…about our continuing loss erosion outright THEFT of our civil liberties!
Hanging on the coat tails of such luminaries as John Lott, who reports to us through c|net the following:
DHS built domestic surveillance tech into Predator drones
Homeland Security’s specifications say drones must be able to detect whether a civilian is armed. Also specified: “signals interception” and “direction finding” for electronic surveillance.
And just for fun, I also noticed a disturbance in the Force on the Internet, today. It seems a significant number of high-ranking military officers are taking their retirement, because they’ve been asked by the current administration if they’d follow orders to disarm American citizens! And they’d rather break ranks than to violate their Constitutionally-supportive oath.
No wonder the gun stores are lacking stock in ammunition and popular firearms. They’re flying off the shelves.
Scary stuff. 1984 was 29 years ago, and things were bad THEN. I fear for the future, and I don’t make that statement easily.
h/t Declan McCullagh
And I believe that I saw one flying over the city yesterday.
Posted by Matt | March 5, 2013, 9:17 amHere in Des Moines, we are loosing our F-16 fighter squadron. They are being replaced by a predator drone unit. I have a spot picked out on a hill, in the woods at the end of the runway..
If someone actually shoots down a drone, they will become our next folk hero.
Posted by robertsgunshop | March 5, 2013, 9:25 amNothing like telling the enemy what your plans are…. good job, Sir!
Posted by Sal | March 5, 2013, 9:33 amActually, Judge Andrew Napolitano (may God bless him!) was the first to say that about the first shot-down drone.
Regarding the story about domestic surveillance, hardly anything surprises me any more, I’m sad to say.
Posted by Rev. Paul | March 5, 2013, 9:45 amGod Bless the judge is right!
However, who said it first wasn’t exactly the point. No one really expects the judge to have the skills or the hardware to take down a drone.
Robert on the other hand…..
Posted by Sal | March 5, 2013, 9:53 amGentlemen – How sad is it that we have come to this discussion?
Posted by guffaw1952 | March 5, 2013, 10:10 amRe: Drones
These are only the ones you know about
Re: “Today’s Funny” (air conditioners)
It’s not funny. Those people vote.
And they outnumber us
Q
Posted by Quizikle | March 5, 2013, 4:21 pmUnderstood, sadly
Posted by guffaw1952 | March 5, 2013, 5:15 pmAnd Holder ‘thinks’ it’s okay to shoot Americans in America from a drone…
Posted by Old NFO | March 5, 2013, 7:42 pmYeah – he’s special!
Posted by guffaw1952 | March 5, 2013, 7:44 pmAdding a link to NFO’s note:
“It is possible, I suppose, to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate under the Constitution and applicable laws of the United States for the President to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States,” Holder replied in a letter yesterday to Paul’s question about whether Obama “has the power to authorize lethal force, such as a drone strike, against a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, and without trial.”
Sure it is Eric…just ’cause you say so!
http://washingtonexaminer.com/eric-holder-drone-strikes-against-americans-on-u.s.-soil-are-legal/article/2523319
Posted by KM | March 5, 2013, 10:47 pmI remember back when they droned that American Muslim overseas a year or so ago and the one who was tied to so many terrorist acts including Ft. Hood massacre. It was on this blog that you ( gfa ) and I were discussing the Constitutionality of this and wondering when and if it would happened on U.S. soil. Another blogger thought we ( using my words here not his ) were getting carried away over this and that he was glad the other guy was dead… just because he was a bad guy. Good riddance and all that jazz….
Well now it’s being discussed as to whether BHO would do it here on our soil. Yesterday, his man, DOJ Holder, wouldn’t answer the question of Constitutionality in regards to droning someone here on U.S. soil.
I remember thinking way back then that if he would drone a U.S. citizen over there he would do it here if he could. Yes it was the field of battle over there, even though he wasn’t actively fighting or trying to blow up someone at that moment….
Now according to one presidential executive order, the U.S. is now considered under the “field of battle”, Posse Comentitus no longer is in effect, the NDAA was passed, the military and swat team are practicing in Major cities and now this drone business has come up.
I didn’t feel like I was getting carried away then, and I certainly don’t feel that way now.
Anytime someone will declare themselves judge jury and executioner and violate another American citizens constitution rights, there is nothing stopping them from doing it to you or me as well.
I’m not trying to flame that other blogger. I actually like the guy and his blog, but I thought this was too important not to bring back up.
Posted by Matt | March 7, 2013, 11:44 amoh yeah I forgot to throw in how folks like you and I are considered domestic terrorists if nothing but for the simply reason that we believe the Constitution overrides any other man made law.
Posted by Matt | March 7, 2013, 11:56 amExcellent points, all!
If the President were wise, he’d step back from this precipice and state he would never order such a thing, then fire his attorney general.
Don’t see that happening. Sad.
Posted by guffaw1952 | March 7, 2013, 1:26 pm