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Is this unconstitutional, or do people hate accountability?
http://news.yahoo.com/court-police-dna-swabs-arres...
The above article sets the tone for my question. After reading the comments section of this article, I notice a huge amount of people don't like the idea of their DNA being taken upon arrest. My question is why? Why really? Police take your prints, which they can use to find out if you've committed a crime, why is this such an issue?
In the article, a man is caught on rape charges because he was arrested for something else and had his DNA taken. By the sound of it, this is the kind of thing we should be doing, making sure than suspects who have left DNA at the scene of an unsolved crime are held accountable.
A few years ago in my hometown we had red light cameras set to be on every major street corner. But due to public backlash, the project was scrapped. A year ago I was hit by a car in a major intersection and the driver ran, and still hasn't been found. If those cameras were up, they may have been caught.
What I'm saying is it seems to me, more often than not, people hide behind the Fourth Amendment to ditch responsibility for their actions.They don't want to be held accountable for their actions, so they cry fascism when things like this happen. As a result, innocent people are left without any justice.
But I realize I might not see all the angles, so that's my question. Is it so wrong to take DNA from the arrested, or do people really just hate the idea of having to own up to their mistakes? I don't want to hear slippery slope arguments like "well this is just where they'll start" or "give them an inch and they'll take a mile", because those arguments are bunk. I want to hear legitimate reasons why this is unconstitutional if you're against this, or legitimate reasons on why you're for it if you are for it.
I'm going to let this question hang a little longer, as I'd like an INTELLIGENT counter point to my argument. Not "if the police have it everyone will have it" because that's completely incorrect. The IAFIS, basically the national fingerprint database, is only available to law enforcement agencies and courts. No Tom, Dick or Sally could just call up a person's prints and know everything they've done. And keeping a person's specific genetic structure on file does not mean everyone could even read it, or that they'd keep track of genetic abnormalities. The example one of you gave of a person being unable to date because people would be able to look up his exact genetic condition is stupid. And finally, the DMV is not the police. They aren't even affiliated with the criminal justice system. When you can give me an example of a law enforcement agency "selling" any information about a person to an insurance company, then I'll consider
3 Answers
- HereticLv 78 years agoFavorite Answer
It goes back to the innocent til proven guilty idea. A lot of people see it as an accusation, that you have to be guilty of something and we're gonna find out what it is. A crime that hasn't been committed yet, but you will eventually commit it and we already have the evidence! It's not like fingerprints or a traffic camera. Add to it that no information ever stays where it was intended to stay and one small step takes a big leap. Insurance companies, employers, everybody will jump on it because it's suddenly legal to do in one circumstance, so why not all.
- DocarLv 68 years ago
And if you have a genetic problem you do not mind sharing that with the world? That includes insurance companies, employers, etc. And if it can be passed down your kids information is now open to the public as well as that of your grandchildren, etc.
Your grandchild wants to date but a check on your DNA show a mutant gene so he lives his life alone!
We don't know what the future is going to bring but we do know that state DMVs were selling medical information to insurance companies. That anybody can get your fingerprints if they are on file. If every police department in the US has access to your DNA it is NOT safe!
- Awesome BillLv 78 years ago
I too have noticed an alarming increase of a lack of responsibility in everyday society. I think it would not only be counter-intuitive to not take DNA swabs but counter-productive.
I think those who are against the idea may SAY they don't want Big Brother in charge, but are the kind of people you don't want to trust your last quarter to. They are likely unsavory people who take advantage of any opportunity to steal or cheat their way through life.