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Who invited the drone to the cookout?

By: Griffin@griffinelection (Diary)  |  May 31st, 2012 at 06:34 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Imagine my surprise as a Virginia resident yesterday, to find my conservative Governor, Bob McDonnell, throwing his support behind police drones flying overhead in Arlington and throughout the Commonwealth.  This type of domestic drone usage will act to dramatically increase the reach of police in our great state.  The concern, is that security restrictions on the population will only restrict the rights of the law abiding.   

Allow me to ring the alarm bells.  The last thing we need is the government having greater reach to watch its citizens.  Like any practice of this nature, criminals will still act in secret while law abiding citizens will be forced to live under increased and undeserved scrutiny. 

Law enforcement should be able to take advantage of technological advantages, but not at such a high price.  Indeed, increased security is a worthy goal.  However, having a drone flying through our neighborhoods and over my backyard is not a sacrifice I am willing to take.  We already know how this ends. 

How is it that the right to PRIVACY protects the termination of a baby but it doesn’t protect us from having a drone fly over our houses?

Thanks Democrats and Republicans for the FAA Modernization and Reform Act which allows war drones to be used at home.  And people wonder why conservatives are opposing status quo republicans.  Let’s go on the record, wiretapping of phone conversations, internet surveillance, drone’s watching us live our lives – all civil liberty violations.  Please think again Governor.

COMMENTS

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  • Victor_Purinton

    Don’t mind drones at all. It’s not like they’re armed.

    • funwithknives

      Foolish boy, impetuous lad, Where Do You get your info?

      As we communicate, Loitering Drones with warheads are under evaluation . Brought out a backpack, snapped together, and away they go, into the wild blue yonder…….The Technology never ever gets to be less, and 3-D printers are such wonderful devices.Look up Aviation Week or D T I websites and get an eyeful.
      Can’t hurt, now can it?
      Then, imagine just one rogue agency,The DEA for example. Surely you’ve heard how above-board they are,and have been…….

      When drones get used to re-evaluate your property assessments, or measure your energy use/thermal losses for surcharges, or sweep your neighborhood for ‘suspect communications’, then will you stop and consider Unintended Consequences?

      Did Waco and Ruby Ridge just go away to die?
      No, they’re coming back in another form and style.

      Look up ‘Gorgon Stare’ or ‘Argus I R ‘ and get back to us.

      “Scared out of your socks, you should be, youngling…”

  • acat

    Discussed here.

    Neil brings up a valid point – how are these drones any different from fixed-position cameras in public places?

    Mew

    • funwithknives

      AESA Radar {Electronically steered} ,Thermo sensors, Laser evesdropping pointed at windows, Laser Radar {LIDAR} can all be contained in one package. Not to mention Electronic evesdropping ,allowing use of standby-enabled cell phones (or even turned-off) as listening devices. The software exists and is/has been documented.

      Cameras are only a start. I want to see warrants,probable causes and limits with accountability before I ever want to see this crud used domestically.
      Border surveillance? No Problem. Our surveillance? BIG Problem.

      Was Fast and Furious lost in this discussion? We Still Don’t Have the whole gist, now do we?

      Call this grasping at straws but try this next time you’re flying and they ask for your I D . Ask under what specific Federal statute covers this “request”. It’s a secret guys, and they do not have to tell you,and are prohibited from doing so. Think this ‘drone thing’ will be different?

      …..why do you want to give these ‘schmucks’, anything further…?

      • acat

        Surveillance of public spaces? No problem.

        Surveillance of *private* spaces? Big problem.

        Flying a drone over your house? No problem.

        Flying a drone over your house, and using an IR scanner to see how many people are in it? Big problem.

        And, as usual, we’re waiting for the law to catch up with the technology.

        Mew