2 Responses to “Another Tool that despots can use against us - Patriot Act proposal to vastly expand jurisdiction of Secret Service Uniformed Division”

1. Truth in Advertising Says:
   February 11th, 2006 at 7:55 am

   It is truly unbelievable how some people will so totally exaggerate something they have not bothered to research. CHECK YOUR FACTS before posting such unreal allegations.

   First: Your allegation that this is a NEWLY CREATED Police Force (you would have us believe this is a group of Storm Troopers) is completely WRONG. Check out 3 USC 202 [203 in original comment, edited at poster’s request - RM] to find out the truth. On June 28, 1948 (under President TRUMAN) Congress created the White House Police Force. The section was revised on June 30, 1970 to rename them the Executive Protective Service (Under President NIXON). Under President CARTER, on November 15, 1977, the name was again changed to the Secret Service Uniformed Division, the same Division referred to in Patriot Act section 605. All the Act does is add slightly to the people and places the Uniformed Division will be tasked to protect, and also codifies the fact the Service will provide and pay for uniforms.

   Second: The arrest provision you refer to is simply an extension of 18 USC 3056 (the section that will be immediate before this section) that already gives these powers to the Secret Service as a whole.

   Your unwarranted (pun intended) implication that the Patriot Act conveys some “super power of warrantless arrest” is a complete red herring. EVERY POLICE OFFICER in the country has this power (not to mention EVERY CITIZEN under Citizens Arrest provisions.) How would you like it if a Police Officer, seeing a crime being committed, had to run to a Judge to get a warrant BEFORE arresting the suspect?? Talk about anarchy, then the inmates would certainly run the asylum.

   There is much more than meets the eye to your innuendo. GET THE FACTS before passing judgment.

2. Tim the RM Says:
   February 11th, 2006 at 11:26 am

   Thanks for your comment, pointing out my ignorance and causing me to completely re-write the article.

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The RM is a "Libertarian Democrat"

A Libertarian Democrat is vigorously pro-personal liberty, and believes government can play a constructive role in regulating our economy and providing a social safety net.