Dr Peter Watts, Canadian science fiction writer, beaten and arrested at US border

At the time of the founders, if you looked kinky, they hung you and asked questions later. Law enforcement was mostly direct, forceful and immediate judge and jury. They did not often take time to ferret out the facts and this is why it became what it is today where the criminal has more right than the victim. It is a overshoot which always happens in democratic versions of government.

I suppose it's better than witch burning.

Those who complain about authorities using their power today would be shocked at the original.

What you are thinking about and desire could only be found in the territories where there was very little government and virtually no law. There they shot you first and asked questions later.

I am arguing that a just society would inform the person WHY he was being searched,would not keep his property any longer than absolutely necessary,would return said property as found with no storage fees and wouldn't think of maybe installing gov't spyware on his computer,would be careful to treat ALL persons with respect until they demonstrate they will not reciprocate,and would not subject anyone to adverse weather or other conditions just to "prove who's in charge".

You know,just in case the person is not guilty.

Speaking of the ignorance and brutality of some of our ancestors we might ponder those who demanded freedom from the king while themselves holding humans in slavery.

Therefore we ought to strive to be better in treating one another.

I doubt this grade B writer is the kind of threat to America posed by the 20 million illegal immigrants who mostly poured through the southern border or the hundreds of thousands of "Muslim refugees" brought over by our government-refugees who will expect to continue much of the behavior that made their home countries undesirable.

I, too, live on the border. I have crossed back into Canada over a thousand times. As a general rule neither country will stop you on exit.

One time, post 9-11, there was a group of agents in swat gear on the bridge. This was highly unusual. I rolled down my window and asked if I could help them. They waved me through because I wasn't the droid they were looking for. I have no idea what happened to this guy but I'm guessing they asked him a few questions and his answers were not "yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir."

apparently you know much less about Law Enforcement than you think you know. Every time someone pulls up to a border check point, or an officer pulls a driver over they are potentially at risk from the driver.

Second The second he got out of his car he became a threat.

When he refused to get back into his car he became a criminal. Refusing a reasonable request of a LEO is a crime. and whether you like it or not being directed to re-enter your car so that it is more difficult for you to assault an officer is reasonable.

Third when he resisted arrest if he made any contact with one of the officers that is assault and he is now a felon.

He got exactly what he deserved and actually probably a lot less.

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