Disgusting!

Anyone who argues the "slippery-slope" argument is invalid simply cannot look at the facts.

And for him to say "if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?" is really scary in itself. What is wrong with these types of cops? Aren't they supposed to SERVE the PUBLIC?

I hope the LP will alert us if this insanity actually gains some real support.

THANK YOU MATT for this posting as I posted this on another blog.

Libertarians let start talking about solutions and ideas to this and related topic in regards to our freedom, can we do with without any childplay on this blog and to keep moving so we can progress.

Thank you.

Most likely this type of thing will not pass...right now.

What we need to work on is prevention: better educational requirements for police officers, educating the public on the dangers of "safety laws," etc. Police need to really understand the law and the constitution. You'd be shocked how many cops truly do not know the law--I'm serious.

If Cheif Hurtt has nothing to hide, perhaps he should lead the way by installing cameras in his house, office, car, boat, and on his person that we could all monitor from a website 24 hours a day. After all, if he isn't doing anything wrong, he shouldn't worry about it.

I really like the whole "If you are not doing anything wrong, then why should you worry about it?" A quick look at Texas law reveals that pretty much everything is illegal there. Maybe this is just part of a broader effort to finally enforce those "missionary-style only" laws.

http://worldmag.com/articles/11552

A very serious article. How are we going to handle this?

Run this by just about any American and you'll get something like this: "Aren't libertarians against crime? You say you are against theft but why hinder the police in their attempts to solve it? Don't you want the crooks caught so they can pay restitution? These cameras aren't being monitored, they are like what convenience stores have where a tape is made and looked at only when their was an incident. So if a crime takes place - say, your apartment is broken into - don't you want the police to be able to view the hallway video to see smashed in your front door during at the time of the burglary? Or, if some innocent is accused to something, and his alibi is that he was in a certain bookstore at the time of the crime, don't you want a video to be able to prove he was there if no one remembers him?
The cops will only be able to use the cameras to investigate specific crimes - that's what warrants are all about. If they are investigating a burglary complaint and see a resident kissing a woman who is not his wife, they won't do anything about it because that isn't what they were looking for."

So while the average guy might oppose compulsory
cameras in private residences, they probably think it's a good idea for public places.
So what's our answer? This is tough because we,
like most Americans, are opposed to crime (in fact, we already think the police do a poor job of preventing and solving crime). Yes, we are against prying into private affairs, but also many libertarians would think it our civic responsibility to help solve crimes.

I posted this as part of a resopnse to another blogger who was defending the posting of cameras in West Palm Beach, Florida.:

"Libertarians are people who believe in individuality, personal responsibility and personal freedom from Big Brother. We understand that life comes without guarantee of safety or warrantee of security. Many of us may even believe that it is those challenges that make life worth living.

Maybe you are right those cameras on the street are the same as a policemans eyes watching you, safeguarding you; to hell with your 4th Amendment rights. Just how long do you think it will be before those cameras move from the street into the living room. After all you might fall down and hurt yourself or eat the wrong food, or (dare I say it?) SMOKE. Think of it as having your mommy right next to you 24/7 - forever. NOW WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT?

Posted by: Chuck at November 29, 2005 02:44 PM"

I was mildly castigated by a few people after that for the absurdity of the "slippery slope" arguement.

Not even 90 days later...

Creech,

I must respectfully disagree with your argument. You are putting a lot of trust in a government agency to provide protection for you or your property. The best way to solve crime is to remove restrictions on the 2nd amendment and pray that you never have to exercise this right on someone. In either case always be alert.

The U.S. law enforcement agency is just like any other government agency. It's in the position to be corrupted or have the potential to corrupt. I am not saying all law enforcement officers are corrupt. There are many that do a fine and honest job without much gratitude from the community they serve. But, there are many that will plant evidence and lie about what took place at an arrest scene.

I like to suggest to you two books to read about the abuse of powers that the U.S. Justice System and US law enforcement agents perpetrated on unsuspecting and innocent U.S. citizens. These two books are

-ACTUAL INNOCENCE, by Barry Scheck, Peter Neufeld, and Jim Dwyer

-CONSTITUTIONAL CHAOS, by Judge Andrew P. Napolitano

After I read one of these books, it became very clear to me why Americans are to look at their government as a sore and not a savior. Lord Acton said it right,

“Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

History has proven that his statement is so very true. Name an era in U.S. history and you can find many instances in the abuse of power.

I am very reluctant to give any government agency intrusive powers. There is a lot of documentation and history that give evidence of the whole entire judicial system corrupting evidence and testimony in hopes of convicting allege suspects for crimes they did not commit.

Any type of government or government agency should be looked at with very discerning eyes and not given the power to do so with you without cause.

Creech,
That was a pretty lengthy assumption of what other people might say about libertarians. Are you sure you're not an "other" person?

What amazes me is that we are outraged at blatant potential violations of the Bill of Rights, as in this case, yet we let the more subdued violations slip pass without a whimper.

Doesn't this prove the "slippery slope" argument is perfectly valid?

First it was a tax hike of tobacco
Then legal action against the companies
Then a ban from public places

..and now we're starting to see a ban from private homes.

How can some people ague the "slippery slope" argument is absurd when so much evidence is given to the contrary?

We need to stop freedom killing trends before they get to the breaking point.

This proposal by Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt, is vile, abominable and revolting. To propose putting security cameras in apartment complexes and private homes is a proposal strait out of George Orwell's "1984," with big brother watching every move one makes.

At a time when the American People are facing a frontal assault on their civil liberties, their economic liberties, as well as their rights to private property, libertarians and others cannot afford to be silent or sit on the sidelines. What is needed is activism on a massive scale to make the populace realize what in the world is going on. If it means going to every city, town or hamlet in the U.S. to do it, then it should be done no matter what.

No doubt blisters will occur in this effort, but, by God, it would be all worthwhile.

at: in forty years, I've heard all the assumptions "others" make to libertarian ideas.
That's as a speaker, a county leader, multi-campaigns as candidate, etc. And I think the 1%-2% we get pretty much validates that "others" aren't buying our proposals. Now we see technology allowing the police/government to pry into our affairs unlike anything possible in the past. It is a slippery slope and I'm trying to identify cogent arguments to use against those who see these measures as efficent ways to fight crimes against them. Many people are scared of proposals that we all go out and buy a gun and sit home to blast any burglar that may attempt a break-in. Today they can hire security services, monitor the babysitter, etc. and may look upon this proposal in Houston as a good idea.

Wow, this is BAD bad. Let's put one in THIS moron's bedroom and bathroom, what does HE have to fear??????????????????

It's just a prelude to the advance toward a "Minority Report" scenario....if you recall the movie.

Creech, you might say that the safest countries on earth are nations like Cuba and China. You might also point out that the safest environment would be as a solitary confinement prisoner in a maximum security facility. Those are simple minded arguments for simple minded people, the type ruled by fear.

If I'm not doing anything wrong, why should the GOVERNMENT worry about it?

The most recent post, by "Anonymous" is a fantastic sentiment. I notice however that a previous question by another poster was overlooked:

Ladies and gentlemen, what are we going to *do* about this? Political parties exist to be active on specific subjects. This one's right up our alley.

What's the game-plan? What's the next step? What's the *goal*?

well no name to answer the question you pose is simply this.As stated in the first part of this article they already have cameras to catch speeders as pefectaly illistrated here.They say well that works so well why not mandate cameras everywhere.So what you get is prohibited behavoir or what is considered wrong changes this is question of being half pregnant it is impossable.the same is true of liberty and responsabilty once it becomes the goverments job to monitor all behavior because it beleives no one can be responsable for their own. We are not free.Despotism big brother perhaps thought police and pre crime prvention can easily creep in as the public norm.Government does not grant us our rights it's supposed to protect our freedom.This kind of talk camras mandated by the goverment is treacherous and contempable.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the comments. There should be an article up on the Huston Chronicle website sometime after midnight tonight. Keep your eyes out for it.

I couldn't agree more with this:
"At a time when the American People are facing a frontal assault on their civil liberties, their economic liberties, as well as their rights to private property, libertarians and others cannot afford to be silent or sit on the sidelines."

In my opinion what is needed is a new kind of activisim. Forceful, direct. Non-defensive. Libertarians are too small a percent of the population to make much difference with the diffuse political effor we've seen up to now. It's time to change tactics.

I would urge everyone to go to the Bill of Rights Defense Committee site, copy and send the various resolutions to your local and state government representatives. Press them to officially sign and support the resolutions and forward signed and certified copies to Congress and the President.

www.bord.org

Is it still possible to start a new country? Because things are looking bad and getting worse every day. I wish I had a few icbm's and a sovereign island, I would make some serious progress in this Socialist world.

People should not live in fear of their government. The government should live in fear of the people.

Would be nice to start a new country. To bad there is none available.

http://www.the-fifth-hope.org/art/bb-poster-preview.jpg

Oh come on guys! Think of all the terrorists that we could stop with this. Imagine how safe we'll be. Crime will be gone. We need this to keep everyone safe!

Pure bullsh-t. The people who keep doing this keep trying to circumvent the constitution like this should be shot. In the head. Twice, just to make sure.

"People should not live in fear of their government. The government should live in fear of the people."

I think they actually do, which is why they try to both appease and enslave at the same time.

It is not what we do wrong we're 'afraid of.'

It is what government does wrong that we fear.

"It is not what we do wrong we're 'afraid of.'

It is what government does wrong that we fear."

So true. in response to the 'what do you have to fear' argument, usually, a person does not know they have something to fear/hide. I am sure, when workers thought they saw Capitalism 'failing all around them' during the Great Depressiona dn joined the Communist Party, they thought they had nothing to fear/hide. Two decades later, joe McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee showed us we always have something to hide, if not from today's politicians, than from tomorrow's 'hucksters of hate' and 'peddlers of perdition'.

Interested in starting a Libertarian country, eh? Well, the imperialists and nationalists who control our bloated central government would never let a state secede, but here's something that I think will be interesting to all Libertarians who want to establish a Libertarian state.

http://www.freestateproject.org/

Harold Hurtt is only where he is because of his melanin content. This is hardly the first idiotic idea he's floated. Not surprising, coming from a guy who became certified as a police officer in Texas only last year.

We will have cameras in our homes one day, though. People thought it wouldn't be feasable to enforce traffic laws remotely ... and as you read this, the red-light cameras are coming online in Houston.

Cameras in homes + smoking nazis = "you must not smoke in your home ... or ve vill fine you ... but it is merely a civil offense, so it vill not go on your record ..."

Cameras found the terrorists so this is not a bad idea.

Whose bedroom, living room or garage were they found in? Were they "found" before, during or after the attacks? What's your point?

The cameras in the airports and stations and walmart found out who they were. We need more cameras to find the next gang now!

I really hope your kidding about cameras being a good idea Real Tommy, I do not relish the idea, my life is my personal business period, and that account especially my bedroom. This is too much. Do we get to watch what they do behind closed doors at the whitehouse?

Anonymous - The one who posted at 10:36 a.m. and 4:34 p.m. was the 52-year-old imposter.

The real Tommy is right here.

I see my poser is back trying to fool people. It is not working. He would be spotted by the cameras.

The real Tommy is right here.

I AGREE WITH THE CHIEF AND I FEEL THAT HE SHOULD LEAD BY EXAMPLE. He should not object to cameras being placed in his bedroom, his childrens bedrooms, his kitchen, his living room,his bathroom, his personal vehicles and the personal vehicles of his wife and children. He should have cameras placed in his office, his police car and the cars of his officers that record the officers faces while on duty. He should have cameras installed in the private offices of the mayor and city councilmen. There should be cameras that are in the hands of private citizens who follow this ignorant jerk from the time he wakes up and leaves his home until he returns home after work. Private citizens need to follow his wife and children around as well and record there every move. This is what should be done to all politicians in the republican and democratic parties in an effort to root out GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. What an idea. This shouldn't bother the chief if he has NOTHING TOO HIDE, RIGHT? People could get together in groups and buy video cameras and take turns recording OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. After all, what do THEY have to hide?

Real tommy. If I might make a suggestion?.......Use a different name and let the other real tommy be the real tommy and dont tell him that you are no longer the real tommy.

The 52-year-old poser who's been on here for only a week or two typed again at 8:56 p.m.

Don't care, post without your name, this idiotic game has gotten old.

The real tommy. I dont know if you are the real tommy or the other real tommy but your comment about cameras being a good idea is pretty STUPID to say the least. Lets try an experiment. Put a camera in your personal home for one month and then invite dozens of total strangers over to view the contents of your personal life and the lives of your family members. Lets see if you still think its a good idea.

Well LIBERTARIAN PARTY, what are we going to do to stop all of this sneak and peek? Why not boycott something that will take money from government? Boycot The post office for starters. send your mail by UPS, FED EX. Boycott the state liquor stores.Boycott state and fedeal parks. Stop buying fishing and hunting licenses. Run major information ads in major newspapers. Lets do something as a party instead of bitching and soliciting donations.

John -

The "real Tommy" who supported putting cameras in private homes is a 52-year-old poser who has been hijacking my name for the last week. I have been posting on here for nearly a year. I STRONGLY oppose the idea of the government ordering the installation of surveillance cameras in private homes.

Anonymous - When someone hijacks my name, I don't consider it a game.

Ok then the 52 year old fake real tommy is an idiot and you are not.

John -

The 21-year-old real Tommy who's been on here for a year is here to say thank you.

The United States has entered into a revolutionary era. We do not claim to know, with certainty, when this era began, but the events and aftermath of September 11th, 2001, have exposed fatal cracks in the foundations of American political society as we know it. Severe financial exigency, a failing economy, a failed foreign policy and an increasingly draconian domestic situation have combined to produce the circumstances under which a fundamental reorganization of American political society is not only desirable, but necessary; not only necessary, but inevitable.

Fundamental transformation requires a radical agency. The choice facing the libertarian movement on the North American continent is whether it will become that agency and fight to bring forth upon this continent a new and better society based on human freedom; or whether it will ignore the call of history and indulge itself in false moderation and ineffectual reformism, while 300 million human beings are plunged into a new Dark Age by the forces of statism.

The editorial board of Rational Review unanimously holds that the libertarian movement must take up the banner of freedom and move forward -- not as a reformist element within the current system, but as a radical, revolutionary alternative to that system, utilizing all means available to us that can be implemented in a manner consistent with the Zero Aggression Principle. These means may include, but are by no means limited to, electoral and partisan politics.

Any program put forward for the use of the libertarian movement must perforce define the movement which it addresses, and we predicate our definition on the Zero Aggression Principle, which has been stated in many forms. The form we have adopted, articulated by L. Neil Smith, is as follows:

"A libertarian is a person who believes that no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or to advocate or delegate its initiation. Those who act consistently with this principle are libertarians, whether they realize it or not. Those who fail to act consistently with it are not libertarians, regardless of what they may claim."

We hereby offer our program for the libertarian movement, addressed to all who define themselves, in accordance with the principle stated above, as libertarians.

A PROGRAM FOR THE LIBERTARIAN MOVEMENT

1) We call for the cessation of enforcement -- as well as the repudiation and repeal -- of all laws which (in any way, shape manner or form) conflict with the first ten amendments to the Constitution for the United States of America.

2) We call for trial, by juries of their peers, of any and all persons credibly accused of violating, or attempting to violate, the first ten amendments to the Constitution for the United States of America, in their capacities as employees of any entity, division or subdivision of government, under the provisions of the United States Code, Title 18, Sections 241 and 242. Upon conviction for such offenses, we call for said persons to be punished as mandated by said statutes; and, further, that they henceforward be barred, per the 14th Amendment, from all offices of public trust under the United States of America.

3) In pursuit of the fulfillment of the first point of this program, we call for the American people to resist, by any means necessary, the enforcement of any law which (in any way, shape, manner or form) conflicts with the first ten amendments to the Constitution for the United States of America; and for the members of the libertarian movement to form such associations and conduct such activities as they deem necessary to aid in that resistance, operating always in accordance with the Zero Aggression Principle.

4) In anticipation of a failure of the state to implement the first two points of this program, we call upon the libertarian movement to create, and to offer for the use of the American people, such alternative institutions as may be required to perform the legitimate services required for polity; said institutions shall operate in accordance with the Zero Aggression Principle, upon the basis of the Unanimous Consent of all who deal with them, and in direct competition with the state's distorted versions of said institutions for the patronage of the American people.

5) In similar anticipation of attempts by the state to suppress this implementation of voluntary polity, we call upon the libertarian movement to organize and actively lead such efforts as may be necessary to implement the first point of this program and to protect the new society to which it is thereby giving birth from the existing state, any emergent state or any other enemy which may present itself.

Fulfillment of this program will result, at a minimum, in a return of the United States to Constitutional polity; at a maximum, it will create a truly libertarian polity -- either with no state or with minimal "night watchman" states, upon the North American continent.

We call upon all individuals and organizations composing the libertarian movement to adopt this program and to implement it in such ways as their capacities provide for.

More specifically:

We call upon libertarian publications and policy institutes: to radicalize themselves and reach out to the American people -- to refuse false attempts to move libertarian ideas to the political center, and to strive, rather, to move the political center to libertarian ideas, stressing, as the bare minimum, the necessity of Bill of Rights Enforcement.

We call upon individual libertarians and libertarian groups: to work tirelessly in their own circles and communities to promulgate and promote the ideas underlying this program; to arm and organize themselves and those around them for the defense of their rights and the rights of their countrymen; and to assume the leadership role in creating and defending the alternative institutions required by the fourth point of this program.

We call upon the Libertarian Party: To nominate and support candidates for elective office who will agitate ceaselessly for implementation of the first two points of this program, without stint, compromise or retreat; and to pursue ballot initiatives and litigation which result in the implementation of the first two points of this program.

We also call upon libertarians and libertarian organizations in places other than North America to adopt, and implement, similar programs.
Finally, realizing the peril of the course that this program maps out, the members of the editorial board of Rational Review accept the responsibilities which we are herein exhorting others to take upon themselves. We therefore solemnly publish and declare:

That the American people are, and of right ought to be, free and sovereign individuals;
That the American people are absolved from -- indeed, that they were never rightfully bound to -- any allegiance to any state which holds them, or attempts to hold them, to any other standard;
That all political connection between the American people and any such state is, and ought to be, totally dissolved;And that as free and sovereign individuals, they have full power to exercise their unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and to defend said rights by any means necessary.

And for the support of this program, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Now the poser is making up details of himself to put on me. When will school be back in session and winter break be over so the adults can get back to peace. I am not 52 so guess again.

Thank you, the other poster is a fake. I am not in school like he is. Get a job, grow up, earn money, pay taxes, be a man, then come back here and tell us what you think. Until then, teacher is calling you back to class..............

Ok then the 52 year old fake real tommy is an idiot and you are not.

Posted by: John at February 24, 2006 10:50 PM

Okay, people! That's the final straw. If anyone in this country remains complacent after a chief of police states a policy like that, then there is something seriously wrong with the American people, and perhaps, some people deserve the government they get. For those of who aren't willing to throw in the towel, it's time to fight and get down in the trenches.
***********************
And on that note, I would like to do a shameless plug which pertains to the state of New York. I created a new Yahoo! Group called 'LP Army'. The purpose of LPArmy is to create a database of willing and serious volunteers we can call on to do petition drives. As most of you know, the governor's race will be coming up soon, and it takes 15,000 signatures - (20 for the margin of error, maybe) - to get a candidate on the ballot. All of you who live in New York state and want to see the NYLP start behaving like a real party, please sign up. Let's start early and not wait until the last minute - like two weeks before the petitioning period when we're scrambling for bodies to help. Publicize this group, please - those of you who are New York State residents. Let's use it as a tool to find volunteers and coordinate activities like petition drives - nothing else. No chat, no contentious arguments or debates (we do enough of that already). We need to get an articulate, intelligent candidate on the ballot who will get 50,000 votes, which will achieve ballot status for the New York LP. Even if the candidate loses the election, New York party can win if we all get serious about putting in work as opposed to just talk. Personally, I am tired of us looking for people to endorse who are only libertarian on one or two issues. I want to see a true believer who doesn't compromise on libertarian principle on the New York ballot for governor come the Fall of 2006! Thank you.

Riverhead, eastern Long Island, New York

[Follow-up]

I had to visit the website for the Houston Police Department after reading this bit of news on the LP website and reading the responses on this blog. After I visited the website and saw the chief's picture, I was shocked that this idea is coming from a 'brother'.

This is precisely why it's important for the LP to make inroads into the black community. The majority of black Americans are still under the impression that big government is their friend. Predictably, trying to win black Americans over to the libertarian cause is not an easy task. Some might think it's a lost cause - but this 'sister' has been motivated into a fresh phase of activity.

Estelle Edwards I am glad someone here is pushing, I couldn't access your site. We need more people like you. I was begining to think that there wasn't many around. We need to do this however in all 50 states and all come together and also have people like you in postions.

Estelle Edwards - Go to www.givemeliberty.org study on the site info and contact fellow New Yorker Robert Schultz. He nailed Mario's hide to the door on two seperate ocassions.

Black Americans are all democrats and in love with big government and its money. The more the merrier. Look at the hurricane. What is the solution? More big brother and more money.

So it is no surprise to the lack of backlash against this guy wanting to put government cameras everywhere.

I'm sure Chief Hurrtt will be the first to volunteer putting a camera in his private home. Afterall, he has nothing to hide, does he?

You know, Ralph has a good idea. If we can't influence people as effectively as we want to politically, we should do so economically by boycotting as many federal and state government services as we can, to protest certain actions. I'm sure other people will come along with us, as long as we precisely state what it is that we're opposing. Also it dawned on me that noone produces more crime than government. Governments take things that are not criminal acts, such as prostitution drug use and decisions to wear helmets, or seat belts, and turn them into crimes. Why aren't they punished for all of these criminal acts? I think ralph has a good way to do so: Boycott The Government.

That 52-year-old geritol-sucking imposter posted again at 9:58 a.m. and 10:01 a.m.

Still at it "at.."? You said "A libertarian is a person who believes that no one has the right, under any circumstances, to initiate force against another human being, or to advocate or delegate its initiation." Brave words "at..", You should have said, no bureaucrat, etc. etc. Because if some criminal sticks a gun in my face, I sure do want the right to initiate some force agains him/her under those circumstances. Don't you?

Tommy, now you are insulting people over 50? (which I am). Just change you name and post under that, nobody cares anyway what you call yourself.

Can you please stop posting every time you think someone is posting with 'your' name? Get over it as I can't tell who is who any more.

Anonymous - I only meant to insult the imposter. I normally have great respect for people over 50. I just don't have respect for that aprticular 50-something (the imposter).

Nevertheless, I apologize for the dumb remark. I shoudl ahve known better and not stooped to his level.

do we really need to bicker amongst ourselves? Who could care less whom is impersonating whom on this thing? Don't we have more important things to be concerned about? I really think Ralph is onto something, we should actually DO something, rather than just sit around coming up with ideas of things that we might like to eventually get around to doing at some point. Maybe if everyone included at least one suggestion in each post about something that could be done to further our objevtives, we could actually accomplish some of them during our lifetimes.

All the LP does is bitch and moan! Do something? HA That requires work and effort, neither of which the LP has. Let's see, the govt sucks, W sucks, replublicrats suck, free drugs for all, bring the troops home. Is that about it? Write on the internet while sitting on fat butts at home. The net effect on the world, ZIPPPYYYYYY.

I don't send items through the mail in clear envelopes, nor do I relieve myself in public places. I do these things not because I have something to hide, but because IT'S NOBODY ELSE'S BUSINESS -- ESPECIALLY NOT ANY PUBLIC OFFICIAL!

No injured party means No crime. There is no such thing as a "state" if you think there is then you explain what it is. (The ground? NO. The people? NO. hmmm.. what is the "state"?) It's the same way with money -- What is money?

Until people ask the basic and intelligent questions, they will be led to serfdom by their "masters" in a most orderly fashion, and the sheeples will never realize how they were so totally enslaved "so easily". Better find out
who you. Are you one amongst a sniveling, whining herd of sheeples never tiring of "demanding the governement do something" while you volunteer to relenquish your "unalienable rights from your Creator" for any governmental agency to intervene on your behalf because you're inept at handling your own affairs? Or are you one that understands that life itself is a struggle -- A struggle that
each of us MUST act on our own behalfs. You want to be free? Then stop asking the "master" (government) to ease your woes. If you won't stand for yourself, who will?

Just acknowledging the emailer who responded to my comments. Thanks for your encouragement. I'm am working on this new Yahoo! Group and can't understand why you couldn't join the group. I made sure I chose the open invitation option. Any suggestions on what I might be doing wrong? Since this is my first time creating and/or managing a Yahoo! Group.

Empire North, located in Copenhagen, Denmark, has introduced a new law enforcement tool called an ID Sniper Rifle™.

According to their marketing material, the ID Sniper Rifle™ is used to implant a GPS-microchip in the body of a human being, using a high powered sniper rifle as the long distance injector. This micro chip enters the body and remains there without causing any internal damage. The manufacturer says the process brings little physical pain as the micro chip enters the body of an unsuspecting human, similiar to a mosquito bite lasting just a fraction of a second. At the same time this occurs, a digital camcorder with a zoom-lense fitted within the scope will being to take a high-resolution picture of the target. The target in this case is a human being.
Empire North maintains that law enforcement need this rifle "As the urban battlefield grows more complex and intense, new ways of managing and controlling crowds are needed. The attention of the media changes the rules of the game. Sometimes it is difficult to engage the enemy in the streets without causing damage to the all important image of the state. Instead EMPIRE NORTH suggests to mark and identify a suspicious subject on a safe distance, enabeling the national law enforcement agency to keep track on the target through a satellite in the weeks to come."
GET A LOAD OF THIS:

Empire North has been showing this new rifle for law enforcement from Bejiing, China in 2002 to New York City in April 2004. The company markets products for the "modern urban battlefield." Empire North also markets a product called "JuJu the Citizen Eye." This little camera is designed to photograph suspicious activity and immediately be able to transmit it to the Ministry of Homeland Security

What we need are a few good wonks out there to come up with jamming and/or masking technology.