----- Original Message -----
From: "Shel Belinkoff"
Subject: Re: Stopped By The Police Again
That's pretty close to what I think might happen. IAC, John would
probably
be detained for quite some time.
IMO, regardless of what your rights are, you really need to assess the
situation and decide for yourself what the best course of action is. As I
asked once before, I wonder how many of those who have taken a strong
moral
stance on this issue have ever been cuffed, tossed into the back of a
patrol car, chained to a bench or put into a holding cell in the precinct
house, and gone through the system.
Never been cuffed, I have forced a cop to back down when he was infringing
on my right to do what I was doing, and have taken on myriad security goons
doing the same thing.
Mind you, the cops up here are more respectful of civil rights from the
sounds of it, and quite likely, we have more freedom here to begin with than
you have.
At the very least, a person had the right to know under what law they are
being investigated, and the duty to ask why they are being detained. This
should be done right at the start if the cop is "investigating" rather than
just striking up a conversation (been there, had a lot of nice chats too).
If a cop asked to see what was on my card, I would be asking what reasons he
had for asking before cooperating fully.
I realize that moral relativism is rampant, especially in North American
society, but all that means is that you are letting your rights be eroded,
based on whether you feel like standing up for them that day.
William Robb
