"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety."

After reading this Story, This famous quote by Benjamin Franklin shot into my mind. "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety." I can't even begin to think of a quote more fitting for today's mindset.

I will summarize the story for those who would like to save time, The mayor of East St. Louis is creating a new rules for all miners, that includes, but not limited to; can not be on the streets without a parent after 10, or during school hours, no loitering of any kind, not permitted to do anything without a parents except go to school, work, church, or after school activities. Will be subject to searches at all hours, moving cars will be stopped and searched, and not allowed to wear red or blue.

Lets commence with the commentary. While i understand that most gang members wear blue and red, you think he (the mayor) would understand that living in a city that is home to the St. Louis Cardinals (red) and St. Louis Rams (blue), that it may be difficult and time consuming to search every person wearing a jersey on game day. Not to mention there are other extremely prominent gangs that wear white and yellow.

That brings me to the most important issue at hand, the complete lack of respect for the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. All of the obvious is at play here. The illegal search and seizure. No probable cause. His explanation for probable cause, The wave of crime, is not cause. The rise in crime does not mean every citizen is a criminal. Treating everyone as if they are already guilty is not the best way to create relationships with a community that already lacks trust in its police force.

This particular quote is quite worrisome, “Vehicles that are moving will be stopped and searched for guns, weapons, drugs, and open alcohol and any other violations that are taking place,” Parks later told KMOX’s Mark Reardon. “People who are walking, people who are bicycling, can be stopped and searched for the same and, when it comes to state IDs, we’re going to be confirming that state IDs are in place for everyone involved.” 
I am sorry, but i do not care what has happened 4 blocks/streets/towns or counties over, unless you have a warrant to search my vehicle you will not be allowed to do so. Driving does not constitute a crime, Walking does not constitute a crime. Did this guy get his ideas from Mayor Bloomberg up in New York?

Some people may think this isn't a big deal, seeing as it only pertains to minors. That may be true in the idea of the new rules. In practice, that is a major fallacy. How often can you tell if the person driving a car at night is 17 or 19? how about a person walking down the street, Are they 18 or 16? I feel as though this new tactic will be abandoned very quickly for these reasons and a few others.

Does he really have the financial support to back such a major increase in a police officers work load? and thinking long term here, businesses will be losing money because people are going to be afraid to leave their house at night.

The police state that this man is trying to create is scary to say the lease. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."