Why do we have the fourth amendment?

[originalpckelly]

Please explain. Why is there a fourth amendment in your opinion?

[originalpckelly]

1. I must note I am not being hostile, but I am really kind of doing...

an open ended survey.

[MnFats]

6. because the 'authorities' could barge in anywhere they wanted..

..harassing people by claiming there was evidence or wanted parties inside; also, it was common practice to plant evidence (still is in some places!)

[Cant_wait_for_2008]

9. There really are no 4th amendment rights anymore since 9/11..

at least not while you are driving in a car, there isnt.

All the police have to do is establish "probable cause" by claiming you broke some minor traffic law and you will be pulled over for a stop and more then likly a search of your vehicle.

Next on the police state adgenda is routine traffic stops, much like they already have for drunk driving checkpoints.

All this done in the name of "public safety", dont you know?

Somehow I really dont feel safer when stopped by the police for any reason, not after what they did to unarmed Amadou Diallo in NYC, gunning down and killing an innocent man in cold blood.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amadou_Diallo_(police shooting_victim)

[MnFats]

10. yeah... 41 shots....welcome to DU, too n/t

[Warren Stupidity]

7. It is supposed to be a barrier to outright tyranny.

However the tyrants have simply used fear of bogeymen, from drug fiends to commies to terraists to convince a gullable confused and hynotized population to yield up this right and others in order to be 'safe'.


Is it safe yet?

[stevedeshazer]

2. Because thugs employed by King George III were set loose on the Colonists

I learned this in the fourth grade.

[ThomWV]

3. Just to keep everyone on track

Amendment IV


The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[whistle]

5. The 4th Amendment has been vetoed by BushCo and HLS anyway

...so don't worry about it

[Mike Niendorff]

4. Argh. misread, self-delete.

(disregard, had completely different topic on the brain.)

MDN

[politicat]

8. Because we needed something between 3 and 5?

:silly:

Because it was not uncommon for British law enforcement, in the 16th and 17th centuries, to take paperwork (especially deeds, wills and other critical pieces of paper) as a means of ensuring that a person would stand trial.

Of course, the DEA does this, too.

Unfortunately, this is one of the most eroded civil rights we have. Unreasonable search and seizure as well as warrant violations are part and parcel of law enforcement. No knock warrants are the worst offense, but there are others.