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Mickey Veich
I was an agent in the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives. Basically, I enforced firearms and explosives laws and violations by internal (US)terrorists, outlaw motorcycle gangs, arsonists and others who violate our firearms and explosives laws.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
LAW AND ORDER MAGAZINE
GUNS AND AMMO MAGAZINE
FLEET MANAGEMENT MAGAZINE
AIRBORNE LAW ENFORCEMENT MAGAZINE
INTERNATIONAL POLICE MOUNTAIN BIKE ASSOCIATION NEWS
FBI JOURNAL
and, I also have had numerous photos and articles in different newspapers.
State's Rights or Individual Rights,
Which is most important?
By
Mickey Veich
American news media recently reported that the Italian legislature decided to require fingerprinting of homeless or illegal immigrants and other seemingly unsavory characters who bring disgrace to Italy: probably Romas, or gypsies. Italy is currently home to an estimated 110,000 Romas. (Liégeois, Jean-Pierre (1994). Roma, Tsiganes, Voiageurs Conseil de l'Europe, 34.)
The United States, too, is familiar with fingerprinting certain persons. Two years ago the US decided to require fingerprinting of all incoming vacationing and business travelers from certain countries, most notably Brazil. There is no official reason Brazil was singled out but local law officers will tell you it's likely because of the rampant crime in Brazil. Brazil, not to be denied an opportunity to retaliate for this upsetting circumstance, retaliated by requiring all American travelers Brazil to pay US$100 for a visa, which also requires fingerprinting. That's more than the cost of a passport.
If fingerprinting isn't invasive enough, many in the US refuse to support indiscriminate fingerprinting all in the name of individual rights stating that human rights trumps states' rights.
Much to the chagrin of many law enforcement officers, indiscriminate fingerprinting doesn't go far enough. Many would go farther by taking the additional step of requiring a DNA sample from every violator caught or each child born. As firearms in America are freely purchased or traded and used for legitimate purposes in the US, there is a plethora of guns. Some law enforcement officers would require the collection of test-fired bullet samples from all new firearms declaring that having a sample from each firearm would aid in police investigations. All firearms manufactured in America are test-fired. Taking bullet samples at that time would not impact the manufacturing process negatively and it would simplify the tracing efforts for law enforcement.
The argument for individual rights vs. states' rights requires good citizenship and incumbent governments to act similarly. If citizens decide to commit crimes against society, they can expect to be treated as second-class citizens. If governments treat their citizens unfairly, there will be unrest, unhappiness and possible revolution.
Numerous horror stories brought by travelers returning from Italy become more believable when they happen to close friends or work colleagues. One prime example happened to a dear friend and colleague from my former employer. My friend Carmine, an Italian, frequently acts as a courier of high value items for corporations from the US to large international companies outside the US. These travels are always to high profile cities around the world. Rome was Carmine's next trip.
Naturally, being Italian, he was excited to have an opportunity to visit the homeland of his forefathers, the seat of modern civilization. Many Americans believe Italy to be the beginning of modern history, indeed, civilization itself. Carmine was, …'excited to travel and visit the capitol of his ancestors' he told me. Carmine, a first generation of Italian parents, visited the ancient buildings, the coliseum, and artwork in museums. He even visited the world famous Trevi Fountain tossed in a coin and made his wish. His coin probably fell through a crack in the wrong place for what happened next shouldn't happen to anyone, especially a genuine son of Italy.
It started to rain. Suddenly, Middle Eastern looking men selling umbrellas surrounded Carmine. He was already wet so he declined to by any. Carmine found a small restaurant and had a meal of seafood, pasta and some wine.
Walking later to the train station, Carmine boarded the train for Fiumicino Airport. In his haste to catch the train, Carmine failed to put his wallet in a safer place than his hip pocket. While on the trip to Fiumicino, he realized that he was relieved of his wallet. Carmine remembered his father's advice many years ago; always carry your money separate from the wallet. Whoever got his wallet received nothing of any substantive value for his money was safe in another pocket. In Carmine's case, it's highly unlikely identity theft was at the heart of a common street criminal.
As this is a regular crime in large cities full of tourists, drastic anti-human rights issues begin to take precedence. Police believe everyone should be properly identified. Fingerprinting is one way to identify everybody, especially the homeless, the itinerant, anyone without proper identification and residence. Fingerprinting aids law enforcement. Cooperation also aids law enforcement. By creating new, pro-active methods for identification purposes, the Nation is attempting to protect itself and its citizens. Scarier is the thought that these new police powers could be abused, the only argument civil rights activists have.
In any case, we go back to the issue of citizens respecting their state and the state respecting its citizens. Which comes first? If illegal aliens are the targets, presumably they do not enjoy the same rights of citizenship. Why should they? After all, to start with they are illegal.
Remember when the rain started to fall and those middle-eastern looking persons selling umbrellas immediately surrounded Carmine? In some countries, this could be considered fund-raising for political extremist groups. For example, intelligence circles have long known that Hezbollah and HAMAS have been identified as having operatives in Brazil raising money to support their respective groups. Who is to say illegal street vendors in Italy are not doing the same?
Law enforcement is the single best instrument used to combat terrorism by focusing on this type of criminal activity. In this case, police emphasis should be on intelligence operations and covert criminal investigations.