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Unreasonable Searches When Going to Work?

Chico Science asks: "I'm a scientist, not a lawyer, so I'm a little beleaguered by the fact that since 2001-Sep-11, I have been forced to submit to searches on my campus as I enter buildings. I work at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, and have been shouldering the burden of increasingly draconian security measures. Most recently, they've instituted a policy of 100% bag/package searches on entering buildings. Initially it didn't bother me, but after having my bag searched on my way to my car (which was also thoroughly inspected) after work, I decided I'm not comfortable subjecting myself to searches of my personal belongings at every turn. I want to know if I have a right to refuse searches? And why should it be considered acceptable for me to relinquish my Fourth Ammendment rights so I can go work on in my lab?" In this climate of increasing security consciousness, how far can vigilance go before it becomes an invasion of our rights?

13 of 786 comments (clear)

  1. Help me Cmdr Fucko by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    Plesae help me adjust all AC posts too -1 because I am scaared of the bad words like these


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  2. anoying but the alternative is worse by Redav · · Score: 0, Troll

    While manual checks like this can be somewhat cumbersome they beat the socks off of an automated (national ID card) system. In short I'd much rather take a little time out of my day for time consuming but decentralized security measures than be subject to more efficient centralized systems. Unfortunatly I think it likely that we will be forced to comply with both types. doh

    --
    hmmmmmm dohnuts.....
  3. No, the first known biological attack was... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    ...perpetrated by the U.S. Military upon "volunteer" soldiers, who never volunteered, have had health problems for decades, and the government JUST YESTERDAY admitted that it fucked up and sprayed these guys with god knows what....

  4. The Constitution by eMilkshake · · Score: 2, Troll

    When will the American public (especially the /. crowd) realize the rights guarenteed by the government are guarentees regarding government behavior. Any company can do WHATEVER it wants to limit "free speech" or so forth except what is limited by law. This is an extension of freedom, not a limit of it. You, personally, can choose not to abuse private property, etc.

  5. Stop Whining. by blair1q · · Score: 2, Troll

    You don't like it, quit.

    You work in a (target) sensitive (target) government (target) facility (target).

    If not for those (prophylaxis) searches (diligence), there's no telling (anthrax) what (ebola) might (plague) get (guns) through (bombs).

    So stop your whining. I'm sure you took a low-paying government job because you like the job security and the pension plan, but you also took on a responsibility to the public--which includes you--and a risk in case of war.

    You're not contracted to the military, so you have the privilege of leaving your job at your pleasure.

    --Blair

  6. Grow up people by poloace · · Score: 0, Troll

    It's time to wake up and stop worrying so much about the inconvience of being searched. Yes, I understand the concerns about your civil liberties. Remember though that many liberties are balanced against each other when dealing with the Constitution. Most cases in front of the Supreme Court are about striking a balance between clashing liberties. In my opinion, the right to LIFE as stated in the Bill of Rights, outways the issue of searching your belongings as you enter and exit a government facility.

    If we want to be safe in our country, we need to think about this: would you be pissed about the government letting some terrorist into a facility with a bomb or some Anthrax and killed some of your co-workers? would you be pissed if a terrorist stole some biological materials from a government facility and used them to kill your family? If the answer is yes, then you have to have searches. If the answer is no, then you're a liar. ;)

  7. Re:Have Fun With It! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    this guy has the right idea.

    Also, along the same lines, it has been known for sometime that if someone wanted to slip something by customs or just keep them from rifling through their stuff people would put there dirty underwear on top. I think dog poop in a tupperware container would hasten the search.

  8. put a whooping on his ass by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    I would hope that some of his coworkers and folks in the neighborhood put a good whooping on his ass.
    This boy needs some old fashioned "education". Get with the program, son, or your ass is grass.

  9. RE:Unreasonable Searches When Going to Work? by mislead · · Score: 0, Troll

    First of all, the NIH should be a private org. making you a freeloader living on the taxpayer dole. Rights? Yes, you have a right to get another job.

  10. time.. wasing time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    posting 50 line shits to salsh isnt wasintg time?

  11. i just realized something by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    you arr against wasing time because that would be use ful salsh posting time!@

  12. Re:I would put it more strongly... by Brummund · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yes, you Israelis are probably the worst terrorists on the face of earth right now. Of course you should be searched.

    It's just a pity US & GB are bombing Afghanistan and not Israel. Seriously.

  13. Re:I would put it more strongly... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    It's just a pity US & GB are bombing Afghanistan and not Israel.

    I'd be happy to bomb the Palestinian sections of the country. It's not like the Isralis are teaching their Kindergarteners that strapping a bomb on their chest and blowing up innocent civilians is a great way to go to paradise and get to fuck 72 beautiful virgins for the rest of eternity. I say wipe all these fuckers off the face of the earth and be done with it.