F@ck the Police - Shoot Back?

The Declaration of Independence states in part "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it..."

The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States provides that "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed", a right many claim was included in the Constitution to ensure that the people would have the means to defend themselves against a tyrannical government.

But we are faced with a dilemma... if you don't comply with the demands of government, the government will send its enforcers, the police, to arrest you. Now if that arrest is unlawful, some would argue that you have a right to resist with force.

The Constitution Society has argued, quoting Plummer v. State, that “Citizens may resist unlawful arrest to the point of taking an arresting officer's life if necessary.” A premise that was upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States in the case: John Bad Elk v. U.S., 177 U.S. 529.

So in using your 2nd Amendment rights to resist the government, the first people you will likely be resisting are the police officers in your local community.

Most right-thinking people will strongly object to shooting the police. Is there any possible time when it is acceptable to shoot at the police? Again, it is difficult to imagine anyone seriously arguing that it is ever acceptable to shoot the police. And yet, we claim that we have the right to bear arms to resist a tyrannical government.

When is a government so tyrannical that it may be resisted by force of arms? What action by government is the breaking point? When is it OK to say - I will not comply? And when is it OK to shoot the government agents that come to force you into compliance?

Or, perhaps as some claim, the 2nd Amendment is outdated. The idea of resisting oppressive government actions by force has no place in our modern society.

Operating in Hostile and Non-Permissive Environments:
A Survival and Resource Guide for Those Who Go in Harm’s Way

 

Military personnel deployed to a combat area, their supporting contractors overseas, government civilian employees overseas, non-government organizations (NGOs), journalists working on international stories, businesses attempting to establish a foothold in developing countries, and individual travelers to remote areas of the world can all find themselves in hostile and non-permissive environments. This guide covers a broad range of subjects that are intended to aid individuals, living and working in dangerous areas, in being safer in their daily lives and in being better able to protect themselves and survive in case of an emergency, disaster, or hostile action.

 



Feds Force Suspects To Unlock An Apple iPhone X With Their Face

It finally happened. The feds forced an Apple iPhone X owner to unlock their device with their face.

A child abuse investigation unearthed by Forbes includes the first known case in which law enforcement used Apple Face ID facial recognition technology to open a suspect's iPhone. That's by any police agency anywhere in the world, not just in America.

It happened on August 10, when the FBI searched the house of 28-year-old Grant Michalski, a Columbus, Ohio, resident who would later that month be charged with receiving and possessing child pornography. With a search warrant in hand, a federal investigator told Michalski to put his face in front of the phone, which he duly did. That allowed the agent to pick through the suspect's online chats, photos and whatever else he deemed worthy of investigation.

First came multiple cases in which suspects were told to unlock iPhones with their fingerprints, via Apple's Touch ID biometric login. The same technique was then used on dead subjects. Earlier this year, this publication uncloaked GrayKey, a $15,000-$30,000 tool that could break through the passcodes of the latest iOS models, including the iPhone X. Another contractor, Israel's Cellebrite, announced similar services.

Now Face ID is being used for the same purpose. Whilst the feds obtained a warrant, and appeared to have done everything within the bounds of the law, concerns remain about the use of such tactics.  (Forbes, September 30, 2018)
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5,000 US Troops to Deploy to US-Mexico Border to Stop Foreign Invasion

According to American Military News (October 29, 2018) the Pentagon is apparently set to deploy an additional 5,000 U.S. troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. The number is a sharp increase from the 800-troop deployment that was reported last week, as the migrant caravan that has built up to about 7,000 people heads through Mexico toward the United States. Troops would be sent from Texas, Arizona and California.

The caravan of approximately 7,000 migrants is trekking northward through Mexico with the goal of entering the U.S. Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico have failed to stop the caravan so far, prompting President Donald Trump to announce he would follow through with his threat and begin cutting foreign aid to those countries.

“The assault on our country at our Southern Border, including the Criminal elements and DRUGS pouring in, is far more important to me, as President, than Trade or the USMCA. Hopefully Mexico will stop this onslaught at their Northern Border. All Democrats fault for weak laws.
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Large groups of men marching to a border, led by a foreign flag, are not refugees seeking assistance but an invasion by a foreign Army.

Operating in Hostile and Non-Permissive Environments:

A Survival and Resource Guide for Those Who Go in Harm’s Way

 

At Least 46 Oregon Residents Have Been Ordered to Surrender Their Firearms

"At least 46 Oregon residents have been ordered to surrender their firearms as a result of a new law that allows for 'extreme risk protection orders.' These are the red flag laws... these protective orders will deprive citizens of their legally owned and legally purchased property even if it turns out that the petitioner had bad reasons for requesting it. Ripe for abuse and a total bastardization of due process." —Dana Loesch
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Jury Sides with Olympia Police in 2014 Excessive Force Case

According to the Olympian, October 25, 2018, a jury in Tacoma this week ruled in favor of Olympia police in a civil case alleging police used excessive force during a 2014 incident.

In May 2014, Tyrone Johnson of Spanaway was working late at CenturyLink on Martin Way East when police came in with guns drawn and put him in handcuffs, according to his claim. The claim accuses six Olympia Police Department employees of misconduct: Officers Ryan Donald, George Clark, Jonathan Hazen, Eric Henrichsen and Randy Wilson, and Sgt. Matthew Renschler. Donald is already under investigation in the shooting of Bryson Chaplin and Andre Thompson during a May 21 altercation. The two men were suspected of shoplifting from the west Olympia Safeway.

A police spokesman at the time said officers believed burglars were inside the building. But an attorney for Johnson, who is African-American, argued their actions were racially motivated and traumatic for Johnson.

“Here is an African-American man who had every right to be there,” Grant said. “He was dressed in his uniform and driving a company car, and he was still subjected to this. If my client had acted differently, he may not be alive.”

Johnson sued Olympia police and the city for $1 million, arguing the detention violated his civil rights. The case went to trial in federal court in Tacoma this month.

In its verdict Tuesday, the jury found that the officers’ actions did not constitute excessive force.
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The jury no doubt made the correct decision in this case, but we are left with the question of why this ended up in a suit against the department and the city in the first place. Was Mr. Johnson hoping for a large payday from the city? Maybe, or maybe he really did feel that the conduct of the police officers was excessive.

It can be difficult for a person who has done nothing wrong to understand why the police are pointing guns at him. Why he is being placed in handcuffs, and why after the police determined that Mr. Johnson had done nothing wrong did they treat it like it was no big deal.

The Olympia police officers in this case did nothing wrong, and the jury's decision confirms that. But, after being held at gunpoint by several police officers, it may have been difficult for Mr. Johnson, and others like him, to understand why the police did what they did.

In any case where there is a use of force by police (i.e. display of a firearm) against a person who has done nothing wrong, a follow-up call from the Chief (or other senior department official) to answer questions about the officer's actions and why they were necessary might just same a lot of time in the court room. (And maybe there was such a call, the article doesn't say. But, if you are a police officer, does your department have a policy on following up on use of force with the person against whom the force was directed?)

Operating in Hostile and Non-Permissive Environments:
A Survival and Resource Guide for Those Who Go in Harm’s Way

 

Military personnel deployed to a combat area, their supporting contractors overseas, government civilian employees overseas, non-government organizations (NGOs), journalists working on international stories, businesses attempting to establish a foothold in developing countries, and individual travelers to remote areas of the world can all find themselves in hostile and non-permissive environments. This guide covers a broad range of subjects that are intended to aid individuals, living and working in dangerous areas, in being safer in their daily lives and in being better able to protect themselves and survive in case of an emergency, disaster, or hostile action.

Missing Postmarks on Bombs Sent to Democrats. What Does It Mean?

 

 

 

 

In October 2018 there were multiple news reports about "bombs" being sent through the US Mail to prominent democrats and critics of President Trump. Some reports noted that the stamps on the packages were not canceled, and the Snopes web-site wrote that while it is USPS policy to cancel stamps on items processed by the USPS "Not every standard procedure is an absolute, especially when it comes to the U.S. Postal Service."  

 

Fair enough, if one of the packages supposedly sent through the mail failed to have canceled stamps, maybe the USPS just didn't follow procedure on that package. And, ABC News has noted that: “While some have made note of the fact that the devices were not postmarked, multiple officials have said this was not uncommon, and that because of the soft packaging they could not go through automated sorting machines to have their postage canceled.”

 

But, what does it mean when none of the packages have canceled stamps?  

 

(I recently received a couple of items in soft packages, with postage stamps on the plastic bag the items were sent in, and the stamps all had postmarks.)

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Operating in Hostile and Non-Permissive Environments:
A Survival and Resource Guide for Those Who Go in Harm’s Way

Cop Stuck with Dirty Needle at Seattle Park, Fears Disease Diagnosis

A police officer was stuck in the foot with a dirty needle while walking through a Seattle park on patrol this past Monday. Now, he’s receiving intense treatment to protect him from diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis, renewing concerns over police and resident safety in Seattle parks.

“This officer was simply walking through the grassy field of a city park, near where children were playing, when he stepped on the needle, which was hidden in the grass,” said Sgt. Rich O’Neil, vice president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG). “The officer was taken to the hospital and is now undergoing ongoing, debilitating treatment to prevent HIV and other diseases.”

According to SPOG, the officer was on a routine walk through of Baker Park, a tiny residential park in the Crown Hill neighborhood. As the officer was walking, he felt a sharp pain between his toes that became so strong, he wasn’t able to stand.

Upon inspection, the officer saw a needle hub on the sole of his work boot. After removing the needle, the officer and his partner immediately traveled to a nearby hospital, along with the needle, so that it could be tested.

“The men and women of the Seattle Police Department put themselves on the line every day and one of the hazards of working in public safety is the risk of injury,” said Sgt Sean Whitcomb of the SPD.

Just weeks ago, former FBI operative and current Seattle City Council candidate Naveed Jamali, was walking in Seattle, near the waterfront, when his young children found needles and used condoms in the open.  (My Northwest, October 26, 2018)

Discarded needles from the use of illegal drugs is a significant problem in Seattle. There are an estimated 18,000-20,000 injection drug users (IDU) who live in King County. In Washington State, 10.7% of all adults are in need of substance abuse treatment, yet in King County, 69.6% of adults in need of treatment do not receive it. In the City of Seattle, it is estimated that 46-70% of homeless women and men report having substance abuse issues.
Information about the King County Needle Exchange program can be found here.

Operating in Hostile and Non-Permissive Environments:
A Survival and Resource Guide for Those Who Go in Harm’s Way

 

Military personnel deployed to a combat area, their supporting contractors overseas, government civilian employees overseas, non-government organizations (NGOs), journalists working on international stories, businesses attempting to establish a foothold in developing countries, and individual travelers to remote areas of the world can all find themselves in hostile and non-permissive environments. This guide covers a broad range of subjects that are intended to aid individuals, living and working in dangerous areas, in being safer in their daily lives and in being better able to protect themselves and survive in case of an emergency, disaster, or hostile action.