Maybe you're watching television, relaxing after a long day at the office, maybe you're playing with your children, who just came home from school, or maybe you're sitting down to enjoy dinner with your family. Whatever you are doing, it is interrupted by the loud knock at the door.
You're confused, because you aren't expecting company. You're even more confused when you open the door to heavily armed men in uniform, announcing they are from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. And they want to talk to you about some suspicious purchases your family has made.
Eventually, you realize they are there because of that .22 rifle you bought a few years ago to plunk tin cans at your weekend house in the country. Or maybe it's the handgun your wife bought when she obtained her concealed carry permit last year. Or perhaps you have a 12-gauge shotgun that you keep in the closet, just in case, to defend your wife and children if - God forbid - an armed intruder were to break in at night.
These are all legal purchases, for valid reasons in the eyes of the current laws - even if you have all three. But, because you live in Texas, the Mexican government wants the BATF to question you. In their eyes, the act of owning a firearm makes you a suspect and a criminal in their failed 'war on drugs.' In a shocking display of 'diplomacy,' our government agreed to help them by giving the BATF blanket permission to question you, and search your home if they don't like your answers - without a warrant.
Think this is too far-fetched? The product of an over-active imagination? Anti-government propaganda? A crazy conspiracy theory that could never happen here, because the Constitution guards against it?
Think again. It's happening now. LINKDo you think it is wrong that government agents are harrassing innocent citizens at the behest of a foreign government?
Do you even care?
Or would you rather I shut up so you can go back to watching Michael Jackson on every channel?
Comments (30)
I don't live in Texas, so I really don't know about anything that's been going on there, but this sounds way wrong.
MJ isn't on every channel anymore...
I'd laugh at your last question, but it's too pointed and indicative of a far-too-common outlook in society to be that funny.
This is absolutely appalling. I was uncomfortable by the entire scenario before a foreign government was mentioned. That made it maddening. I certainly don't want to be 'preachy,' as I haven't had/made the time to be more proactive in voicing my views and defending the rights that are slowly (and sometimes not-so-slowly) being chipped away, but when ARE people going to wake up and realize what is going on? Just how much intrusion will people allow before they get angry? How far into our lives does the government have to reach before enough people comprehend that we're NOT free anymore, at least not in the sense intended by the Founding Fathers?
When one stops to think of how blatantly unconstitutional this is, then it should make everyone stand more vigilant. While it goes under the radar of the majority of the public--we are in a war now, the war to maintain freedoms that are systematically being wiped away. That police officer/professor put a new edge on my views today. I'm glad I decided to post it. I was a little wary at first...simply because the fact is that we live in a time that posting anything that sounds "heady and dangerous" can put you on no fly lists, or possible enemy combatant lists, domestic terrorists/extremists lists. It's crazy and more Orwellian than anyone could have imagined.
But, I am a liberty blogger, a patriot, a citizen--and I will not be relegated to the "free speech zones"
buying guns is one thing ~ believing in your government is another
I'm not really sure how I'd feel about this. I'd like to say I'd rather the government check on all suspicion activity, and catch the not-so-innocent cases rather then let people get away with things they shouldn't be doing, whatever that may be. But, at the same time, that's a breach of privacy, and when it's the Mexican government wanting something done...it starts to seem extremely ridiculous.
I do not, and never will, own a gun, so I could care less. If you purchased them legally and use and store them properly, than you should have othing to worry about.
psshhh I got guns out the whazoo, and ojambo will have to pry em' outta m' cold dead paws before he gits em, heh!
If this happens to me, I'm probably goin' to jail. It would start out pleasant enough, but when they started asking questions that I know I don't have to answer? And I answer "Nunya"?
That's when the trouble starts.
@sarahb_86 - If you bought them legally and have not done anything illegal with them, why should you be subject to being treated as though you are a criminal, guilty until proved innocent in the eyes of the government - at the request of a foreign government, no less?
It's a sick world when something like this hapens. Canada has ben screwed over for years. I hope it doesn't hapen there.
No lies. Texas is ticking me off, and now add to it the Feds allowing the BATF to do this. All I can do is shake my head today. ugh.
@radicalramblings - Let me put it this way, if people in Texas, and other states for that matter, were not helping the dope smugglers from Mexico smuggle drugs and other illegal items into our country than maybe we wouldn't need such harsh measures. I see nothing in the post to assume that the government is saying you are guilty until proven innocent or that you are being treated as a criminal. What I see is two countries co-operating to help put an end to drugs being smuggled into our country and the gun violence that happens because of it. If that means checking out ALL gun owners than it is fine with me.
@sarahb_86 - If you purchase a gun legally and use and store it properly, you should have nothing to worry about. But if the article is accurate, apparently you do. And we should all be concerned if the government decides it can infringe on Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms even, as in the case of you or me, they don't affect us yet.
Why does our modern government not understand that we have warrants for a goddamn reason?!
@sarahb_86 - Have you ever read the constitution? You can't just "check out" a whole group of people who have done nothing wrong, broken no laws, because you want to. Read it sometime. It should be required for all Americans, but fortunately - because of it - you're free to remain ignorant of the issues if you choose.
@randomneuralfirings - Apparently, some people do not feel that being subjected to interrogation and search for no reason other than legally owning a firearm is a problem. They don't comprehend how that is unconstitutional (probably because they aren't sure what the constitution says), nor do they see that as an assumption of guilt. Or at least, they claim not to. Though I find it interesting that within their same comment, they state that all Texans should be under suspicion because of "drug smuggling."
@Irish_Russian - You'd go to jail, but you'd be my hero forever.
@radicalramblings - I have read it and understand it, actually. Thanks for your unwanted concern, though. Still stand behind what I said. If you choose to play the victim in this that is your perogative. Also your use of quote marks around drug smuggling is cute. Ahh, paranoia. Fun, fun!
Also, I love how you insult me, you know, without actually naming me in your response to another poster. Which, by the way, is hillariously done by posting it in the same response box. Way to be "witty", if that is what you want to call it. My name isn't "some people" it is sarahb_86, Kirvi Inci, or Sarah, if you want to be formal about it. If you want to insult me atleast have the balls to use my name and not hide behind "some people".
@sarahb_86 - Quotation marks are generally used to signify that another user's words have been quoted
If my views are unwanted, then perhaps you shouldn't read this site. It's all about my views.
The only one playing "victim," is yourself. You seem to think I'm being a big meanie because I want you to quit blindly reciting what you've been told by the mainstream media, and think for yourself.
I know it's painful, but I promise, after the first few times it does get easier.
Wait....does Mexico even have a government? I thought that country was run by corrupt officials bought and paid for by the drug dealers.
This is shameful.
@radicalramblings - Hmm, never watch the big mainstream media, or any news really. I love how you automatically fall back on a strawman argument just because I have opposing views. I also love that you tell me to think for myself, yet use worn out excuses over nd over that we have all heard again and again. Thinking for YOURself, ftl.
It's all about my views.
Interesting, as my posts are all about MY views. Seems we have something in common afterall.....
The only one playing "victim," is yourself. You seem to think I'm being a big meanie because I want you to quit blindly reciting what you've been told by the mainstream media, and think for yourself.
Nope, wrong. I am not the one crying "OMG! The government has came to my house and checed my guns! My rights have been violated!!! OH NOES!!!" You are the one doing that.
Also, Big meanie? Really? What are you like 5? I have opposing views but never once did I even claimed you were anything. The only place I see anything like that is in your very own post.
@radicalramblings - Oh and by the way, I said your concern was unwnted not your views. There is a difference. Nice job twisting words to come to some completely off the mark response remark though.
@sarahb_86 - What part of the Constitution - you know, the one you claim to have read - gives the government the right to enter your home at will without probably cause to check your guns? Show it to me, and I'll concede that you are correct. Until then, do not comment here again. If you can't be bothered to check the facts, go back to your pop-culture t.v. shows. I'm tired of trying to force people to educate themselves; if you wish to remain ignorant feel free to do so - but don't do it here.
@Bricker59 - I guess it isn't really all that different from ours, is it? LOL
@radicalramblings - Hmm, reply, yet don't. Interesting theory you have going there. You seem to fail to understand the concept of a disscussion. You would rather ban those from your site that simply have differing views than discuss them. Hey that's fine, I will go, you actually kind of bore me, but before I do that here is this for you:
Probable Cause: You live near a boarder where drugs are being smuggled by violent means. That alone gives them probable cause to serch the homes and even vehicles of people living near it.
Oh, and I don't watch pop culture TV shows either. Honestly, I don't really watch much TV. I have better things to do, like go outside and have a life, oh and work.
@sarahb_86 - You've interrupted this quite enough. Good day.