Saving the "John Doe" Amendment

Human Events ^ | 7/26/07 | Ericka Andersen

[HoosierGirl25]

Should citizens -- acting in good faith to report suspicious activity -- be subjected to lawsuits by Islamic activists? Democrats think so. Last week, they attempted to strip away the “John Doe” provision from the new Homeland Security Department legislation. For now, they have failed.

Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Steven Pearce’s (R.-NM) “John Doe” amendment was crafted after a group of Muslim activists filed a lawsuit against U.S. Airways and the undisclosed passengers who complained about abnormal behavior that resulted in the now-infamous flying imams’ removal from the plane on November 20, 2006. The King-Pearce amendment, which creates a legal immunity for citizens who report suspicious behavior in good faith, was initially approved 304-121 in March.

Thanks to the hard work of Sens. Joe Leiberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) along with co-sponsor King, the amendment was upheld in a House-Senate conference Wednesday. The new bills, HR.1 and S.4, will improve cargo inspection on passenger planes and ships, increase security distribution funds to the highest risk locations, and most importantly, grant legal protection for citizens who report suspicious behavior.

[Basheva]

It would be interesting to know how “good faith” will be defined/determined.

Another one of those devil in the details kind of thing.

Don’t get me wrong I am for this amendment.

[Bob J]

That will be up to juries, not dem lawmakers.

[Basheva]

<<<>>> Dem juries and dem judges give me nightmares.

[Mariebl]

It would be interesting to know how “good faith” will be defined/determined.

Another one of those devil in the details kind of thing.

Don’t get me wrong I am for this amendment.

Well, an "acting in good faith" clause is a necessary detail. Think it over. You could have someone who has a malicious grudge against someone else, and reports him or her out of spite. That shouldn't be protected. And, even more seriously, you don't want to write a law so carelessly that it would give terrorist agents freedom to go to the airport and report people, in order to muddy the waters.

[Basheva]

It’s not only a detail it is also a loophole.

Think it over.

[Mariebl]

It’s not only a detail it is also a loophole.

Think it over.

I've thought it over. It's a loophole, but a necessary loophole. Think it over.

[Basheva]

A good definition is better than a loophole.

Think it over.

[Do Be]

When arguing with a fool make sure he isn't doing the same thing.

Think it over.

[Basheva]

****When arguing with a fool make sure he isn’t doing the same thing.****

Don’t argue with a fool.

Think it over.