now DC cops want to go door-to-door to check for firearms

[kinggovernor]

D.C. police are so eager to get guns out of the city that they're offering amnesty to people who allow officers to come into their homes and get the weapons.

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced yesterday the Safe Homes Initiative, aimed at parents and guardians who know or suspect that their children or other relatives have guns. Under the deal, police target areas hit by violence and seek adults who let them search their homes for guns, with no risk of arrest. The offer also applies to drugs that turn up during the searches, police said.

The program is scheduled to start March 24 in the Washington Highlands area of Southeast Washington. Officers will go door-to-door seeking permission to search homes for weapons. Police later plan to visit other areas, including sections of Columbia Heights in Northwest and Eckington in Northeast.

"If we come across illegal contraband, we will confiscate it," Lanier said. "But amnesty means amnesty. We're trying to get guns and drugs off the street."

Fenty (D) and Lanier announced the plan as part of a new strategy to deal with the prevalence of firearms in a city that has one of the strictest gun control laws in the nation. The Supreme Court will hear arguments next week in a case challenging the constitutionality of the D.C. law.

Residents who agree to the searches will be asked to sign consent forms. If guns are found, they will be tested to determine whether they were used in crimes. If the results are positive, police will launch investigations, which could lead to charges.

Boston police are embarking on a similar program this month. Police in that city have been meeting with residents before the door-to-door effort begins. Philadelphia police are considering such an initiative.

Ronald Hampton, executive director of the National Black Police Association, questioned the Washington effort. As a lifelong D.C. resident and a former police officer, he said, he would not consent to his house being searched.

"They haven't earned that level of access or respect from the community," Hampton said. "I just can't believe they're trying to do that. I've never heard of anything like that in my life."

Arthur B. Spitzer, legal director of the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the program is "a very bad idea." He said officers might act so aggressively that residents feel coerced into letting them in.

"It sends the message to the public that the police ought to be able to search your house anytime for any reason," Spitzer said. "People will be intimidated. That cheapens civil liberties and privacy for everyone."

At a news conference, Fenty and Lanier also said police will host monthly meetings with other law enforcement agencies to identify trends in gun-related crimes and to facilitate information sharing. The goal is to identify repeat offenders and find new ways to stop them, Lanier said.

"It should give us a much clearer picture of how to coordinate our efforts," she said.

Police also announced the creation of an anonymous hotline for people to call with information about crimes. The line, 888-919-CRIME, is staffed by detectives. In the coming weeks, the department is planning to set up a system through which the public can send tips as text messages.

"We want to make sure the community has every means necessary to get in touch with us," Lanier said.
D.C. Seeks Consent To Search for Guns - washingtonpost.com

I know it is an old story but it is coming to light now. I wonder if they has anything to do with the Supreme Court case that they are about to lose.

[hsmith]

The problem is, that their "amnesty" isn't quite what it is.

If they find NFA items (Automatic weapons for those who don't know), the BATFE doesn't give you amnesty. The BATFE will rape you and your mother and lie about it the entire way. It is an extremely abusive branch of the government. They are notorious for flip flopping on people and changing them with felonies.

Everyone in the house can be charged with felonies if the BATFE finds out there is a controlled firearm in the house. Hell, they can even charge the police for being in possession. They can't protect people from these charges and they are lying to the citizens if they think that they can. It is bad news for them to open up their houses for these searches.

[Fed Up]

Looks like it's "request only."

Gun Search Program To Be Request Only
D.C. Backs Off From Door-to-Door Outreach

washingtonpost.com

I like this idea either way: "They also will pass out cards that residents can place in their windows that say, "NO CONSENT TO SEARCH OUR HOME. This home protected by the United States Constitution.""

Fed Up

[Donkey®]

Sensationalism. They are in no way rolling door to door in swat gear taking guns.

[7960]

Other than the incredible waste of time and money, I don't have a problem with police going door to door asking to look for guns. I hope every homeowner tells the police to fuck off, but hey police have a right to ask.

[Fed Up]

Originally Posted by 7960

Other than the incredible waste of time and money, I don't have a problem with police going door to door asking to look for guns. I hope every homeowner tells the police to fuck off, but hey police have a right to ask.

How do they have a right to ask? I might be confused in your statement. I suppose the captain could tell his force to ask, but I'm not sure what you mean by the "right" to ask.

Fed Up

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by 7960

Other than the incredible waste of time and money, I don't have a problem with police going door to door asking to look for guns. I hope every homeowner tells the police to fuck off, but hey police have a right to ask.

their time could be better spent elsewhere, an amnesty place would allow all people who would want this "sevice" to take care of it while minimizing governmental interfence

[7960]

Originally Posted by Fed Up

How do they have a right to ask? I might be confused in your statement. I suppose the captain could tell his force to ask, but I'm not sure what you mean by the "right" to ask.

Fed Up

maybe "right" is confusing............try one of these:

-it's not illegal for a cop to ask
-there's no harm in a cop asking
-it doesn't violate your rights for a cop to ask


better?

[7960]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

their time could be better spent elsewhere, an amnesty place would allow all people who would want this "sevice" to take care of it while minimizing governmental interfence

and anyone who got pulled over with a bag of cocaine in his car would say "I'm on my way to the amnesty place!" to try to get out of it.

I agree it's a huge waste of time and money. That's why I specifically said "Other than the incredible waste of time and money" in my post.

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by 7960

and anyone who got pulled over with a bag of cocaine in his car would say "I'm on my way to the amnesty place!" to try to get out of it.

I agree it's a huge waste of time and money. That's why I specifically said "Other than the incredible waste of time and money" in my post.

it should have been bolded, IMO

[Fed Up]

Originally Posted by 7960

maybe "right" is confusing............try one of these:

-it's not illegal for a cop to ask
-there's no harm in a cop asking
-it doesn't violate your rights for a cop to ask


better?

better

[7960]

Originally Posted by Fed Up

better

Sorry for the confusion. "You've got a right to ask" is a knee jerk answer because technically anyone has a right to ask anyone anything.

When I taught kids used to ask all kinds of personal questions. "What's your address? What's your wife's name? Do you have kids?......" Those kinds of things. My answer was always "You've got a right to ask" and then I'd go about my business.

[hsmith]

Originally Posted by 7960

Other than the incredible waste of time and money, I don't have a problem with police going door to door asking to look for guns. I hope every homeowner tells the police to fuck off, but hey police have a right to ask.

But they are lying to the public, they can't offer blanket amnesty. It isn't right. They can't promise the BATFE won't go after them and most people are VERY ignorant of those laws. Only those that own NFA items "understand" those.

[7960]

Originally Posted by hsmith

But they are lying to the public, they can't offer blanket amnesty. It isn't right. They can't promise the BATFE won't go after them and most people are VERY ignorant of those laws. Only those that own NFA items "understand" those.

which is just another reason "I hope every homeowner tells the police to fuck off."

[Fed Up]

Originally Posted by 7960

Sorry for the confusion. "You've got a right to ask" is a knee jerk answer because technically anyone has a right to ask anyone anything.

When I taught kids used to ask all kinds of personal questions. "What's your address? What's your wife's name? Do you have kids?......" Those kinds of things. My answer was always "You've got a right to ask" and then I'd go about my business.

I guess the only time you don't have a right is when the cop tells you to shutup.

I get your drift though...

Fed Up

[thewise1]

If you're stupid enough to give the police permission to come in your home, you almost deserve what you get for it.