Pandemic Bill in MA--Don't let Gov. O'Malley See this
This is a little chilling to think about. Of course, you should never let a good crisis go to waste, not when you can expand police powers.
Look, in a pandemic situation, a lot of people are willing to act to stop the spread of any disease, and will likely do so voluntarily. But I want a warrant from a judge, based on decent probably cause before letting police into my home just because there is a pandemic about.
Note that the power is extended not just when there is a pandemic threat but also upon the declaration of a state of emergency--which probably means any state of emergency.
Nice huh!. Anyone want to give me an over/under on how long before the General Assembly introduces a similar bill here in Maryland?
2 comments:
Two points. First, we already had an emergency declaration for Swine Flu here in Maryland according to the article so it is easy to see the limited conditions necessary for such actions to be taken.
Second, this bill seriously throws out much of the Bill of Rights because of people getting the flu! Not smallpox, not the disease from the movie Outbreak, the flu albeit a new a slightly nastier strain.
This law needs to be tested. Up to SCOTUS.
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