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Chicago's Camera Network Is Everywhere

DesScorp writes "Over the past few years, the City of Chicago has installed video cameras all over the city. Now the Wall Street Journal reports that the city has not only installed its own cameras for law enforcement purposes, but with the aid of IBM, has built a network that possibly links thousands of video surveillance cameras all over Chicago. Possibly, because the city refuses to confirm just how many cameras are in the network. Critics say that Chicago is becoming the city of Big Brother. 'The city links the 1,500 cameras that police have placed in trouble spots with thousands more—police won't say how many—that have been installed by other government agencies and the private sector in city buses, businesses, public schools, subway stations, housing projects and elsewhere. Even home owners can contribute camera feeds. Rajiv Shah, an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who has studied the issue, estimates that 15,000 cameras have been connected in what the city calls Operation Virtual Shield, its fiber-optic video-network loop.' There are so many camera feeds coming in that police and officials can't monitor them all, but when alerted to a situation, can zoom in on the area affected. The ACLU has requested a total number of video feeds and cameras, but as of yet, this information has not been supplied."

4 of 327 comments (clear)

  1. Re:That's what you get with corrupt democrats... by theaveng · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It always amazing me how people don't know how to read simple English. The sentence is clear, and can be rewritten like this without altering its original meaning: "The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." The original document that was submitted to Congress read like so: "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country. But no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person."

    What is the militia? According to the Founders it's the whole of the people. According to Section 311 of US Code Title 10, entitled, "Militia: composition and classes" in its entirety:
    "(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
    (b) The classes of the militia are --
    (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
    (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia."

    There's also the Rights enshrined in State Constitutions, which perforce, supersede the U.S. document. My state says this: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state." Nearly all the states have similar phrasing. It is an individual right.

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    FOX NEWS.com should be BANNED from television and internet. Have the Congress take it over and give us Truespeak.
  2. Re:That's what you get with corrupt democrats... by theaveng · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I know a lady who watched her parents get shot-down in a McDonalds by a criminal.

    She is now a *stronger* advocate than ever for the right to bear arms. Quote: "I obeyed that stupid, stupid law, and left my gun in my car, and watched my parents die. I was helpless. Now I ignore the law and carry my gun in case I should need it again." I agree. I'd rather be armed so I cn shoot criminals (like that Muslim psychiatrist) than just sit by and watch helplessly.

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    FOX NEWS.com should be BANNED from television and internet. Have the Congress take it over and give us Truespeak.
  3. Re:That's what you get with corrupt democrats... by misexistentialist · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    You can't argue with irrational/dishonest people. They either want to eliminate guns out of blind fear or out of some sort of socialist/totalitarian agenda. Even if the right to guns were restricted to militia members, they would then twist and lie so that "militia" can only mean government forces, since singling out guys like McVeigh for the privilege of gun ownership would be obviously unacceptable.

  4. Re:That's what you get with corrupt democrats... by Shakrai · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    The part where their kid gets shot by someone bearing arms.

    Lock up the people who commit those crimes and we wouldn't have to worry about them occurring as often as they do. Depending on whose numbers you believe anywhere between 60% to 80% of first-time murderers already have violent criminal histories. That seems to beg the question of why are they getting out of jail in the first place?

    I have no problem with rehabilitation for non-violent offenders but once you demonstrate that your moral compass is so fucked up that you are willing to use violence against your fellow human beings then I don't think we owe you anything more than an 8'x10' and the chance to break big rocks into small rocks.

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    I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
    We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.