Seattle residents remain skeptical about police drones
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SEATTLE -- The Seattle Police Department believes using drones will help cut down on crime, but the idea isn't sitting well with everyone in the community.
Department officials met with the public on Wednesday to discuss the issue. Opponents of the plan are concerned about privacy, and one group went as far as calling the drones a "gateway drug for big-time surveillance."
The police department already has the drones, and now city leaders like Councilman Bruce Harrell want to lay down the law about how officers can use them.
"It poses some problems," Harrell said. "No city has ever really talked about when they should be used and how you restrict them, and so this legislation would address all those issues head on."
The department plans on using the Dragonflyer drone as an eye in the sky. The machine's thermal imaging technology would help during hostage situations, search and rescue operations, bomb threats and when officers need to pursue an armed criminal, police say.
Department officials made it clear the drones would not be used to conduct general surveillance, but many people at Wednesday's meeting were not sold.
"You guys are idiots," one attendee said. "You're telling us, 'Oh they got'em already, we have to use them.' Bull!"
The ACLU has also raised questions about how the drones will be used and how citizens will be protected from prying eyes.
"They have unprecedented ability for law enforcement to track our movement and who we associate with, where we go, what we're doing," said the ACLU's Doug Honig.
The rules proposed by Harrell would not allow the drones to be used for spying on anyone but suspected criminals, and only after a search warrant has been issued. Unlike military drones, the police drones would not be equipped with weapons.
Chris Stearns of the Seattle Human Rights Commission has reservations about the drones.
"There's a lot of potential for misuse, and we want to make sure that does not happen," Stearns said.
Harrell said there should be no rush to push the policy through.
"I would err on the side of caution," he said. "Holding it for two weeks, make sure we have a good piece of legislation that's addressed all the concerns."
Harrell said he wants as much community input as possible before a decision is made.
Department officials met with the public on Wednesday to discuss the issue. Opponents of the plan are concerned about privacy, and one group went as far as calling the drones a "gateway drug for big-time surveillance."
The police department already has the drones, and now city leaders like Councilman Bruce Harrell want to lay down the law about how officers can use them.
"It poses some problems," Harrell said. "No city has ever really talked about when they should be used and how you restrict them, and so this legislation would address all those issues head on."
The department plans on using the Dragonflyer drone as an eye in the sky. The machine's thermal imaging technology would help during hostage situations, search and rescue operations, bomb threats and when officers need to pursue an armed criminal, police say.
Department officials made it clear the drones would not be used to conduct general surveillance, but many people at Wednesday's meeting were not sold.
"You guys are idiots," one attendee said. "You're telling us, 'Oh they got'em already, we have to use them.' Bull!"
The ACLU has also raised questions about how the drones will be used and how citizens will be protected from prying eyes.
"They have unprecedented ability for law enforcement to track our movement and who we associate with, where we go, what we're doing," said the ACLU's Doug Honig.
The rules proposed by Harrell would not allow the drones to be used for spying on anyone but suspected criminals, and only after a search warrant has been issued. Unlike military drones, the police drones would not be equipped with weapons.
Chris Stearns of the Seattle Human Rights Commission has reservations about the drones.
"There's a lot of potential for misuse, and we want to make sure that does not happen," Stearns said.
Harrell said there should be no rush to push the policy through.
"I would err on the side of caution," he said. "Holding it for two weeks, make sure we have a good piece of legislation that's addressed all the concerns."
Harrell said he wants as much community input as possible before a decision is made.
Where will Skynet be located ? Soon to be very heavily guarded.
Speaking of drones, when will we see a Real Cyborg?
Boy did I ever hit the nail on the head. See the story on I'll using. Drones... reminds me of Star wars.
More social engineering...where this becomes the new normal.Â
Oh boy, it's fun listening to all of the conspiracy theorists.. because there's nothing people would rather be doing than watching a video replay of their exciting lives. "Watch, he's brushing his teeth for the 10th time this morning to cleanse himself of fluoridation." Or, how about.. "I can't believe he sits through the commercials when watching Jerry Springer all day long." Maybe they should make a motto.. "Drones: because you're so interesting when you're sitting around or playing with yourself."
Here is another reason we need to fear government.
http://www.infowars.com/dhs-purchases-21-6-million-more-rounds-of-ammunition/
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Lock and load boys and girls. The government is gearing up for something and it isn't good.
I am surprised you are a listener, I thought you were against infowars!
 @portlandborn83 I treat infowars like I treat Faux News....pure entertainment.
 @portlandborn83 @Max QuinnÂ
I find news everywhere.
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News is very political. Some outlets will not mention things while other outlets will. Some cover one side and others cover the other side. Most have an agenda.
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I have been tracking the ammo purchases from DHS for a while now and ran across the infowars in a search. One thing about infowars is that they are very good at documenting their articles with the links to everything they mention. Few sites do that much research and most just give us their side of the story.
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I went to every site they referenced and that convinced me that something it up.
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 @portlandborn83Â
I never fully trust any news outlet. I cross check stuff with other news sources and even then I never believe it 100%.
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Most often the truth is subjective and that is the biggest victim in this whole thing.
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I still remember that Columbus discovered America. Now of course we know that isn't true but for decades it was considered a fact.
Yes, this is their strength. They take what the media spits out and they throw it back into their face with a little reading between the lines (with the links). I noticed with some of their theories though, they link to some alternative news sites that don't give their sources, so some of it is junk.
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In general though, I think its good to see two sides to every story and I believe the truth likely lies between what infowars shows and what the regular media shows.
 @RalphCramden Get a grip, Ralph. I thought the last big ammo buy was a prelude to martial law after the election.
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Hint: Info wars is porn, not news.
Yep.... war on terror..... using Drones on our own citizens.... whatever. Skeet Shooting anyone? pull... BANG!!
ANTI DRONE TECHNOLOGY (maybe)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRPMLQ1_l14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSQOMUm1C1M
And people thought Bush was bad...
if it helps catch more world's dumbest criminals i'm all for it. just don't be watching me in the shower
 @Phuzz I can hear it now "Man, how many times can a guy do that in one day!?"
 @deejm2112 IS THERE A LEGAL LIMIT?
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@Dr. Rawdog " . . . as long as it isn't abused."Â Since when does government NOT eventually abuse this type of thing?
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 @Dr. Rawdog  @theprodigalÂ
Actually I do. It has served me well.
 @Dr. Rawdog  @theprodigalÂ
Talk to the folks who were rounded up and put in concentration camps by FDR. I grew up with a bunch of those folks. They lost everything they owned.
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Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
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Past practices can help predict the future.
maybe we will have some skeet shooting of our own to do.
@Danny Stephen  Just be sure to wear a mask so they don't get your photo first and then match it with facial recognition from your drivers license. This is so 1984. A lot of weird and scary stuff coming our way.
@PTLD CITIZEN You are right, PTLD CITIZEN, there is a LOT of scary stuff coming down the pike. I have never read "1984" but I know the gist of it. I tend to look at these things in view of Bible prophecy - you know, the Beast (better known as the Anti-Christ), one world government, etc. Whether it's the Beast or 1984, the end result is the same - a government that runs rampant over the rights of the people.
 @theprodigal  It's nice to know there are other people out there who see what's going on. Too many with their head buried in the sand refusing to see, otherwise they may have to figure out what to do about it. Have you read about or seen any of the footage of the Blackhawk "training" ops going on over Miami and other Cities where they are firing "blanks" over the freeways and streets in preparation for urban warfare? Or the "mock" cities that hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on? Also for training of urban warfare.
Big Brother - Live!
I just thought of a great business idea. Stealth devices used to shoot down drones. Microwave burst.
Government is complicit in the invasion of our privacy. Soon we will have none.
 @RalphCramden @Gravity Works!  And with the Patriot act in place we have no recourse for that invasion of privacy or any subsequent actions.
 @PTLD CITIZEN  @RalphCramden  @Gravity Works! The Patriot act is most decidedly unpatriotic. I was not surprised when it continued and expanded.
 @deejm2112  @PTLD CITIZEN  @Gravity Works!Â
Our rights are going away slowly but surely. Those who don't think this drone is a bad idea deserve neither liberty nor safety.
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Governments are by far responsible for the most murders in history.
 @PTLD CITIZEN  @Gravity Works!Â
Plus we can be arrested and habeas corpus can be suspended. This means we can be held indefinitely with no charges, no trial, no lawyer and no contact with anyone outside the holding area.
 @RalphCramden @Gravity Works!  You are 100% correct sir! Here is a fascinating read: "Extreme Prejudice - the terrifying story of the Patriot act" by Susan Lindaur, X CIA asset. Very, very enlightening as to how the Patriot act works as well as many other things. A real page turner and eye opener.
 @RalphCramden Like most obvious statements, this one is rarely believed by the masses of the uninformed and unconcerned.
 @Gravity Works!Â
Correct.
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The total trust in government is the beginning of the end of most societies. We will be no different especially with the large segment of entitlement folks in our current society. Once the money runs out the entitled will not take kindly to their welfare and food stamp checks not showing up.
 @Dr. Rawdog  @RalphCramden  @Gravity Works! Well there you have it...Ralph is a cheap fearful paranoid scam artist, I had my suspicions.
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 @RalphCramden Ghandi said to the reporter who asked him what he thought of Western Civilization (or so the story goes),
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"I think it would be a good idea!"
(source unknown)
 @Dr. Rawdog  @Gravity Works!Â
I aspire to be me. And learning from others is what I am all about.
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Welfare folks are the masters of scamming the system. They are very good at it and the rest of us would do well to learn from them.
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Swipe yo EBT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LWlkXRZ3CA&feature=fvwrel
She was assailed by the welfare community for bringing this to light. Even some politicians put her down for her honest comments.
 @Dr. Rawdog  @Gravity Works!Â
I do a lot of cash work also. Welfare moms know how to work the system and one can learn a lot from them.
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When I do a job I offer a 10% discount for cash. No checks, just cash. Most folks do that because of the savings.
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The underground economy is alive and well.
 @Dr. Rawdog  @Gravity Works!Â
You're welcome.
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Today I am applying for free insulation from the government for a friend in a remote community. Cost to him will be about $100. Cost to taxpayers will be about $900.
 @Dr. Rawdog  @Gravity Works!Â
Are you kidding me? You can't see the difference.
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I have no trust in the government but grab all I can. There is a huge difference.
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Government can go away tomorrow and my wife and I will be just fine. We don't need government. We have prepared to go it alone for decades. My neighbors are in the same mind set as are most of my friends and relatives.