Page 231 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers
P. 231
A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country
What rights do you have? To cooperate – yes, that is a right. To
not cooperate – yes, also a right; your rights are constrained.
Demonstratively, all that is meant is if you are presented a warrant
to search your home or property, you cannot interfere and you do
not have to retrieve what is being searched for. You cannot hide it
or destroy it. You simply do not have to do the job of the
government or their agents. I am not, in any way, condoning
criminal activity! Exercising your rights is not criminal. The purpose
is to point out that many falsely believe that if they are innocent
they should cooperate. It is important to understand that when
presented with a warrant – for arrest (personal seizure) or to search
(for evidence) and seize any evidence – law enforcement has
presented probable cause to a judge. In the eyes of law
enforcement you are good for the evidence they seek and charges
they are substantiating. There is no benefit in you doing their job –
your job is just beginning. Now is the time to know and exercise
your rights. As an example, let us look at a simple traffic stop (a
seizure because you were observed violating the law). The officer
approaches and then asks a simple question, “Do you know why I
stopped you?” Should you answer why? No! You really have no
idea – could be to warn you of a road condition, or visible vehicle
defect – or speeding, which might be the reason, or might not. The
question is to elicit a confession or conversation leading to one, that
will be noted on their copy of the ticket; evidence against you. You
can cooperate – by saying you do not know, as well as not cooperate
– by not admitting to knowing you were speeding. I submit that
because you are detained and not free to go, this is a violation of
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