Firefighters sidestep the 4th ammendment

Firefighters sidestep the 4th ammendment

What scares me is not the sentiments of the author, nor the mainstream publication, but the blind obsequious acceptance. Only DoubleThink could allow someone to even write these words in the US. I do not fear the Authoritarians. I fear their followers. These are they. Let's fisk.

Unlike police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel don’t need warrants to access hundreds of thousands of homes and buildings each year, putting them in a position to spot behavior that could indicate terrorist activity or planning

You say this like it's a good thing.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Americans have given up some of their privacy rights in an effort to prevent future strikes.

We did not give them up. They were taken from us.

The American Civil Liberties Union says using firefighters to gather intelligence is another step in that direction.

Ok, wrong analogy, how about Fahrenheit 451. Burning forbidden knowledge via firefighters? Check!

“They’re really doing technical inspections, and if perchance they find something like, you know, a bunch of RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) rounds in somebody’s basement, I think it’s a no-brainer,”

Srsly. Does that happen often? Has any firefighter ever found an RPG in someone's burning down house? Call up the Malibu guys; no I'll wait. Srsly. I mean.. who the hell writes sentences like that? "But what if we found a buncha RPGS in a basement." That's actually what he said. Is this an epidemic?

said Jack Tomarchio, a senior official in Homeland Security’s intelligence division.

Oh well that explains everything. FAIL.

When going to private residences, for example, they are told to be alert for a person who is hostile, uncooperative or expressing hate or discontent with the United States; unusual chemicals or other materials that seem out of place; ammunition, firearms or weapons boxes; surveillance equipment; still and video cameras; night-vision goggles; maps, photos, blueprints; police manuals, training manuals, flight manuals; and little or no furniture other than a bed or mattress.

Fact. You have described every engineering student in the USA.
They list 19 criteria. I would fall under 17 of those.

Clearly I am a terrorist. Me, and the cat.
(for those playing at home, I would behave or own the following in a private residence: 1) hostile, 2) Uncooperative, 3) expressing discontent with the US, 4) unusual chemicals, kinda vague eh? 5) materials out of place, 6) ammunition, ye gods tons of it. 7) firearms, boy howdy 2nd Amendment. 8) weapons boxes, they send ammo in these. 9) surveillance equipment, i have a police scanner and some mirrors. 10) still and video cameras, who doesn't have these? 11) night vision goggles, they're fun. 12) Maps, of my city, in my car, 13) photos, 14) training manuals, vague as hell, but yes. 15) I have a book on cesnas. 16) little or no furniture? hi all college males.

“We’re there to help people, and by discovering these type of events, we’re helping people,”

Wow. Whatever makes you sleep at night buddy.

And the fire service is also represented in at least 13 state and regional intelligence “fusion” centers across the country — where local, state and federal agencies share information about terrorism and other crimes.

Bruce Schneier specifically warned about these "fusion" centers and mission creep. It's like reading tomorrow's newspaper.

“So we see things and observe things that may be useful to law enforcement,” he said. “We can walk into your house. We don’t need a search warrant.”

Yeah Bob, that's kinda the problem. See.. the 4th Amendment. You are an authoritarian follower.

But Cade said that until recently, there’s been no mechanism for fire departments to share what they learn with law enforcement and intelligence analysts who could use it.

Fire departments are unable to use telephones? Riiiiiiiight.

Homeland Security said if its program with New York is expanded across the country, civil rights and civil liberties training would be included.

Yes. DHS is such a huge defender of civil liberties. Heckuva job DHS.