Comments on: Does it matter if the government can open first-class mail without a warrant? http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/ Blogging the impact of computer-related technology trends, and whatever else catches my interest. Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:22:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: James Joyce http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/comment-page-1/#comment-32742 James Joyce Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:54:25 +0000 http://yourdon.com/personal/blog/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/#comment-32742 Well researched site - will look to incorporate some of your ideas into my site. Thanks! Well researched site – will look to incorporate some of your ideas into my site. Thanks!

]]> By: jon scobie http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/comment-page-1/#comment-13727 jon scobie Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:23:14 +0000 http://yourdon.com/personal/blog/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/#comment-13727 the police opened my mail without hestitation, who can help me? the police opened my mail without hestitation, who can help me?

]]> By: Jason Martin http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/comment-page-1/#comment-7214 Jason Martin Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:59:12 +0000 http://yourdon.com/personal/blog/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/#comment-7214 The problem with opening mail, just like the issue of listening in on telephone calls, it that the warrant process has become a joke! The average U.S. citizen thinks that the warrant process will protect them from frivolous search and/or seizure. Unfortunately, it will not. The federal warrant process involves nothing more than suspicion by some police or other agency and telephone call to the Judge of the Day, who will authorize the warrant with little or no evidence. Warrants have been obtained by police standing at the door of a suspect, seconds before breaking the door down. Warrant or not, we have relatively no protection or expectation of privacy for mail or telephone calls. Our verbal conversations are probably not far behind in this loss of personal freedoms. The problem with opening mail, just like the issue of listening in on telephone calls, it that the warrant process has become a joke!

The average U.S. citizen thinks that the warrant process will protect them from frivolous search and/or seizure. Unfortunately, it will not.

The federal warrant process involves nothing more than suspicion by some police or other agency and telephone call to the Judge of the Day, who will authorize the warrant with little or no evidence. Warrants have been obtained by police standing at the door of a suspect, seconds before breaking the door down.

Warrant or not, we have relatively no protection or expectation of privacy for mail or telephone calls. Our verbal conversations are probably not far behind in this loss of personal freedoms.

]]> By: Alan http://www.yourdonreport.com/index.php/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/comment-page-1/#comment-6785 Alan Fri, 05 Jan 2007 19:43:44 +0000 http://yourdon.com/personal/blog/2007/01/04/does-it-matter-if-the-government-can-open-first-class-mail-without-a-warrant/#comment-6785 I believe my mail to be private, not to be opened by anyone, regardless of what the content might or might not be. When your starting point is, I have nothing to hide you are enabling a process that has no alignment with existing constitutional laws. This is a principle issue regardless of whether I have something to hide or not! H.R. 6407, the "Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. "The executive branch shall construe subsection 404(c) of title 39, as enacted by subsection 1010(e) of the act, which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection. “in exigent circumstances” is the change that has yet to be clarified. Alan. I believe my mail to be private, not to be opened by anyone, regardless of what the content might or might not be. When your starting point is, I have nothing to hide you are enabling a process that has no alignment with existing constitutional laws. This is a principle issue regardless of whether I have something to hide or not!
H.R. 6407, the “Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.
“The executive branch shall construe subsection 404(c) of title 39, as enacted by subsection 1010(e) of the act, which provides for opening of an item of a class of mail otherwise sealed against inspection, in a manner consistent, to the maximum extent permissible, with the need to conduct searches in exigent circumstances, such as to protect human life and safety against hazardous materials, and the need for physical searches specifically authorized by law for foreign intelligence collection.
“in exigent circumstances” is the change that has yet to be clarified.
Alan.

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