http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/SavageLove?oid=569

#19
In fact, if they can get away with confiscation and destruction of video evidence with impunity (as they routinely do) then no formal law is even necessary.

Well, formal law is a terribly effective illusion, so it will never go away unless it’s replaced by something even better (for the state). Even the most apathetic of citizens would likely be roused if Obama went on the TV tomorrow and announced that they’re going to do away with the judiciary, and simply have police throw people in prison for however long they like whenever they find somebody they feel is doing wrong.

Of course, the reality is frighteningly close to exactly that, but it will never serve the state’s interests to admit it.

#14 Zargon

The only things the state can’t prohibit are those that they don’t know about. Sure, it’s unthinkable now that they’d prohibit private security cameras, just like it was unthinkable 5 or 10 years ago that they’d prohibit photographs of police.

You’re right and it actually occurred to me when I wrote that that I should never say never. If the state can prohibit gun ownership based on the premise that protection from criminals is the province of the police, then it’s certainly possible for them to make the argument against security cameras.

In fact, if they can get away with confiscation and destruction of video evidence with impunity (as they routinely do) then no formal law is even necessary.

Admitting it makes me cringe, but for a short period in high school, I was an ICP fan. But back then, none of the ICP fans thought they were “hard” – it just made good halloween costumes and gave us something “forbidden” to listen to during sleepovers.

But, somewhere along the line, something changed, and ICP started drawing a more depraved and mildly retarded crowd. In fact, crime associated with “juggalos” is so common, the true crime site I contribute to actually tags them seperately. And it’s always particularly slimy crime. Young adult “juggalos” stealing money and candy – yes, candy – from tweens; a group of 5 young adults who beat a father unconscious for trying to protect his family – his girlfriend and 11 and 17 year old daughters – from these losers who terrorized the ladies while the family took a walk in a park, etc.

If a parent had to identify a single faction of the teenage demographic as the “wrong crowd” – that clique that he absolutely cannot afford for his child to fall into – ICP fans would be it.

#11
Also, they might eventually pass a law prohibiting people from photographing cops in the performance of their duty (it’s probably inevitable), but I don’t think they could prohibit people from having security cameras in the own residences or businesses.

The only things the state can’t prohibit are those that they don’t know about. Sure, it’s unthinkable now that they’d prohibit private security cameras, just like it was unthinkable 5 or 10 years ago that they’d prohibit photographs of police.

You live in one of three or four states that do not have HS wrestling.

The street in front of the house will be covered by at least one of the outdoor cameras

This is the way of the future, folks. My reason for pursuing cameras instead of a security service is because I want evidence if I get robbed and the cameras are as much of a deterrent as an ADT sign.

Security cameras controlled by private owners are going to be the ultimate deterrent for police thuggery. It’s one thing when the cops take your cell phone or camera away on a public street. It another when the pictures are recorded by cameras they don’t even know about and are transmitted to off-site storage where they can easily be backed up and protected from police confiscation. Also, they might eventually pass a law prohibiting people from photographing cops in the performance of their duty (it’s probably inevitable), but I don’t think they could prohibit people from having security cameras in the own residences or businesses.

Think how interesting the video would be of the NYPD cops who raided that family and drove their cars into them intentionally….

Also, I didn’t realize people still listened to ISP.

That little episode is uncannily similar to any of a thousand or more police brutality incidents captured on video: We see a couple of frightened people cringing in the face of an alpha bully whose boldness is a function of being surrounded by a pack of supporters. The only real difference is that the bully in that video will probably face some kind of punishment, whereas bullying police are almost always vindicated for “following department procedure.”