Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

February 5, 2009

Recently in Oakland, California, a police officer named Johannes Mehserle shot and killed Oscar Grant while the unresisting young man was lying handcuffed, face-down on the floor, surrounded by police.

This killing was witnessed by dozens of horrified people. Several of them captured the incident with cellphone cameras.
Significantly, only seconds elapsed after the shooting before police fanned out and attempted to confiscate the cameras; in several instances they chased witnesses into a nearby train demanding that the cameras be surrendered.

Police often seek to confiscate cameras when incidents of brutality occur. A bill sponsored by New York Republican Congressman Pete King would make this easier by requiring cell phones to make a clicking noise whenever they are in use. However, that bill would not change the fact that Police have no legal right to confiscate cell phones or other cameras to cover up their own criminal conduct.

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