Sometimes I get a little too hung up on the Second Amendment, both for personal reasons and because of the 2nd's vital importance as the guardian of the other nine Amendments in the Bill of Rights. The others also have importance and relevance in today's world, however, and when we compare the rights of Americans to the nonexistent rights of citizens of other countries, we see just how special they are.
Today's example is the Fourth Amendment. In the United States, absent a felony-in-progress situation, there is only one way for government officials to enter your home without your consent - they must convince a judge to sign a search warrant. If they are unable to procure a warrant, they may not enter your house. Period.
Of course, in other countries, things are very different. Let's pick a country to use as an example. Regular readers? Right, England!
The Centre for Policy Studies, an English think tank (you know it's English when the r comes before the e!) has released a study outlining the 266 different ways that government officials there can enter a private home without the permission of the owner. Harry Snook, the author of the study, found that most of these 266 different ways have been instituted within the last 20 years, along with many other initiatives that have robbed British citizens of their privacy and independence. Surveillance cameras on every block, as well as depriving citizens of their right to self defense come immediately to mind, but there are lots of others.
How about some examples of these 266 different ways? Sure!!
The Communications Act of 2003 gives the BBC the power to go into private homes and search for evidence of "unlicensed TV watching". Not allowing them in is a 5,000 pound fine.
The Weeds Act of 1959 gives officials the power to "check for presence of certain specified virulent weeds". Not allowing inspectors onto your property is a 1000 pound fine.
The Sunday Trading Act of 1994 allows a "Sunday Trading Inspector" to enter any premises at any reasonable time, with or without a constable. Again, a 1000 pound fine for non-compliance.
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act of 2000 allows anyone to "wander onto land appearing on a map as open country", whether it's privately owned or not.
And the big momma, the Intelligence Services Act of 1994, allows the Secretary of State to authorize entry into a private home "for purposes of national security". Conveniently, these purposes aren't detailed or required to be listed.
And so on. Most of these 266 different ways of entering a private dwelling allow for the use of "reasonable force" if permission is refused. And of course, these laws are never abused, or used as a cover to justify searching for something else.
In England, a person's home is no longer their castle. It's just a dwelling that the government kindly lets them use, until it decides it needs to peek in for some reason or another.
266 different ways!!
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Ya know, maybe you're the guy to go to with my question - I've been told that DNR Conservation Officers or National Forest Service Park Rangers (I've heard this story citing either agency) can inspect any private property that the officer suspects to have illegal quantities of game inside. No warrant, no can I come in please, just barge in and look. The rumor was if you wanted to do a search of a building for something, bring a DNR guy with ya.
"Have any illegal fish? No? Great, but I can't help but notice this meth lab you have here."
Is this true? I know there was a ruling about ice houses being private property (even while perched on a public lake), but this rumor seems to be persistent.
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