Good post.  I'll have to object tho to the characterization that
people carry a gun because it makes them feel good.  That's not why I
or anyone I know carries a gun.  It's more of a civic duty.

TBill
83.5 Westy

---Bulley-Hewlett & Associates <gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com> wrote:
>
> Anyone carry over $1000 has been labled a drug dealer.  Burden of
proof is
> on you to prove otherwise.
> Welcome to the USA.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Bulley soapbox:
>
> Sixty Minutes has done two reports on the "Seizure Law" that Cowboy
Ronnie
> or his trusty side-kick, Sr. Bush put in place. Real eye-opener.
This law
> is another example of the shortsighted, reactionary, "pioneer spirit"
> methods that team took to solving problems. In the words of the great
> actor: "mistakes were made".
>
> If you don't think to hard about it, which apparently our lawmakers
didn't,
> the seizure law sounds fantastic. We all hate drugs, and want to do
all we
> can to stem the tide of drugs flowing into our youth. Seize their
cars and
> money and that'll hit them where they hurt. Head 'em off at the
pass, and
> round 'em up for a lynchin'. Further, our poor, underprivileged
police will
> receive the funds so they can do more good in our communities. YEAH!
>
> Careful, don't think too much more ore you'll figure out what's
wrong with
> this law.
>
> Our legal system has two major tenants that (disregarded under the
seizure
> law), that nagging "innocent until proven guilty" thing, and the
burden of
> proof residing with the accuser, not the accused. Under the law, you
can
> stand clear and innocent of any crime, and yet have to prove that
the MONEY
> is innocent. 60min gave the example of a landscaper who was on his
way one
> Spring to buy a huge quantity of shrubbery for the year. He brought
a large
> sum of cash, (basically all of his savings, $30 k) because the
discount for
> cash was tremendous. Cops stopped, seized the cash, sent him on his
way. He
> ended up spending almost $30k and an entire year to get the original
$$$
> back. That's here in the States.
>
> The seizure law gives tremendous incentive to the seizing officer,
in that
> HIS department receives the funds or vehicle seized. As the previous
poster
> noted, you have to prove the MONEY was NOT to be used to buy drugs.
Good
> luck. It is almost impossible. Made even more impossible if the
bills you
> are carrying have recently come in contact with any drugs, and left
some
> sort of residue. For the cops, this is proof positive that you are a
dope
> head.
>
> Louisiana is supposedly the worst for this law, and Sixty minute ran
a
> story exclusively on the corruption in small county (parish?)
departments
> that routinely stop out of state travelers driving expensive cars,
seize
> the vehicle, and keep it.
>
> The law is based on probability and assumption. Odds are, if you are
> carrying more than a $1,000, you may be about to buy or sell drugs.
But,
> (pulling a number out of thin air) I could imagine about 10% of the
> travelling public carrying more than $1,000 at any given time, for
> legitimate reasons, or for no particular reason at all. Some folks
just
> carry a lot of cash 'cuz it make us feel good, like others carry a
gun, or
> a lucky rabbit's foot.
>
> Thanks for letting me vent. I'm no dope-head, and I voted for Cowboy
Ronnie
> and his posse of cattle ropin' fanatics, so don't go flaming me
about that.
> I just think this law is unjust, and want it thrown out before
someone
> seizes my Westy.
>
> By the way, this seizure law was one of the reasons I removed the
entire
> interior from our 1976 loaf, and hosed it out top to bottom with a
pressure
> washer. I had no idea if the van had been used for moving drugs, and
all it
> would take for a seizure is a little wisp of coke or marijuana, and
the van
> could belong to some Cajun Sheriff who would use it to haul crawdads
and
> gumbo. :)
>
> gmb
>
>
> ATTACHMENT part 2 application/octet-stream name=WINMAIL.DAT
>
>
>

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