Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

December 23, 2009

The institutionalized larceny called ?civil asset forfeiture? represents a complete repudiation of central constitutional principles. Through forfeiture, police can literally steal money and other property from suspects and keep those assets even if the supposed offender is never convicted or even formally charged with a crime.

This undisguised criminal racket conducted under the color of supposed law is extremely lucrative for police departments and municipal governments. In depression-plagued Detroit, asset forfeiture rates have soared despite the fact that there has been no corresponding increase in the rate of violent crime.

A recent decision by the Minnesota State Supreme Court resulted in an ominous expansion of the forfeiture power. In this case, the court ruled that police could confiscate an SUV that was being driven by a suspected drunk driver who refused a breath test even though its co-owner and primary driver had nothing to do with the incident.

When police have a license to steal, constitutional liberty doesn?t exist.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.