stored securely, available only when probable cause is shown to a judge who will order the data made available after agreeing that the burden of showing probable cause has been met, then our civil liberties are safe. At least safer than they were under the old system.
This leads to other questions about our liberties. In the days to come, how will the 535 morons in Washington, DC propose to make us safer? The Senate already voted down an idea to expand background checks for people who want to buy guns. Odds are good they won't do anything that might reduce the number of assault weapons available to be used in future terrorist attacks. I've already suggested confiscation of assault weapons from anyone who isn't a member of law enforcement or the military so I won't harp on that again so quickly. But I will postulate that the Congress will do nothing to alter the status quo in spite of the fact it is not working.
Why? Because of things like this.
The totals are just how much money the NRA has directly donated to the reelection campaigns of these two politicians during their careers in Congress. One Republican. One Democrats. While Republicans get NRA money much more frequently than Democrats, this isn't a completely partisan issue. Gun manufacturers also give freely to those who oppose gun control legislation of any type, sensible or otherwise.
I think we would all sacrifice a small amount of our civil liberties if we can keep our nation safe from terrorists. I know I would. But only the smallest amount necessary. The price of being safe should not be all of our freedoms.
The news media was trying to make a story out of the fact that the FBI and other agencies investigating this heinous act can no longer access five years of this couple's phone records data collected by the NSA because the legal authority for such searches has expired. Ask yourself, now that this data can't be passed on to investigators, do you wish that the ability to use that data still existed? I do not. When probable cause exists to subpoena records, then that can be done. This isn't a case where there is an urgent need to get those records. But such cases will come up in the future.
I have no problem with the NSA collecting so-called "meta-data" as long as it isn't available for being used or searched on a whim. If the data is collected and stored securely, available only when probable cause is shown to a judge who will order the data made available after agreeing that the burden of showing probable cause has been met, then our civil liberties are safe. At least safer than they were under the old system.
This leads to other questions about our liberties. In the days to come, how will the 535 morons in Washington, DC propose to make us safer? The Senate already voted down an idea to expand background checks for people who want to buy guns. Odds are good they won't do anything that might reduce the number of assault weapons available to be used in future terrorist attacks. I've already suggested confiscation of assault weapons from anyone who isn't a member of law enforcement or the military so I won't harp on that again so quickly. But I will postulate that the Congress will do nothing to alter the status quo in spite of the fact it is not working.
Why? Because of things like this.
The totals are just how much money the NRA has directly donated to the reelection campaigns of these two politicians during their careers in Congress. One Republican. One Democrats. While Republicans get NRA money much more frequently than Democrats, this isn't a completely partisan issue. Gun manufacturers also give freely to those who oppose gun control legislation of any type, sensible or otherwise.
I think we would all sacrifice a small amount of our civil liberties if we can keep our nation safe from terrorists. I know I would. But only the smallest amount necessary. The price of being safe should not be all of our freedoms.
posted by me at 1:39 PM
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