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Crime

Why Is an Arkansas City Deploying Police With AR-15s to Demand Citizens Show I.D. on the Streets?

Dec. 18, 2012 8:52am Liz Klimas

Paragould Police Propose Street Crimes Unit With Officers to Carry AR 15s and Ask for Citizens I.D.

(Image: Shutterstock.com)

The little more than 26,000 citizens in an eastern Arkansas town could soon see city police patrolling the streets with assault rifles and asking them to show identification and answer questions as to why they’re out and about.

The martial law recommended by the mayor and police chief of Paragould, in response to recent property-related and violent crimes, has begun seeing some backlash from those believing it infringes upon their civil rights.

According to the Paragould Daily Press, Mayor Mike Gaskill and Police Chief Todd Stovall said in a town hall meeting last week that the initiative to battle street crime would begin in 2013:

“[Police are] going to be in SWAT gear and have AR-15s around their neck,” Stovall said. “If you’re out walking, we’re going to stop you, ask why you’re out walking, check for your ID.”

Stovall said while some people may be offended by the actions of his department, they should not be.

“We’re going to do it to everybody,” he said. “Criminals don’t like being talked to.”

[...]

“They may not be doing anything but walking their dog,” he said. “But they’re going to have to prove it.”

The Daily Press reported Stovall saying that the crime statistics in the city were high enough to justify such action by law enforcement. It noted that an attorney was not consulted by the mayor or police chief before the street crimes unit plan was proposed.

The Daily Press though did contact the city’s attorney Allen Warmath who said the police will respond in the way proposed when they receive called-in complaints. The mayor said, backing off a little from the plan according to the Daily Press, that the city just wanted to make sure a law enforcement presence was felt in some areas. Warmath too told the Daily Press that the new unit would be less confrontational than was originally proposed.

“If they have a call that there’s some problems in the area, they’re at least going to talk to you,” Warmath said, pointing out to the Daily Press too that no one will be arrested for not providing I.D. when asked. “Maybe that person walking their dog saw something. It gives them some information and some leads to find out what’s going on.”

Following the Daily Press’ article, the police department issued a statement clarifying the proposed actions of the street crimes unit. Here’s how they explain the unit working (Editor’s note: emphasis added):

Once an area has been identified as a high crime neighborhood, the select group of officers will saturate the area in an attempt to curb the criminal behavior that is plaguing that particular neighborhood. Officers will accomplish this in a variety of different methods. Officers will be working to identify residents in the affected area so that we can better serve our affected neighborhoods. Most often, this identification process will be nothing more than making contact with a subject, handing them a business card, and asking if they live in the area and if there’s anything we can do for them. During hours in which crime seems to be more prevalent (i.e. between the hours of 11pm and 5 am), our process will become more stringent. We will be asking for picture identification. We will be ascertaining where the subject lives and what they are doing in the area. We will be keeping a record of those we contact.

The statement goes on to say that the record will help them make sure they’re not overlapping contact of the same people and to provide more details when criminal activity does occur.

“An example of where this will be helpful is if a crime (i.e. burglary, breaking or entering) is reported the next morning. We then have a list of “go-to” suspects to question regarding that incident or incidents,” the statement read.

Some have also expressed concern over the officers carrying AR-15s. This, the police department said, is nothing new for some of their officers who already carry such a rifle. The statement also said that the weapon won’t be carried by the street crimes officer at all times. Only when the officer is deployed to a high crime area where they might encounter many subjects will they have the AR-15 on hand.

Here’s more of the department’s response to citizens concerned about their rights:

Many citizens, through various media outlets, have expressed a concern about the police “violating rights” or “violating the Constitution”. We have to abide by the same rules, regulations, and laws that our citizens do. We are not out to violate anyone’s rights. Once we have an area that shows a high crime rate or a high call volume, it is our duty and obligation to find out why this is occurring and what we can do to prevent the trend from continuing. Therefore, identifying subjects in those problem areas help us to solve crimes, and hopefully to prevent future crimes.

More town hall meetings are being held in Paragould Tuesday and Thursday where residents can join in the discussion.

CBS News has more details on the popular AR-15 rifle:

Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

(H/T: Blaze reader)

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Comments (573)

progressiveslayer
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:17am
When the dollar collapses we will see a total police state and I think this is just a trial balloon to see how the public will react to their rights being violated,probing,testing to see how much they can get away with.

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- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:36am
  I agree – this is nothing more than a government sponsored test to gauge public reactions. This is a Police State if I have ever seen one. If I were the governor I would be sending in State Police to replace all the town’s police and fire the leadership. This is pathetic !
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:37am
  This is why liberal in Washingtoin are always attempting to disarm citizens. Sooner or later the ballooning debt bubble cretaed by liberals is going to pop……and they know citizens will hunt them down and inject their own justice(think french revolution) on all these social elitist that bankrupted the nation to buy votes. The heads of the federal reserve know this as well….as they are charges us 875,000,000 dollars a day interest on money we quote unquote barrowed that they never even had.
  They know that an equally armed citizenry will run through their forces just because of the shear numbers alone.
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:43am
  “Those that suppress freedom always do so in the name of law and order.” – John V. Lindsey
  
  Report this comment
- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:45am
  If this had happened 20 or 30 years ago the news would have been all over this for days and heads would have rolled. The government is slowly but methodically taking over every corner and our clueless citizens sit down and watch it happen. One day they will wake up but by then the only alternatives will be submission or revolution !
  
  Report this comment
- Red Meat
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:53am
  Wait until these jackboots are told there ain’t no more money to support their fat pensions.
  
  Also of note, the ACLU is strangely quiet. Imagine that?
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:53am
  “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln
  
  Report this comment
- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:56am
  “Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him, better take a closer look at the American Indian.”
  
  Henry Ford
  
  Report this comment
- OUTLAW_WEALTH
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:57am
  They should move away, or depose their mayor and police chief for violating the 4th Amendment.
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:09am
  I thought forcing people to show ID was racist….where’s Holder now?
  
  Report this comment
- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:09am
  I sent a note to them on their contact page (link below, along with what I sent to them).
  
  http://paragouldpolice.org/contact.php?PHPSESSID=883636dfca615cd728104bcc5912d689
  
  You do understand, I hope, that if I travel through your town and am out and about walking, and papers are demanded of me simply because I’m walking on the sidewalk, that I will not provide them at your request, and further, I will immediately ask “Am I free to go or am I being detained” and then immediately become silent? Further, if you detain me without probable cause for not providing papers on demand, I will seek immediate legal remedy in court and sue the living hell out of your department for this fully unconstitutional maneuver that you’re trying to pull. You get that, right?
  
  I’ll make it a point to attempt to contact law abiding residents in the area you’re acting unconstitutionally in, and inform them of their rights. Nobody has to produce ID on demand without probable cause, just because you get a wild **** up your tukus.
  
  Crime doesn’t justify violating the Constitution. If the residents want protection, they need to arm themselves as free men should. Your tactics are already being publicized, and I look forward to watching your department fold on this once enough national focus is put on this heinous plan.
  
  Regards,
  (my name)
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:17am
  I doubt it’s a trial ballon. It sounds like the mayor and the chief of police got drunk one night and came up with this bad a**, tough sounding plan. “We’ll show these criminals what’s what!!
  
  Unfortunately in the morning light the hangover, and a dose of reality shows the plan’s many failings. “Oh yeah…uh….people have rights.” “Oh yeah, national attention, and news cameras.” “Maybe this wasn’t the best idea?”
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:18am
  @Ghost of Jefferson,
  
  Well said sir! HOOAH!
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:19am
  They say they will arrest people for refusing to show ID’s. Does Arkansas law require citizen IDs? This is a violation of rights and an attempt to criminalize all the citizenry. Police presence is one thing, but fully combat rigged thugs, treating everyone as a perp is a violation of everybody’s rights. Are there no oath keepers on the force in Arkansas?
  
  Report this comment
- AllLost
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:21am
  A police state would be the best outcome. I fear when the system collapses it will be the gangs with the power as no one will be able to pay police, national guard, reserve, or active duty.
  
  And they want to take our guns away just in time for this to happen.
  
  Report this comment
- bonesiii
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:24am
  If they’re trying to actually do something about gang-type criminals, that’s a good intention, but as usual with liberals, good intentions tend to come with wrong actions… And the timing is very suspicious, as everybody’s pointing out.
  
  Report this comment
- termyt
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:25am
  We basically have three choices:
  1) Protect ourselves, use the criminal justice system to clean up (aka Liberty, and the way our system was designed)
  
  2) Have the government protect us. (Tyranny) This requires us to give up any right to privacy / travel / association, as the gov needs to keep tabs on all of us to prevent us from harming ourselves or others.
  
  3) Anarchy. Survival of the fittest – we each make our own laws and go to war with each other when we clash. The strongest wins so his law survives. That usually leads to option 2 for the weaker.
  
  Human history is little more than a cycle of options 2 and 3 as tyrants and kings rise and fall. This is why America is exceptional. We tried option 1.
  
  This is a trial run for option 2, or, like dogs returning to their vomit, we are giving up on option 1 to do what humanity has always done. Oppress each other.
  
  Report this comment
- SPIN_MD
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:27am
  @naughtycal
  
  Read “The Gods will have Blood” if you want an eye opening revelation of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror. You will understand the mentality of political fans which become idealists, which become ideologues, which become fanatics, which become monsters.
  
  Report this comment
- ArmedAndReallyPissed
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:30am
  GHOST : Well done again, as usual. But it seems that since the CLOTUS can, and has, gotten away with Murder and Treason and that AmeriKan Citizens can be indefinately detained without being Charged or Tried if they are suspect of “Terrorist activities”, all the Law enforcement has to do is to accuse anyone they want of suspected Terrorist activities and that will be that.
  Anywho, good job. I hope we get Cells next to each other.
  
  Report this comment
- randy
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:35am
  They’re pushing gun bans hard now because the government knows the economy will be collapsing very very soon. They know we’ll blame them, and lord knows they do not want you to be well armed.
  
  Report this comment
- term limits for congress
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:38am
  In our politically-correct, liberal world, ‘journalist’ (even Liz K.) are not going to give us the complete picture. Drugs are creating gangs, thugs, punks, thiefs in small towns. This is not just a problem for big cities. Questioning peple (even intimidating them) who are out wandering around at 2am in a small town does not seem that outrageous to me. There was a time when the local sheriff knew who came/went in town. If you want to blame liberals, blame them for creating the era of redistribution. And, an armed citizen cannot protect their home when they are not at home.
  
  The sheriff in my county made an un-PC comment when he said all of the crime in our county occurs in one zip code… and that’s where enforcement efforts are focused. It is the truth. The predictable local church leaders and politicians screamed racism, of course. The sheriff was easily re-elected.
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:54am
  @Termyt
  
  Superb analysis sir, briefly and aptly said. I will be blatantly, and unapologetically, plagiarizing your reasoning in the weeks to come.
  
  Report this comment
- JRook
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:05am
  Given that Glaskill was elected by a Republican caucus it would seem this has more to do with fascism than socialism. Was it not Bush and Cheney who pushed through the Patriot Act. This is where people need to differentiate between government services from government interference and intrusion. Those of you who think this is somehow associated with a liberal agenda obviously didn’t take the time to research that the Mayor is a republican and the community is a conservative one. Unfortunately life is a tad more complex and cannot be adequately addressed by a rigid ideological outlook that wants everything to be black or white, right or wrong. And here’s a shock… individuals can actually hold positions, what would be labeled by ideological lemmings on both sides as liberal or conservative depending on the issue. For example, I have no intention of every giving up my right under the 2nd. amendment to bear arms and defend myself and my family if necessary. However, application of stand your ground in defense of using a concealed weapon against an unarmed kid, that results in his death is second degree murder, not the act of a hero.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:09am
  @termyt,
  
  Thank you for your post.
  
  Reminds me of a book a read many years ago, “The Future of Mankind”.
  
  Report this comment
- fulcrum
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:13am
  It has begun
  Bottom up, top down, inside out!!
  
  Report this comment
- Newtowns-Third-Law
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:18am
  This sounds like Jan Brewer’s Arizona Law that is supposed to be unconstitutional stop & search. That was a popular law there at the time, among the Slayers.
  
  Report this comment
- Joe_The_Patriot
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:25am
  @jrook
  It was joe biden who drafted the patriot act…Remember???
  
  as far as this outrage is concerned in arkansas… Can you say gestapo?
  And wait until they stop an illegal who can’t produce an ID they arrest said illegal and the left will go batty…. Infringe on the citizens rights but don’t dare infringe on the illegals… MARK MY WORDS
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:28am
  26,000 citizens in an eastern Arkansas town NEED to FIRE their Mayor!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- FlamingFartSyndrome
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:31am
  Could not agree more, ive been warning about this for years
  
  Report this comment
- Truthbeliever2
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:31am
  This is an unconstitutional action by law enforcement. They knew it would be all over the news. The media is going to tell us all about it so the rest of society can become acclimated to a police state system. They know we the People won’t do a damn thing about it.
  
  They know that most of society is busy bickering about unimportant matters like gay rights, gay marriage, bathrooms for transgender things, and racial issues.
  
  The government and media know these topics are unimportant when measured against our rights to freedom from an over powerful government; yet they have somehow made the woes of this small percentage of society into a topic that rivals that of our Constitutional Rights. They hack away at our freedoms with sweeping laws like NDAA and CISPA while we bicker among ourselves about crazy **** like installing separate bathrooms for transgender things. Stories about gays and transgender things are NON-ISSUES.
  
  How and why does the media put such unimportant stories as these on the same page with REAL NEWS? They do it to keep us confused and distracted, and they are doing a damn good job. The media is just a tool the government uses to incrementally inform the populace of its ever declining freedoms while at the same time distracting from it with stories that create division.
  
  Glenn is playing the same game as all the other media outlets. His site is no different than any other media outlet out there.
  
  Report this comment
- jabolen1
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:35am
  I refuse to comply
  
  Report this comment
- Izzy383
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:41am
  Anyone else notice that –
  
  A) This plan is being put out by a Republican.
  
  B) Absolutely nothing on the MSM.
  
  But there’s no collusion between the two parties in Washington.
  
  One more thing. Anyone else notice things ramping up now that there is a third party starting to emerge to challenge the status quo?
  
  Report this comment
- ltb
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:41am
  ArmedAndReallyPissed, that’s an excellent quote by Ford.
  
  Report this comment
- 000degrees
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:48am
  Who said America will be destroyed from within?
  History, Politics and Society Questions
  Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > History, Politics & Society
  
  View Slide Show
  Best Answer
  Abraham Lincoln has recently been alleged to have said:
  “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”
  
  In fact, this is NOT what Lincoln said. Here’s what he DID say on which the misquote is apparently based:
  
  “All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
  
  “At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
  
  (from “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions: Address Before the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois” January 27, 1838)
  
  “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within. ” — Ariel Durant
  
  Don’t know who is correct but each seems plausible….
  
  Report this comment
- Trigus
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:51am
  I thought you could not ID a voter, but it is okay to ID someone walking his or her dog? Sounds like a communist state to me.
  
  Has anyone thought what might happen to any illegal alien that may get stopped and questioned? Where are the libs at – why are they not protesting this.
  
  Report this comment
- grimmster
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:52am
  @Ghost. Excellant post.As for the cops, although you wont see me in that part of Arkansas,you might see me in my home town,in my own tactical gear, sporting my own ar15 slung aroun my neck.Just because the progressives think they can pattern their take over of this nation after hitler or stalin, doesnt mean it will be like hitlers Germany.We the people will NOT give up our guns,and we will fight to save this nation.
  
  Report this comment
- mikem1969
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:54am
  Newton, you are wrong, in AZ they had to have probable cause to ask for ID. This martial law BS is asking you for your id if you are just walking down the sidewalk.
  
  Report this comment
- Trigus
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:55am
  “If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”
  Samuel Adams
  
  “Every step we take towards making the State our Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master.”
  Dwight D. Eisenhower
  
  “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”
  Benjamin Frankl
  
  “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government — lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.”
  Patrick Henry
  
  “It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.”
  Patrick Henry
  
  “It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from its government.”
  Thomas Paine
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:01pm
  spin md,
  I have no desire to see my country torn apart much like most sane soldiers have no desire for war. I,m just posting what is going to happen it always does in every country sooner or later. one event will set off a chain reaction that willnot end until the current system is torn to pieces. A federal agent will kill a lawful gun owner while attempting to sieze a weapon and all agents of the government will becoem PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER 1
  
  Report this comment
- redfish52
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:03pm
  Wow…just wow….
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:05pm
  Yeah–****….DOONNA DOOIT FOR WHOLE-COUNTRY-VOTING?!
  
  Report this comment
- SendTheMeteors
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:09pm
  I’m amused and flabbergasted at the idea that “liberals” are behind this. In Arkansas? One of the most conservative states in the United States? And you think the cops in these towns are liberal? Please.
  
  But I could have guessed the reaction here. All those who applaud having Mexican IDs checked for no reason, are the first to loudly declare that action is unconstitutional if anyone else gets their ID checked for no reason.
  
  Report this comment
- 19RANDY59
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:13pm
  That’s what Waco, and Ruby Ridge were about, also.
  
  Report this comment
- Unix
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:15pm
  LOL, you’re out walking your dog, how do you prove it? My goodness, America has gone insane. This is Martial Law, and it will probably come to a city near you real soon. Once the crash is here, no one knows when, due to lies and tricks from DC and the Fed, we will become a totalitarian police state…get ready people, this is not good! I agree with Progslayer 100%…let me ask you all a question, how do we pay off $180 TRILLION? Just go to USDEBTCLOCK dot ORG (usdebtclock.org), how do we get 48 million people off of foodstamps without riots? I’ve been looking for a job for a year now and I have a degree in IS, but my age seems to be a real downer for hiring managers, or the uncertainty to Obamacare, or Fiscal Cliff is preventing them from hiring…just too much uncertainty. So much for there are thousands or millions of jobs available in the tech field, at least for me. I am working 3 part time jobs, and still cant make ends meet…one day in the next few months, it will be bankruptcy and foreclosure for me and my family…a daunting thought!
  
  Report this comment
- naughtycal
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:20pm
  Freedom has allowed an entircommunist culture of Benedict Arnolds to flurish within our borders. Or better yet a cancerous cult of socialist to gather strength by taking over our government from the ducational separtments to the legislative department and now even the executive department. The American tax payer has to take a stand we can’t fight an enemy using our money to buy votes. We need to stop the cycle cut off the enemy of freedom WE NEED A TAX REVOLT 96,000,000 tax payers saying enough. We need to defund the government that doesn’t represent us.
  
  Report this comment
- ltb
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:24pm
  Germany went from being the greatest, most powerful nation on earth to gassing its citizens within a period of seven short years. Hitler started by going after the churches, then he pitted poor against rich, then he banned personal firearms, then he started confiscating the wealth of German citizens, then he started rounding up anti-government types (i.e., those who didn’t like Hitler trampling on the Constitution), then he just did away with Germany’s constitution and then he started throwing people into concentration camps. Here’s where the German people went wrong with Hitler… they never fought back.
  
  In 1933 there were 66 million Germans and only 2 million of those Germans belonged to the Nazi Party. At its height, there were only 8.5 million members in the Nazi Party, which means the Nazis were outnumbered 7 to 1 when they were at the pinnacle of power. In America there are about 62 million self-identified Liberals (i.e., Communists and Nazis who hate America as it was founded) and 149 million self-identified Conservatives (i.e., Americans who respect the Constitution). Are we going to make the same mistake Germany made?
  
  Report this comment
- OneCitizenOfTheRepublic
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:34pm
  “If you love wealth more than liberty,
  the tranquility of servitude better
  than the animating contest of freedom,
  depart from us in peace.
  We ask not your counsel nor your arms.
  Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you.
  May your chains rest lightly upon you
  and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”
  —Samuel Adams
  
  Marxism in America
  by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) W.G. “Jerry” Boykin
  http://www.morningstartv.com/oak-initiative/marxism-america
  
  “I am concerned for the security of our great nation,
  not so much because of any threat from without,
  but because of the insidious forces working from within.”
  General Douglas MacArthur
  
  “When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, that battle is your calling, and peace has become sin. You must at the price of dearest peace lay your conviction bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.” Abraham Kuyper (1837–1920), theologian, statesman, journalist, and Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1901–1905)
  
  per unitatem vis (“through unity, strength”)
  
  “You are seeing today an all out attempt
  to marshal the forces of the opposition,
  using not merely the communists, or their
  fellow travelers-the deluded liberals, the
  eggheads, and some of my good friends
  in both the Democratic and Republican Parties
  who can become heros over night in the eyes
  of the left-wing press if they
  will just join with the jackal pack”
  Joseph McCarth
  
  Report this comment
- garylee123
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:06pm
  They probably have the same process for criminals that we have in Ca.You know, the one where after robbing someones home and getting caught, they get a cup of coffee, sign in, and then out the door with a “see you next week”.
  
  Report this comment
- ICEDRAGONNITE
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:12pm
  Absolutely correct. It’s a total test case.
  The real push isn’t that far off. So we had better scream load and clear now. When they enforce the UN Small ARMS Treaty its going to get really bad.
  
  Report this comment
- Kevin
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:17pm
  @Slayer, we have a democrat for a governor, you don’t really expect him to do anything do you?
  
  Report this comment
- Apo
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:21pm
  When the Dollar collapses there will be no Police; only Union Thugs desperate for the favor of their masters.
  
  Badge, Weapon or Naked; I’m determining probable cause prior to handing over any form of Identification outside of a motor vehicle stop. Period..
  
  Report this comment
- scissorflash
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:28pm
  I can never get enough paranoid right wing conspiracy theories lol. Isn’t it time to grow up?
  
  Report this comment
- dblaess
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:34pm
  @JRook
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:05am
  Given that Glaskill was elected by a Republican caucus it would seem this has more to do with fascism than socialism. Was it not Bush and Cheney who pushed through the Patriot Act.
  ——————————————————————————
  And it is Obama and crew who have refined it to include holding Americans without charges. I bet as a true liberal you liked STRESS, which this program sounds to be an offshoot of.
  
  Report this comment
- WATER-THE-TREE
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:58pm
  Yes this is about testing AND conditioning, getting us used to police and military in our face! Beware there is much truth to the conspiracy theories about the NWO.
  
  Report this comment
- WATER-THE-TREE
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:04pm
  Watch this become the poster child for everyone receiving chips in there hand, “we have got to track everyone some how”. Unfortunately I do not believe people will wake up until they are behind razor wire.
  
  Report this comment
- JBob
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:23pm
  As a citizen of Arkansas and after reading many of the posts above, there are some things that need to be corrected in the minds of the readers.
  
  First, Arkansas policemen & firemen are not all covered by the high falutin’ (that’s Arkyspeak for high paying) retirement plans found in most major municipalities. Yes, there are separate plans but you won’t find Arkansas police and firemen striking or doing blue outs. There would be a lot of job openings uno-pronto (that’s Arkyspeak for real fast).
  Second, wait until high crime comes to your town. What are you going to do about it then? You’ll be demanding that the police do something to help protect you and you won’t care much what measures they take as long as you and your family are safe. Paragould is in the NE Delta area of Arkansas and historically they have voted Democrat, but in reality they have always been pretty conservative in nature. That district has gone Republican the last two elections and is now a pretty safe Republican seat. So don’t lash out about liberals doing this. The liberals will be the ones raising hell about it and threatening to sue use the ACLU. Trust me.
  
  Arkansas, for it’s small size, is a very diverse state and since the Huckabee Administration, has made tremendous strides in Education and economics. Stop and think before you post things about Arkansas because believe me, everything associated with Arkansas exists right in your state too.
  
  Report this comment
- Dr Vel
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:24pm
  Truthbeliever2 “How and why does the media put such unimportant stories as these on the same page with REAL NEWS?”
  
  You are welcome to leave and stop reading the Blaze at any time. I can drive to this town in under 2 hours and were it not for this story I would not have known about it. Nothing in any local news has been mentioned about it. Nada, not one word. The state is hard core democrat to the max. So much so a conservative talk radio station tried but failed to make it due to the rich democrat families coercing all area business to not do any advertising with them. Were it not for the internet there would be none at all since nothing on FM can be picked up even remotely conservative. Ironically the only station within 2 hours is just west of this town. If only it could be heard in my area, I have to listen to a Poplar Bluff station. Were it not for a greater fear of loss of their firearms than their loyalty to their tradition of multi-generational democrat to the point of fanaticism belief system, Obama would have carried the state 100 percent. Again. I am glad the Blaze carried this story since nothing on radio, TV, nor in print has been mentioned about this story within 200 miles of Paragould. Call it a local news blackout if you will. To visit my grandparents grave-site I would have to drive south right through this town. So glad the Blaze chose to warn me ahead of time I had considered doing that soon. Now I will not bother.
  
  Report this comment
- Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:30pm
  @Jrook,
  
  First, I think your revisionist history is surfacing once again to bolster a meaningless partisan position. The Patriot Act had no real dissent. Democrats and Republicans ALL voted for it. In fact, your hero (Barry Soetoro) removed the sunset provisions so that it could remain permanent. He has strengthened certain positions as well.
  
  I know your binary interpretation of the world struggles with such matters, but try to follow along. Fascism, communism, socialism, any other “ism”….they’re all constructs to create semantic debate about nothing really. There is anarchy, freedom/liberty, and authoritarianism. Your binary assessment of R and D is simply exchanging the same thing. Both are authoritarians, in most cases on the same issues. They both seem to have blatant disregard for civil liberty unless there is some political hot button associated with it. See abortion. Funny how they pro-abortion crowd is the same crowd banning 20 oz cokes and transfat. Hmmm, kinda weird eh? Both parties see you as a serf. You are a voting pleeb with no real value to society beyond how you can support the collective in some way…wage slave, soldier, voting moron, or uninformed thug ie useful idiot.
  
  Your pedantic rants about “right” and “left” grow quite old. Either get educated/informed or pipe down. It’s better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth (keyboard) and remove all doubt.
  
  Report this comment
- seriouslywhy
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:33pm
  Agreed. I can tell you how I would react – ticked off that I have to prove who I am! This was proposed for suspected illegal aliens in Arizona, but NO that can’t happen! I will NOT provide my “papers!”
  
  Report this comment
- SouthTexan
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:34pm
  Let’s see them try that in Detroit, Chicago or Compton, which are the poster child of the democrat, socialist, welfare plantations, a cesspool of corruption. Try flooding these areas with their Nazi Police state tactics. Any police that came out alive, would never go back.
  
  Report this comment
- 226crimsontrace
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:48pm
  Can’t help but hope that their body armor gets a good workout
  
  Report this comment
- Dr Vel
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:08pm
  I have to back up what JBOB said from personal experience. You will find most locals are very patriotic, conservative. Which is why it is so hard to fathom the democrat history. However I think it is taking time for them to fully comprehend their party of many generations has been hijacked by the ultra left. No one I know has anything but contempt for the fanatical lib ACLU or MSLSD. Or all similar types. Frog in a pot syndrome if you ask me. In Ar you can be charged with a crime for being in your home with a pistol in your pocket. Look it up. The law states roughly, “it is a defense if on your property”. Meaning a charge can be made forcing you to go broke defending yourself. Local law never makes such charges because they believe in the founding principles. Decent folk. Yet they or their ancestors voted for the democrats who carefully crafted legislation making concealed carry in your bedroom a chargeable offense. Crime in the area of Paragould IS totally out of control and it is 100 percent meth induced. A plague and scourge beyond belief. What Paragould is doing goes against my desire for freedom. So, I will never go down there ever. However I have to wonder when will this be in my area? Fanatical liberals keep forcing LEO to let these criminals go and this trend has been slowly building for decades. While personal loss from crime allows me to understand the attitude there, it cannot be tolerated, we must live free.
  
  Report this comment
- AzThunder
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:19pm
  @GhostOfJefferson – Nice letter
  
  Report this comment
- Bloody Sam
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:23pm
  Lenin said;
  Probe with steel. If you meet steel, back off.
  If you meet mush, keep probing.
  
  Report this comment
- texashuntre
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:55pm
  @ LTB, I will not fall to the hands of the government! If I do, there will be someone behind me picking up my “2nd Amendment” and continuing the fight for our freedom! May God Bless us All. We are going to need it.
  
  Report this comment
- muffythetuffy
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:16pm
  BLACKS DO NOT CARRY ID, WILL THEY BE GIVEN A PASS?
  
  No one needs a license to walk down the street. This requires some kind of white Civil Disobedience. You know they will only stop whites. What about children, will they have to show ID. The COPS are not allowed to stop illegals and ask them for ID so why should a white person have to do this? Where is this going?
  
  Report this comment
- vadale
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:16pm
  the supreme court already ruled that they can’t do that….and you don’t have to give them anything.
  
  Report this comment
- ltb
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:33pm
  scissorflash, you’re a moron.
  
  Report this comment
- Marine308
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:35pm
  When we give up our freedom for security we will get neither.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:57pm
  Paragould is 97% white. Seems to have a large transient population due to college kids (Arkansas State University Paragould, Arkansas Northeastern College, Black River Technical College, & Crowley’s Ridge College.). The Jonesboro–Paragould combined statistical area is 91% white.
  
  I think you get more crime in an area with a lot of transients. I wonder how many property crimes they let go of in the past, because they most focus on more serious crimes. You’re are not going to pull someone off a homicide just getting start to investigate a burglary, but you gotta put more than token resources in each area of crime. For one many pretty criminals have escalated form burglary to more serious crimes. For another if you want less gun ownership then if a person’s home is not robbed, they won’t feel a need for a gun (not as many anyway).
  
  Report this comment
- txjb
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:03pm
  You are correct , progressiveslayer ! This is called a warm up , trial run for when the U.N. is called in by the W.H.
  
  Report this comment
- altops
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:09pm
  why so if the dollar collapses? don’t police have to buy bread like the rest of us? won’t go starve like me? why would they be concerned with their duty then when they’re not concerned now? When the FRN fails it will be total free for all with no order unless a foreign power with full legalistic support comes in and takes over.
  
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- Wolf
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:30pm
  This kind of criminal cop activity is all the more reason to carry your weapon in a hip pocket holster.
  Draw… do a zipper from groin to chin and walk away.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:40pm
  JRook
  Please go back to school. No, wait do not go to school. That is where you were mis-educated in the 1st place.
  
  Fascism is a syncretism of leftwing & nationalist ideology
  
  “The political terms Right and Left were coined during the French Revolution (1789–99), and referred to where politicians sat in the French parliament; those who sat to the right of the chair of the parliamentary president were broadly supportive of the institutions of the monarchist Ancien Régime”
  
  I don’t remember any Republicans supporting a king/ monarchy or the Ancien Regime.
  
  “Fascism was founded during World War I by Italian national syndicalists who combined left-wing and right-wing political views”
  
  “Fascism advocates a STATE-CONTROLLED and regulated mixed economy”
  
  “Fascism opposes multiple ideologies, such as communism, conservatism, liberalism, and social democracy.”
  
  So how is this mayor conservative or republican? Mayor Bloomberg ran as a Republican for a brief moment to get elected.
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 5:41pm
  Massacres may become commonplace after Obama finally collapses the Dollar. Obama’s America may look a lot like Somalia, where crime is the major industry, people belong to regional rulers, terrorists run wild, and federal powers periodically bomb here or there for reasons that are never made clear.
  
  Report this comment
- socialism.rocks
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:19pm
  this stuff only flys in conservative states you would never see this kinda stuff in any blue-state
  
  thats the funny thing only red states are repressive -agressive.. thats why people fly over red-states instead of driving through them…ha ha ha
- qualityrkc
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:27pm
  Red meat- the aclu is not silent on this issue. Google “aclu arkansas martial law”. I’m wondering why you said they were silent bc as always when americans civil rights are at risk the aclu is there to help. Remember that all the same people who wrote and supported the patriot act and ndaa are the same people who hate the aclu. Why do you think that is?
  
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- qualityrkc
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 7:45pm
  Joe the patriot- bush’s justice department wrote the patriot act. Biden wrote the omnibus act in 95 which he claims the patriot act was based on. Does it ever get tiring being a diehard partisan? I feel like it would be so tiring to figure out lies to tell all the time to keep your bacl and white version of reality intact. Is it hard?
  
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- newlieu
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:07pm
  Hyperbole much? I think you’re being a little dramatic. I’m sure the law abiding citizens in the are probably appreciate the show of force. I know I would. Take it for what it is and not some crazed left wing conspiracy. Thought I detest them as well.
  
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- blazer809
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:34pm
  this isn’t a test run of anything. this is probably the result of thousands of phone calls demanding the police “do something” about the crime in their neighborhood. so, now you have thousands of people that have no clue how to defend themselves or their property complaining about the police who most certainly know how.
  
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- vanman4446
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:38pm
  Screw the mayor and the cops they no right to violate the constitution just because they want to.
  
  Report this comment
- SendTheMeteors
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:56pm
  I just don’t think it’s constitutional for these cops for demanding Mexicans show their IDs just because they’re walking down the street, no more in Arkansas than in Arizona. Why are these guys targeting Mexicans? Just because they look kinda brown? Does Arkansas simply have it out for people who aren’t white?
  
  If those police were targeting whites I bet everybody would be singing a different tune. Why is it okay to assume that Mexicans are doing something illegal, and presume that whites don’t commit crimes?
  
  Report this comment
- shakedowncrews
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:20pm
  Geeee, you think maybe there’s a connection to the Obama administration ordering all those agencies to purchase BILLIONS of rounds of ammunition?
  
  Report this comment
- Dr Vel
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:35pm
  SendTheMeteors “I just don’t think it’s constitutional for these cops for demanding Mexicans show their IDs just because they’re walking down the street, no more in Arkansas than in Arizona. Why are these guys targeting Mexicans? Just because they look kinda brown? Does Arkansas simply have it out for people who aren’t white?”
  
  Are you able to read the story or is it when you read anything you mentally edit words to fit your agenda? Better yet why comment when you do not even know the facts. The targets are all white in this area and the crime is being caused by all white meth-heads. Perhaps you just cannot read a map since around 150 miles west of there is the Mexican population, in Green Forrest and Berryville. Ironically in those towns you never get stopped for ID unless you are speeding or something similar, some reason the police needed to interact with you. Having been through those towns hundreds of times I do not recall anyone ever being asked for ID while out walking around unless something else was going on like say they were hunting for someone involved in a crime. Today a friend told me He had over a grand worth of equipment stolen from His truck while it was parked about 40 miles from Paragould, just last week. A small town with Chicago level theft going on. So I can see the attitude there but it does not excuse this activity by police. Clearly unconstitutional. Stop twisting facts to fit your rabid liberal agenda it’s as bad as the police state men
  
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- Crazymind
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:18pm
  Right! just like TSA Agents unlawfully commanding people to stop on command.
  
  Report this comment
- SendTheMeteors
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:49pm
  Dr Vel, you read my second post but not my first. My second post was a joke.
  
  My only comment was about the irony, the hypocrisy that many, if not most conservatives are happy with the law in Arizona that allows the police to ask for a person’s “papers” for no other reason than that they look Mexican. That’s fine according to many, but when a white person is ask for his “papers” for no reason, that’s objectionable and unconstitutional.
  
  What’s your take? Is it okay to ask Mexicans in Arizona for their papers, but not okay for members of this town to be ask for their papers?
  
  Report this comment
- TexasKnight
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:41pm
  I think most of you have missed a few points.
  1) High crime area.
  2) Hours when they will ask for details/ID
  
  Who is out walking in high crime areas in the middle of the night? Drug dealers? Drug purchasers?
  I walk my dog in the middle of the night (I work at night, so on my day off, I walk him at 3AM when I am up). But I sure am smart enough not to do this in a high gang area…
  
  If crimes have been reported in the area, and you refuse to answer questions, enjoy being brought in for questioning. Good luck with those lawsuits, you will need it. PS, I never carry ID when walking the dog, so they would have to accompany me to my house a few blocks away to get it. I wonder if that means I will be joining those lawsuits one day.
  
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- Dr Vel
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:11am
  SendTheMeteors “What’s your take? Is it okay to ask Mexicans in Arizona for their papers, but not okay for members of this town to be ask for their papers?”
  
  Is your question based on mere intellectual reasoning or have you suffered real loss of great treasure over decades, many times, all coming more often than not from one group? You see such experience alters your outlook. I must ask have you ever suffered real loss or violence in your life many times? If no then your question is without merit or meaning. I lived in Phoenix for 30 years and my answer is yes, what is yours? I watched on security cameras around my place the same race using long boards to get in and out of a business next door, over their high fence to rob them. Over a hundred times each year. Always gone before police arrived and them or others, always Hispanic and always the same or others right back a day or two later. I have seen them shoot people dead, one a young mother in front of her 5 year old son screaming “stop your killing my mom”. No way to stop it, a gang of a dozen armed with UZI’s. That was in 93 near 35th/Thomas. Look it up. I moved to the Midwest since I was sick of the unending ever increasing violence and crime. I miss my desert I do not miss the crime. If you have no loss, no skin in the game, then be silent.
  
  Report this comment
- old white guy
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:55am
  so these idiots think the fourth amendment does not exist. must be obama supporters
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 7:56am
  I have a VERY Democrat Aunt who lives in Arkansas, though not this city. I wonder what she would think if this came to her town? She threw a fit when poachers were shooting deer on her little 5 acre property. I wanted to ask her if share the wealth is so good, why was she upset to let someone who is hungry kill deer on her land?
  
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- Jezcruzen
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:04am
  To you LEOs out there… the time is approaching where you personally will have to make a choice. Be advised, there are many, many more of us than there are of you. We can be your best backup reserve or your worst enemy. Your choice. Choose wisely, because you also have to live among us.
  
  Think about it.
  
  Report this comment
- VanceUppercut
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:38am
  Only in a red sate. LOL.
  
  Report this comment
- @leftfighter
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:49am
  …and in other news, some in America are screaming out about why others in America could possibly need guns…
  
  Remember, folks. The original purpose of the Second Amendment was to give the People a check against tyrannical government.
  
  Report this comment
- BlueStrat
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:51pm
  What needs to happen is about 500 vets with their own ARs to show up, surround, and disarm these fools-with-a-badge. They obviously are mentally unstable, and a clear and present danger to themselves and the population.
  
  Report this comment
- Eleutheria
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 1:31am
  They will abruptly shot and rightly so.
  
  Report this comment
- auhunter
  Posted on December 20, 2012 at 5:28pm
  Sounds to me like they are trying to play catch up on their duties. If they had shown a larger presence in these areas before and gotten to know the people they wouldn’t have had these high crime/problem areas to start with.
  
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AJAYW
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:17am
Yep show ID to go shopping but not to vote- liberal idiots

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- chasbronson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:31am
  Good point.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:33am
  Think these ” liberals” are far more ” agenda driven” than stupid . Our Chicago radicals are extremely dedicated to ” change ” traditional America values which they hate. Just like they hate capitalism. Ask Bill Ayers.
  
  Report this comment
- Mustanger
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:12am
  Yea if you get stopped, just tell them your returning from voting. “I walk slow”. Did you see the line where it refers to contacts as “suspects”?
  
  Report this comment
- autofixer
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:12am
  What’s next an internal passport? Yes.
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:23am
  this quote is telling of their mental state and how they feel about the people
  “We’re going to do it to everybody,” he said. “Criminals don’t like being talked to.”
  everybody is a criminal to them.
  
  Report this comment
- catty
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:51am
  They are repubikons sily
  
  Report this comment
- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:41pm
  I have a passport card for living within the 100 mile no-rights zone near the Canadian border, and anticipating DHS VIPER roadblocks and identity checks.
  
  Report this comment
- Brooke Lorren
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:16pm
  I don’t typically carry ID unless I’m driving. If I’m out for a walk, I certainly won’t have it on me. I don’t even carry ID into the gym any more, and I drive there.
  
  Report this comment
- EgbertThrockmorton
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:41pm
  I would hate to believe that the Mayor and chief of Police of Paragould, Arkansas are truly
  STUPID enough to believe that “they” have the “right” or legal authority to initiate such a truly inbred “idea” as has been proposed.
  Given, they are in Arkansas, and this would be utterly laughable if these geniuses really
  “thought” this would resolve their lack of pi**poor management and “leadership”.
  Crime problems are never solved in any republic in such a manner, yet these morons has proposed that this is somehow legal under Arkansas and Federal Law. MUST be something in the water in Paragould, and has already been posted, WHERE OH WHERE is Herr Holder of the USDOJ on this public pronouncement?
  
  Report this comment
- neidermeyer
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:29pm
  TSA now has guidelines for securing the countries highways,,, May 30th federal register.. to get federal money local highway authorities will now have to please the TSA … give them 10 years (or less) and the entire country will be a class “B” airport security screening zone.
  
  Report this comment
HMNSC
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:15am
Before we all over react here, this is a very high crime area and this is a limited time proposal to help good and decent people regain control of their neighborhood. Will it work? Probably not, but something has to be done in neighborhoods like this.

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- chasbronson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:34am
  The good people should have the right to protect themselves and exercise that right.When this kind of government control is sanctioned the people will become subjects of tyranny.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:47am
  So, HMNSC, your contention is that if people are out violating your rights by stealing from you (or whatever), the proper response is to empower the police to violate your rights as well?
  
  Our country is dead.
  
  The proper response to this is to not say a word. At all. Not one word. No posturing, no rolling eyes, just a dead look right in their eyes.
  
  Report this comment
- HMNSC
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:51am
  Chas, the people have that right. Right now I live in a decent neighborhood, but the bad side of town is creeping up on it. I would hate to have to uproot myself and leave and yet I don’t want to constantly be on guard either. I do own guns and will not hesitate to kill an intruder, but I would prefer to not have to. In places like Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis, its silly to think just arming the citizens is going to clean up the area. The police force in Arkansas is trying to stop this area from getting to Detroit like levels. It does make me uneasy, but unless someone has a better idea I say let them try.
  
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- HMNSC
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:54am
  Ghost, what is your solution? Arm the citizens and let them fend for themselves?
  
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- OUTLAW_WEALTH
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:59am
  That’s the same reasoning collectivists always use to trash individual rights. Some nameless group of thugs is used as the excuse to enslave the whole population.
  
  The police need to learn how to discriminate between the good guys and the bad guys. We pay them, they don’t pay us. We tell them what to do, not the other way around.
  
  Report this comment
- StandingOnMyHead
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:02am
  Welcome to the USSA
  
  Report this comment
- ejizzle_69
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:02am
  i read your comment and i would like to educate you a little bit paragould arkansas is in the middle of nowhere only twenty six thousand people live there and its crime rate is one the lowest in the state per capita. these is nonsense to millitarise the police in that city when pine bluff and little rock has one of the largest crime rates in the country per capita. and yes i do live in arkansas and yes ive been to paragould and no there is no crime rate there that would result in marshall law
  
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- HMNSC
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:16am
  Edizzle, if that is the case then you are right and this seems over the top, I was under the impression that this was near Little Rock.
  
  Report this comment
- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:26am
  “We’re going to do it to everybody,” he said. “Criminals don’t like being talked to.”
  all the people are criminals according to this plan. If you would submit to this you are no more than a slave already.
  
  Report this comment
- TEOTWASWKI
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:33am
  As someone who lives in this area I can tell you it is not a very high crime area. There has been a rash of robberies and so far no one has been injured, This is a complete over reaction by a couple of dumb asses. The town hall meetings for Tuesday and Thursday have been cancelled due to the backlash from the public over these draconian measures.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:19pm
  Why yes, they should be armed to begin with. Presumably, given your previous post, you also feel free men are incompetent to provide for their own well being and protection?
  
  Report this comment
- Unix
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:39pm
  People who give up a little freedom for security, deserve neither!
  
  Report this comment
- vadale
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:24pm
  Let them arm themselves…..you think that is dumb don’t you? You thinkn the folks should just be victims don’t you? Why do you think the violent crime rate is higher in those stupid liberal piss hole cities? The criminals will always go into an area that they think is unarmed….THINK FOR JUST A MOMENT DUDE !!!!!!!!!!!
  
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- geneic
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 6:26pm
  I live 30 minutes from Paragould and find this whole thing silly. Yes, IF they were talking about neighborhoods in Memphis, which is closer to us, or Little Rock, it would make some sense to go to this extent. I wasn’t even aware of Paragould having a high crime rate. Around here, I think Blytheville, AR would be the highest crime town. I may have overlooked the part of article that reads they will arrest you if you fail to provide an id. He just states, if you are out walking you will be asked for it. Correct me if I am wrong, but there is a big difference between the two. I don’t know, to me this is just silly. I feel the Mayor had good intentions on how to make his town better, but didn’t really think things through before he proposed such an idea. It will be like Barney from Andy Griffith, walking around with no bullets in his gun. Most of the cops around here don’t care about anything. Gangs aren’t prevalent. I’ve heard of them in Blytheville, but not anywhere else.
  
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izukiddin
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:14am
Ever been to Arkansas? It’s a 3rd world country.

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- NealPatrick
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:39am
  Yes. Both my parents were born there and one of my brothers is a surgeon at a regional hospital there. Since I don’t know you, I will just assume ignorance on your part.
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:24am
  He is more like an idiot! A “useful idiot”.
  
  Report this comment
- ArmyMedic70
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:40pm
  Apparently you don’t own a dictionary. It’s a book that tells you the meaning of things. And you also have never been to a third world place. So I have to agree with the prior comment. Just your ignorance. Be ace if you have a dictionary and have been to a third world, then you are just plain stupid.
  
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- Retired@37
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:32pm
  Dictionary-gives you meaning of things. Ever been to a 3rd world country? Since you don’t know the meaning I assume not. So have to Agree with prior comment just ignorant. If you have a dictionary and have been to a 3rd world country, the stupidity has to come into play somewhere.
  
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Jaxco
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:13am
“We’re going to do it to everybody,” he said. “Criminals don’t like being talked to.” Words of a criminal

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M40-A1
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:10am
Every citizen of this town should carry a fully automatic weapon and stop every cop and ask them to see their badge. An armed citizenry fear’s nothing, including a tyrannical government.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:37am
  When the government gives up its weapons, I’ll give up mine.
  
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ExO
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:10am
Down the rabbit hole we go…..

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RJJinGadsden
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:09am
What gets me, is that I recall only a few years ago, it would be the libs screaming POLICE STATE at the top of their lungs if this were to have happened then. I have to wonder about the mayor and police chief in this city?

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- Cavallo
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:36am
  If there was a high illegal immigrant problem they would also be screaming.. Its the Nazis “show us your papers!” .. when its US Citizens they don’t care, because a fascist police state is their ultimate goal. They want to force people to conform and have no problems using the barrel of a gun to do it.
  
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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:35am
  wait until they start hassling the black youth, and Al Sharpton will intervene for the blacks. Everyone else will be subject to TSA searches and forced to “prove” they are not criminals, as the article states.
  I truly hope the citizens of this town do not take this encroachment.
  
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mcmeador
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:09am
“They may not be doing anything but walking their dog,” he said. “But they’re going to have to prove it.”

How does showing your ID prove you’re just out walking your dog?

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- Richio
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:31am
  They’ll probably run your dog’s license too – but mostly to see if he has any priors.
  
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- Mo Better
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:24am
  They’ll check each dog’s license number. It is located underneath the tail and starts with 0.
  
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- Angel_light
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:07pm
  I was thinking that too. Proof that I am walking my dog should be that my dog is on a leash that I am holding the end to, and we are outside, W-A-L-K-I-N-G. If that’s not enough proof enough for you then there’s something VERY wrong.
  
  Time to read in between the lines…
  
  “An example of where this will be helpful is if a crime (i.e. burglary, breaking or entering) is reported the next morning. ” – most criminals don’t stay in the place where they commit a crime; they leave and don’t bother coming back. b/c they know they will get caught. and if they do come back to the scene of the crime or just the general area then they are very stupid criminals. I do not see how their tactic of questioning everyone they meet on the street and assuming everyone that lives there are criminals until proven innocent is at all effective.
  
  This is backwards; it is INNOCENT BEFORE PROVEN GUILTY, Not the other way around. But apparently that’s not how the brain-dead morons of this world see it.
  
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ArmedAndReallyPissed
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:06am
“Heil mein Fuehrer”

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IKW
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:06am
“Once an area has been identified as a high crime neighborhood,” …………..by whom???

Crime is just a word that indicates a law has been being broken, what if the laws change?

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- IndyGuy
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:39pm
  D.C. is a high crime area…and that’s just the Politicians…
  
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GuruMeditation
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:05am
ID away… but having to answer questions as to why they’re out and about is wrong. Is this some kind of watered down Martial Law?

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- Vickie Dhaene
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:15am
  Doesn’t sound watered down to me. It is out and out Martial Law.
  Why is it wrong to do this to ILLEGAL ALIENS?!
  
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- Thighmaster
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:20am
  It sure didn’t end well for George Zimmerman…
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:51am
  Having to produce ID on demand is wrong as well. “ID away”…no.
  
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- GuruMeditation
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 2:10pm
  @GhostOfJefferson: I know. I don’t really like it either but would produce an ID if asked. Many can’t because they are illegal and parasitic to our nation. The way things are going now though… pretty soon we’ll all be illegal, even with an ID. It’s called tyranny and most of us know what that calls for.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:12pm
  I’m a bit of a stickler. I would never produce ID unless it was mandated by law (probable cause) at which point my consent isn’t what you’d call…required.
  
  The reason is that everybody produced ID, so cops over time tend to believe they are entitled to demand it without probable cause. I know they know otherwise, but habits tend to eclipse knowledge over time.
  
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- GuruMeditation
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:20pm
  Agreed. Probable cause is legally required but we both know they can get around that if they want to. It’ll be tough for them to get around it 100% of the time though whilst ID’ing every Tom, Dick and Harry. At least they should not have a free ride to willy-nilly ask for ID. But if they do I will give them one regardless. I should probably play hardball with this also but I guess there’s is a certain part of me that is more than happy to prove I am an American citizen. With this current climate we find ourselves in however, my attitude could quickly change.
  
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- Brooke Lorren
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 12:51pm
  So far, there are no laws that say you have to carry ID everywhere you go. Sure, you may need ID for certain things (driving, voting, using a credit card, buying controlled substances), but if you’re not doing any of those things, you don’t have to have your ID with you.
  
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IndyGuy
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:05am
Mayor Mike Gaskill and Police Chief Todd Stovall…Idiot thugs like this need to be challenged and stopped every time they try these NAZI tactics…

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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:38am
  they need to be put on trial for betrayal of the public trust, and removed from their positions.
  
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- IndyGuy
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 3:53pm
  They at least need to be removed immediately…If the town’s folk do not insist on their removal,then there are serious problems in the town…
  
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:05am
.
Well if they would just put a fence up around the black/hispanic neighborhoods the white neighborhoods would be safe……….

But who’s watching the cops?………

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TommyGuns
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:04am
Contrary to the Mayor’s opinion, there is no legal requirement for a citizen to carry identification, or to show identification, absent some probable cause to believe the citizen is engaged in illegal activity. We have allowed governments at all levels to chip away at our rights, privileges and immunities for far too long. I hope that every citizen in Paragould who is asked to produce ID under this scenario will tell the officers, politely but firmly, to go pound sand. Are we to accept living in a police state so easily?

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- Fubared
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:15am
  Well said, but that is where we are. Illegals are legal, law abiding is a potential perp.
  
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- Freedom Hound
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:18am
  When an officer stops you because you are in an area considered to be high crime, they can an will ask for ID. All states require people to produce ID when asked by law enforcement. It is against the law to present yourself as a “John/Jane Doe”. If you call any law enforcement office and ask them they will tell you the same. If no ID is produced, you can be held until such time that identification can be made.
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:30am
  @Tyrant’s Dawg; you are full of yourself!
  
  In Wisconsin a crime must be afoot and the demand is satisfied orally. A demand for papers, “Papieren Bitte!”, is a violation of the Fourth Amentment.
  
  Wisconsin Statutes § 968.24 Temporary questioning without arrest. After having identified himself or herself as a law enforcement officer, a law enforcement officer may stop a person in a public place for a reasonable period of time when the officer reasonably suspects that such person is committing, is about to commit or has committed a crime, and may demand the name and address of the person and an explanation of the person’s conduct. Such detention and temporary questioning shall be conducted in the vicinity where the person was stopped.
- libchem
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:39am
  @Freedom Hound. Incorrect! You are under NO obligation, per the 4th Amendment, to produce ID nor be held for even 1 second just because a cop asks. Video and upload in real time to YouTube, ask the officer nicely if you’re being detained by arrest, and if not, tell him you are politely and peaceably walking away. If he detains you further, don’t resist, go peacefully, give the YouTube video to your attorney and have the city buy you a nice new Hummer and pay your house off for violating your civil rights. Who am I? An attorney that racks up out of control cop thugs for civil rights violations every day.
  Hey “peace” officers. violate a citizens rights in my area of the country and I’ll come for your badge and your money! I have absolutely no tolerance for Gestapo-style, unconstitutional jack-booted police tactics in a Constitutional Republic! None whatsoever!
  
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- deeberj
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:42am
  Many cities have “high crime areas” that have different more restrictive laws. In Camden NJ where the drug problems are huge, people walking around those areas can be stopped and asked for ID and questioned about why they are there. This has been going on there for a few years, but people never noticed because Camden is such a black hole of awfulness.
  
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- rosegrower
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:43am
  Remember when the beloved President Obama railed against the proposed Arizona provision to ask individuals suspected of being illegals who were also under arrest for a crime to show their citizenship papers? He was appalled that illegals taking their children “for ice cream” might be hauled in and deported. I guess American citizens taking their children out for ice cream are okay to haul in, but I guarantee the ACLU will be all over this if an illegal is hauled in by the Paragould police.
  
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single stack
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:04am
Any cop that participates in this sort of thing is a traitor and deserves a traitor’s fate.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:03am
What do they say about the slippery slope? The police state is alive and well in Arkansas and coming soon to your town. We will be ascertaining where the subject lives and what they are doing in the area. We will be keeping a record of those we contact. Translation America has been fundamentally transformed,we are now Amerika.

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- progressiveslayer
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:12am
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBRbRMonjwY&list=FLCREqE1DIvW0LqQD2GSWlww&index=1
  
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HKS
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:02am
Governments will take all the control the people will allow. The problem may be getting power back once they have taken it, like the airports that the people put up with.

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- jcldwl
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:24am
  You mean the airports that the sheople put up with. If people would just stop flying then the airlines would put a stop to the TSA harassment of citizens.
  
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momrules
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:02am
So to combat crime the police will treat every citizen as a criminal while violating law abiding citizens civil rights. Did I get the gist of this article or did I miss something?

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- barber2
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:29am
  MOM: Don’t forget the ACLU: if the police ” target” a likely group , the ” racism/ targeting ” lawsuits will follow…
  
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- WarMunger_Al
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:46am
  Barber-
  you are right, so the white folks targeted will be left high and dry, since we are not a historically picked on group it is now ok to discriminate against us. That is what Holder told congress when pressed about hate crimes. Where is the white advocacy group? And I am not talking about nazi’s or kkk people. We need a legitimate advocate group, but unfortunately any attempt at one would immediately be labeled racist and sidelined.
  
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randy
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:02am
I will NOT COMPLY!
Take me to jail and I’ll sue your A$$!

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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:38pm
  The nice thing is you only have to say “No, thank you” at the request, then ask “Am I free to go, or am I being detained”. That last phrase strikes fear into the heart of most abusive officers, it tips them off that you know your rights, and asking it immediately informs them that you understand “probable cause”.
  
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ZAP
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:01am
Didn’t they already try this in Nazi-Germany?

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- autofixer
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:16am
  You papers. I had a KGB Colonel actually say this to me in 1978 leaving Moscow, “Your papers ‘seem’ to be in order.”
  
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DougHuffman
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:00am
There will be no peace until they are again constable peace officer neighbors. While they are paramilitarized enforcers of the tyrant’s law there will be no peace.

Elsewhere in the article the chief JBT prates of “probable cause” that is in the exclusive purview of justice.

Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn know-nothings, progressives.

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:07am
  DOUG, by definition, Police Departments are paramilitary. This is nothing new.
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:11am
  I disagree. I disagree on first principles and based on experience and training.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:19am
  DOUG, That is what I learned in my experience and training as a police officer.
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:33am
  And I learned as y’alls’ superior, citizens review board activist, trained and educated by my departments and CALEA.
  
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- Zipit
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:38am
  That’s it Doug!!!! FLAG, FIFTEEN YARD PENALTY! Excessive celebration! “Using the same saying, over and over and over”! Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn know-nothings, progressives.
  Once again Doug buddy, we get it! Penalty to be assessed on your next post!!!!! Loss of down…….
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 10:34am
  Ho ho ho @ZipIt; life may be a game to you, fine, I’ve already won. I continue to demonstrate my ability to win everyday and with each post here. I am justified by faith alone.
  
  Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn know-nothings, progressives.
  
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- Zipit
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:20am
  That’s fine Doug. I do enjoy your posts, and agree with most of them! But if you wish to be viewed like one of those guys who, after catching an easy pass in the end zone, dances around for five minutes and then spikes the ball, it gets a little old! Just sayin….. And dude, smile it was just a little humor! Don’t get old Doug, whether you’ve won or not!!! And, Merry Christmas!
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:33am
  Merry Christmas, Shalom Aleichem
  
  With all respect due, they pay humorists, that are instantly forgotten as mere employees. Do you remember any humorists among the Founding Fathers?
  
  Most of us die forgotten; how we die and what we valued makes the only difference.
  
  Good people ought to be armed as they will, with wits and Guns and the Truth. God Bless Bitter Clingers, damn know-nothings, progressives.
  
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- Zipit
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 12:21pm
  Founding fathers! Humorists? Well, since you asked, how about Franklin?
  
  A man with a sense of humor, Franklin composed a list of over 200 synonyms for being smashed. A few highlights: “he’s eaten a toad-and-a-half for breakfast”; “he makes Indentures with his Leggs”; “he’s had a Thump over the Head with Sampson’s jawbone.”
  
  Franklin also suggested that we drinkers should thank the heavens that the human elbow is located where it is because we “are enabled to drink at our ease, the glass going directly to the mouth.”
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 1:36pm
  Ben Franklin could write humor amongst his other very notable skills, he was not a humorist and you Zip-It are no Ben Franklin.
  
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- vadale
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 4:32pm
  This why you never want to get rid of your old Sheriffs office for a police dept. If the sheriff craps on your rights, you can throw him out. Just knowing that keeps most honest. But lets face it. Any type of LEO can turn bad if they are not watched over by a free people.
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:59am
One more ‘nudge’ by Big Brother to condition the rest of us by fear, terror, intimidation and to ensure when the grand crackdown arrives, they will have any excuse to use lethal force and sweep up any they deem to be enemies-of-the-state.

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- christianUSA
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:44am
  Opinion Even when I walked about visit behind the old iron curtain there was not this leave of extreme jack-booted visible police state intimidation! Oh we knew we were watched from time to time but rarely asked for ID etc and not by rifle welding goon, more like threaten by appearance of seeing of said drunken goons but not harassed like described in this city; therefore yes if any calls commie ussr, kgb, goon police state you can rightly call this intimidation a police state for fear control and not really just about protection; so these and their warped mind set of power bullies use as other such unfree regimes the excuses of crime, foreigners, terrorist etc to institute authoritarian strong men control. It is so ironic that it’s the ‘anything ok liberals’ and Blacks who so claimed abused by cops that are greatly helping leaders to power and PUSH this to happen; do they really believe once such is fully in place they will not be subject to and repressed by such police state intimidation and control? This start/desensitization trials as: in country public military drills, drone tests, cell phone web uses recording, tsa, main road check points are just the. Large just vocal complaints tsa has stayed grown and spread to AK ShoVed in place; also govnms deafNESS to many tsa & groping complaints; so expect these other things ALso grow and spread. Therefore final police state will far out do in monitoring and control to individuals of anything before.
  
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- VanceUppercut
  Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:39am
  “One more ‘nudge’ by Big Brother”
  
  Red state, red state, in happened in a red state.
  
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poorrichard09
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:58am
Gee, didn’t Holder, etc. raise hell with AZ for wanting to ask for ID during traffic stops, saying “it was like Nazi Germany-show us your papers?

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- HKS
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:04am
  Yes, just where is Holder, did he die or something? No one has mentioned his crimes lately.
  
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- AJBrad
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:14am
  Why, yes, in fact, they did.
  
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- barber2
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:27am
  HKS: Think Holder’s been lying ( ! ) low ever since Benghazi which brought up uncomfortable similarities to the Fast and Furious gun -running fiasco of the Chicago Radical White House Gang who can’t keep track of their tax-payer’s gun inventory .
  
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- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 9:38am
  True, hence the double standards here, fear and intimidation plus another ‘nudge’ to the police-state that is coming and with force.
  
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- Xiccarph
  Posted on December 18, 2012 at 11:57am
  Oh? You didn’t hear? Holder sued and exempted illegals from the stop and ask. All is well in La-la land after all…
  
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NoMoMrNiceGuy
Posted on December 18, 2012 at 8:56am
I have always said that when it starts to go – it will go fast. This is just outright police state tactic. God have mercy on us all.

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