ACLU Comes Through
With a civil rights victory:
Judge returns Pompano Beach retiree’s guns seized by Broward Sheriff’s Office
And good for the judge for asking tough questions:
“Just as a kind of a query, what legal authority does the Sheriff or anybody have to walk in to someone’s home and take property?” Ross said. “Don’t we call that, in the business, stealing?”
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:15 am
I noticed that this was the FL chapter of the ACLU advocating on his behalf. Was there ever any statement from the National Chapter? You know, the one that is still butt-hurt over Heller?
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:22 am
Broward County. Hmm. Where have I heard of that place before?
Oh, right:
http://daysofourtrailers.blogspot.com/2010/07/broward-county-florida.html
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:22 am
As a Florida paramedic, I can tell you that this is a complex issue. You have to take suicide threats seriously. I am not a psychiatrist, so people threatening suicide MUST be evaluated at the hospital to see if they ARE suicidal. I always give a person who has made such threats the opportunity to go to the hospital voluntarily, which means that as soon as they are seen by the Dr and cleared, they can go home. That looks like what happened here.
The other choice is a Baker Act, and I only request this if a person has made threats and refuses to allow evaluation. I don’t have a problem with taking the guns, but as soon as the person is cleared by the pshrink, the guns should be returned.
Suicidal people are at high risk to not only take their own lives, but the lives of others who are nearby when they decide to go.
July 22nd, 2010 at 1:02 pm
I don’t think that anyone I’ve heard is making that argument. I just don’t see that an evaluation should take 5 months.
The gentleman agreed to be evaluated, handed over his firearms for safekeeping, and was medically cleared. He should not have had to go to court to get his firearms back; they should have been returned upon a clean bill of health.
July 24th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I read this last week on the web and giggled at the judges question.
Hooray for the ACLU.
But, one thing the ACLU hates more than the Constitution, is the police. Not good, but deserved.
Tulsa had 5 cops indicted for various crimes, one of them indicted on 74 federal crimes. So, maybe they are not the good guys.