Pubdate: Fri, 08 Feb 2013
Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock, AR)
Copyright: 2013 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc.
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Note: Accepts letters to the editor from Arkansas residents only
Author: David O. Rauls

A DANGEROUS INVASION

Fourth Amendment to the Constitution: "The right of the people to be 
secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against 
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no 
Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or 
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, 
and the persons or things to be seized."

People are in a constant stir about the Second Amendment for fear 
that the government will come for their guns. This is a hot-button 
issue used by politicians to inflame certain segments of the population.

It is not happening now, nor is it likely to happen.

However, I believe a much more serious violation of constitutional 
rights happens daily: violation of the Fourth Amendment. Last week we 
saw the trial of a person arrested subsequent to a search of his 
vehicle after failure to give a proper turn signal. Routinely the 
local papers report arrest of people after finding a small amount of 
marijuana in their vehicle as the result of a search following a traffic stop.

As much as we would like to see drug use curtailed, we should not 
allow routine traffic stops with search and seizure as a means of 
control. I believe this issue is a much more dangerous invasion of 
your constitutional rights than gun control.

DAVID O. RAULS

Nashville
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