A bill that will allow homes to be searched without a warrant was passed with overwhelming support by the United States Congress, and signed into law by President Trump—and it happened with no media coverage and very little fanfare.
On the surface, House Judiciary Resolution 76 looks harmless. The title of the bill claims that its purpose is “Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to enter into a compact relating to the establishment of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission.”
Whereas the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, an interstate compact agency of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the State of Maryland, provides transportation services to millions of people each year, the safety of whom is paramount; Whereas an effective and safe Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority system is essential to the commerce and prosperity of the National Capital region; Whereas the Tri-State Oversight Committee, created by a memorandum of understanding amongst these 3 jurisdictions, has provided safety oversight of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
The proposal for a safety commission to act as a wing of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority may sound logical, when its power includes thing such as the ability to “Adopt, revise, and distribute a written State Safety Oversight Program” and to “Review, approve, oversee, and enforce the adoption and implementation of WMATA’s Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan.”
However, there is one major red flag buried within the text of the bill that stems from the list of “powers” given to the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, and it violates one of the basic tenants of the U.S. Constitution.
In performing its duties, the Commission, through its Board or designated employees or agents, may: Enter upon the WMATA Rail System and, upon reasonable notice and a finding by the chief executive officer that a need exists, upon any lands, waters, and premises adjacent to the WMATA Rail System, including, without limitation, property owned or occupied by the federal government, for the purpose of making inspections, investigations, examinations, and testing as the Commission may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of this MSC Compact, and such entry shall not be deemed a trespass.
The text gives the Commission the authority to enter property near the Metro Rail System “without limitation” and without a warrant, for the purpose of “making inspections, investigations, examinations, and testing.”
This clearly goes against the Fourth Amendment, which states that Americans’ rights “to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause.”
When the bill was brought to a vote in the House of Representatives, there were only five Congressmen who voted against it: Representatives Justin Amash, a Republican from Michigan; Walter Jones, a Republican from North Carolina; Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky; Alex Mooney, a Republican from West Virginia; and Mark Sanford, a Republican from South Carolina.
Amash called out the hypocrisy surrounding the fact that even though this legislation is in clear violation of the Constitution, it was passed by Congress with overwhelming support. “Only 5 of us voted against bill allowing govt to enter/search private property in parts of VA, MD & DC w/o warrant,” He wrote on Twitter.
Only 5 of us voted against bill allowing govt to enter/search private property in parts of VA, MD & DC w/o warrant. https://t.co/SVhTWqbPaB
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 18, 2017
This is not the first time Congress has quietly passed a bill that will take away some of the most basic rights from law-abiding citizens in the U.S., and it won’t be the last. One of the most important things to remember about this legislation is that it was ignored by the media, and while it may only affect the Washington D.C. metro area now, it could be laying the blueprint for future legislation across the country.
Rachel Blevins is a Texas-based journalist who aspires to break the left/right paradigm in media and politics by pursuing truth and questioning existing narratives. This article first appeared at The Free Thought Project.
This is essentially the same thing as sneak-n-peak …. without the peak. I would suggest that it’s appropriate for potential victims in that area to set up lethal man-traps. It’s 100% clear this political machine has no legitimacy whatsoever.
it is so nice to see the police out, getting active. recreation doesn’t just have to be on weekends.
Between this and the prison for boycotting Isreal bill this has to be the most treasonous Congress in history. Especially considering 911 was perpetrated by the United States Government and terrorism is fake. These traitors should be executed for treason.
no one has done it. only good people are persecuted.
Apathy, denial and Stockholm Syndrome are all forms of treason.
There are many people who do not suffer from said denial or syndrome, that are overwhelmed by the snowballing effect of the criminal enterprise.
Our collective dereliction of duty to counter the criminality has created a momentum.
This same thing happened in Germany.
My experience is that most people are out to lunch.
Yea, that too ! Egypt syndrome ; de-Nile runs deep in places.
Cognitive dissonance.
I am retired, even my peers are dumbed down. Hubby and I are social recluses. Most people lack brain cells esp. politicians (most of them are bought) and are in the stupid mode. Few can think critically and use logic. Most everyone is shallow and lacks wisdom.
Many politicians are also blackmailed and coerced to do as they’re told by the deep state.
Politicians can be threatened or their families in various ways. Does voting really do any good now days? Many quit decades ago knowing the deep state has control.
Think positive.
The situation is improving in my opinion. I’ve been awake since 1983 and the difference between then and now is YUGE.
Therein lies the conundrum.
All the kosher media tells us is what a nation of heroes this is, “heroes in blue” while they murder with immunity etc. Where were the “heroes” when it was okay to kill Mexicans or Chinese because they weren’t “people? Where were the “heroes” when the Judas Class literally pushed Mexico into war to force them into selling the South west? Where were the heroes when they shoved the FED RES/IRS up our asses? Where were the “heroes” when the Jew lobby sneaked in Noahide Law?
It’s amazing… how purely evil/decadent this sewer s in spite off all these “heroes” THEY tell US about while they f**k their own and the world to death.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/90bfb9094e7a1d1dd330caccf4313a31f943e275d789b9b4c890d416be71b830.jpg i
Awesome; just like Easter!
If you read the text it says ” property owned or occupied by the federal government” it never says privately owned anything. The writer of the article skips over this and adds the word private. Red flag indeed.
janesaved, it says INCLUDING property owned or occupied by the federal government.
“a need exists, upon any lands, waters, and premises adjacent to the
WMATA Rail System, including, without limitation, property owned or
occupied by the federal government”
Social Security administration can send their SWAT team out to surround any property, armed. That property is then considered “occupied” by the federal government. It reads for what it is, a blatant straight out trampling of at least the Fourth Amendment, possibly a few more.
Me? I am going to honor the Tenth Amendment, which states any right not granted to any local, state, federal government returns to the people. As such I hold with Thomas Jefferson, “It is just to not obey unjust law.” I have the right to interpret that as discerned, and to have some common sense.
That idea about man-traps reads well. I might give some consideration.
ETA: Even if you think you own land and a home, ask yourself if you pay taxes on it. If you do pay taxes on it, well then you do not in any way privately own it. You’re merely acting as steward or registrant who is granted use/habitation(apologies realized lien was incorrect) on that property. Look it up because I did and found out.
The only thing that will return to the people is SWAT teams to completely crush anyone that dares to defy the bought and paid for scum that rule over you.
“any lands, waters, and premises adjacent to the WMATA Rail System”
This is the verbiage provided. However to be 100% sure I would have to read the entire bill as written.
( Something congress doesn’t do any more, ask Pelosi )
One step closer to the totolitarian state with you new hero Trump at the helm
Citizen, show me your papers please! The surveillance is necessary. The State must protect the State first and at all costs. Mostly yours.
police and FBI have been doing this for years without warrants. So why is it still illegal to state the obvious, that you have the right to use lethal violence in defending your home against uninvited parties? Glue their warrant to their gravestones.
I don’t think you read the entire text….. It said, it could enter lands, dwellings, etc…. owned or occupied by the Federal Government…. it didn’t say anything about entering peoples homes that were not owned by the Feds….
“Enter upon the WMATA Rail System and, upon reasonable notice and a finding by the chief executive officer that a need exists, upon any lands…”
Idiot Amash and this writer fail to note that the ‘Entering’ requires ‘reasonable notice’ AND a finding of need. Amash is one of the dumbest five congressmen we have and needs to be voted out.
Reasonable leaves the door wide open to abuse. There is no oversight, by an outside court. This is sort of like a Chief of Police investigating one of the officer’s killing of a citizen.
Police Cheif says the Investigation completed,our officer had just cause to shoot the suspect who was walking away 16 times in the back and than attempted to cover the truth up.
Happens almost everyday.
It says “any lands, water or premises adjacent to the WMATA. . . including without limitation property owned or occupied by the Federal Government”.
Federal property is included as a subset to, but not the only class of property on the list. The phrase “without limitation” makes the list of properties open ended and subject to unreasonable or contrary interpretation. It is also silent as to whether property owned by the government but rented or leased to a private party is included, which is protected.
This law is overly vague and open to abuse as there is no objective definition of nor limitation to the meaning of “reasonable notice”. Is reasonable notice one hour, one day, one week or one month?
Also “a finding by the chief executive officer” is not a finding upon affidavit that is required to issue a warrant. Said issuance is reserved to the Judiciary by the Fourth Amendment’s Search and Seizure Clause.
Interesting how the Democrats are quite willing to flout the Constitution for expediency sake, and they wonder why they aren’t doing very well with the public.
My guess is that only the five who voted no read the damn bill. This law doesn’t pass “exigent circumstances” rationale in that there is no compelling need to make non-emergency warrantless entry nor does it comply with Partiot Act circumstances.
It could allow collection of evidence under the “plain sight” doctrine if this law were to be ruled constitutional.
In all likelihood, the ACLU would file a slam dunk suit and the offending language would be removed.
Congress is not our friend. Vote them all out.
Government is never your friend. Government will Always Absorb power unto itself
Rotten No good S.O.B.’s !
REPEAL IMMEDIATELY!!!! Then, criminally charge those who wrote this and voted for it with felony treason and malfeasance!
Governments still consider the Constitution for the United States of America to be lower than toilet paper.
Is anything new?