imported post
LEO 229 wrote:
I did not see "torch teams" in NYC so I cannot respond since I have no clue what they were doing. If you are speaking about teams assigned to protect the events surrounding the torch run...
This was the issue ofTorch Teams thatI was reffering to:
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/view_topic.php?id=10237&forum_id=4&highlight=torch+teams
Do you believe the federal government has some type of control to assemble and control local police departments to do their bidding?
Umm, actually... Yes.. Absolutely.. Who do you think takes over during "states of emergency?" FEMA, The Homeland Security Department, and Northcom.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Losing+service-oriented+police:+state+and+local+police+departments,...-a0144563298
http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/HSA_RoAPS.html
Homeland Security Act
Federal Supervision of First Responders
The biggest charge that Jasper makes against the Homeland Security Act is that it "mandates federal supervision, funding, and coordination of `local first responders' -- specifically police and emergency personnel," thus expanding federal control of local law enforcement.
The sections in the Homeland Security Act that concern "first responders" are in Title V: Emergency Preparedness and Response, but there is no specific mandate of federal control over local police. The provision simply provides for coordination and guidance. Although centralization appears to be the only way to properly handle emergency preparedness on a sufficiently large scale to protect our country, there is, nonetheless, reason for concern that central federal coordination could lead to loss of local control and to potential federal militarization, especially in view of the many other measures and events that support such a possibility -- such as, the Military Tribunals without constitutional procedural protections, the preemptive "war" on Iraq, the refusal of hearings and legal representation to "unlawful enemy combatants" and Guantanamo detainees, the indefinite detention of immigrants who are not even determined to be a danger (also often without hearings or representation), information-sharing provisions, the mixing of foreign and domestic investigations under FISA, Citizen Corps, and many more new measures now under the Homeland Security Act enumerated below.
According to the United States Northern Command (USNC), "First responders are the men and women who are `first on the scene' as a natural or man-made disaster unfolds. They are also the last to leave the scene. First responders are policemen, firemen, emergency medical technicians. ... There are 11 million state and local first responders in 87,000 jurisdictions throughout the United States."[font=arial,helvetica][size=-1][
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The USNC states that: "Our nation's structure of overlapping federal, state, and local governance -- more than 87,000 different jurisdictions -- provides a unique opportunity and challenge for U.S. Northern Command.
Operations are underway to develop interconnected and complementary relationships and plans to support first responders. Everyone on this broad team, including U.S. Northern Command, wants to ensure the safety and security of the American people" (emphasis added).
USNC notes that the Posse Comitatus Act (
18 USC 1385)[font=arial,helvetica][size=-1][
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USNC adds: "Prohibiting direct military involvement in law enforcement is in keeping with long-standing U.S. law and policy limiting the military's role in domestic affairs."
However, the USNC notes four statutory exceptions to this prohibition: (1) counter-drug assistance (10 USC
371-
81), (2) Insurrection Act (10 USC
331-
34), (3) crimes using nuclear materials (
18 USC 831), and (4) chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction (
10 USC 382).
According to
a March 6, 2002 article by Gary Seigle on Government Executive Magazine, titled "`First responders' to terrorism seek federal strategy, equipment," first responders themselves were seeking federal assistance and guidance. Seigle writes: "A national training standard should be established and maintained by the federal government for first responders who are poorly prepared and equipped to recognize or respond to a weapon of mass destruction attack, emergency officials told a congressional subcommittee yesterday."[font=arial,helvetica][size=-1][
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According to the
New York Times, General Ralph E. Eberhart, now in charge of USNC, said earlier this year that he would welcome a review of existing restrictions against using military forces domestically. (See
Part 2 of this series,
footnote 8.) Meaning, presumably, overturning the Posse Comitatus Act. Doing so would essentially mean allowing a standing domestic army.
James Madison, a proponent of strong national government, wrote:
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In time of actual war, great discretionary powers are constantly given to the executive magistrate. Constant apprehension of war has the same tendency to render the head too large for the body. A standing military force with an overgrown executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. [font=arial,helvetica][size=-1][
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Patrick Henry said: "A standing army [will] execute the execrable commands of tyranny." This is "a most dangerous power," he declared.[font=arial,helvetica][size=-1][
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And also not to forget that the government sends in fully armedparamilitary operatives (civilians)under contract with Homeland Security to police our citizens during times of civil disobedience as well, not to mention the federal law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard that are involved during those times. What happens in Fairfax to the local law enforcement officials when the feds and troopsmove into a disaster or emergency?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/091005A.shtml
This discussion is just that, a discussion of ideas and learning. It's not some paranoid delusionalstatus that causes me to lose any sleep. I simply stay informed and have opinions about what I see, hear, and read.I am a student of history and a constitutionalist. I am politically active and try to change things in the nation and my state through legal means by writing, voting, etc.. That's all these debatesare about for me. I don't anticipate changing anybody's mind..
Once a cop, always a cop. :X