re: Texas looking to abolish asset forfeiture, run into LEO resistance

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What if a cop catches a kid selling small amounts of weed, so normally he would take the weed and the money and let him off. Now he has to arrest him if he wants to take the weed and money

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In Philly that's grounds for the parents to lose their house.

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The nightmare began when police showed up at the house and arrested their 22-year-old son, Yianni, on drug charges -- $40 worth of heroin. Authorities say he was selling drugs out of the home. The Sourvelises say they had no knowledge of any involvement their son might have had with drugs.

A month-and-a-half later police came back -- this time to seize their house, forcing the Sourvelises and their children out on the street that day. Authorities came with the electric company in tow to turn off the power and even began locking the doors with screws, the Sourvelises say. Authorities won't comment on the exact circumstances because of pending litigation regarding the case.

Police and prosecutors came armed with a lawsuit against the house itself. It was being forfeited and transferred to the custody of the Philadelphia District Attorney. Authorities said the house was tied to illegal drugs and therefore subject to civil forfeiture.

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CNN

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I don't think enough people understand that civil asset forfeiture exists.

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Agreed. Every single person I've told about civil asset forfeiture has responded the same way, "How is that legal?"

It sounds like something Mother Russia would do.

i really want to start a group here to work on this issue

illustrates one of the most baffling to me contradictions of current American politics.
Where the Republicans, the supposed Conservatives are so willing to give this kind of power to the Govt.


completely frustrating

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Semantics. Seizing is just another word for legalized armed robbery, a felony.

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ETA: I remember when the good guys wore a badge and the bad guys wore masks. Now our cops look and act like 3rd world paramilitary hit squads. Just like Nicaragua under Noriega when thousands of citizens were "disappeared".

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and yet I don't believe I have ever heard of the professional protesters bitching about this nor have I seen the media give it any attention whatsoever

I wonder why that is. Maybe they just do not want to complain about anything that normal people might agree with them on

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Or maybe your eyes are just closed

It's been a hot topic issue. Maybe not as big as others, but it has gotten plenty of attention.

Even John Oliver covered it LINK

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Maybe they just do not want to complain about anything that normal people might agree with them on.

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Maybe those in power would like to keep the country divided and the best way to do that is to magnify our differences and diminish our similarities.

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against seizing property without being charged with a crime?

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The main issue for most, I think.

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100% against asset forfeiture

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As laws are currently written and enforced, asset seizure is a reality. But, that mostly comes from legislating morality and causing a black market and the avoidance of billions in taxes. True conservatives understand that less government in our daily lives and homes is a net benefit for society.

I know some will vehemently disagree with me, but the legalization of gay marriage was a very conservative SC decision. It absolved decades of local and state laws that restricted otherwise law abiding adults from living their lives as they see fit.

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are people here 100% against asset forfeiture or just against seizing property without being charged with a crime?

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people want similar due process for CAF as crimes, or a conviction to be used to seize property

as of now, LEO don't need to prove/show shite to take your property and then the burdern and cost is on you to prove it was legitimate. that's counter to our entire notion of de process, especially when its' in the arena of criminal justice (i know they say it's "civil", but it's related to criminal law)