News From Harry Browne for President

 

FOR RELEASE: Saturday, May 27, 2000
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For additional information contact:
Jim Babka, Press Secretary
JimBabka@HarryBrowne2000.org
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High on the Hill

 

'Congress wants to smoke the Fourth Amendment,' charges Harry Browne

Arlington, Virginia -- "Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, and Utah Congressman Chris Cannon appear to be using the Bill of Rights as rolling paper, so they can light up and satisfy their addiction for power over our lives," declared Harry Browne. Browne, a Libertarian candidate for President, spoke out today against H.R. 2987, the Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act, sponsored by the Utah Republicans -- a bill that would trash your right to privacy, due process and free speech. The bill empowers the police to conduct secret searches of your property, often referred to as "black bag" searches. It creates a new type of search warrant that allows police to enter your home or place of business, conduct a search, seize or copy files from your computer, and not tell you about it until months later.

Another provision of the bill allows government agents to seize your property without giving you a list of the seized items. Currently, the law requires such an inventory -- including computer files -- to be given to the property owner immediately.

"This an outright assault on the Fourth Amendment," said Browne. "But if you're out to demonstrate that you're a law-and-order politician like Hatch and Cannon, that pesky amendment is a real drag. But that¼s exactly what the Constitution is supposed to be -- a drag on government power."

Browne pointed out that the bill would also create new federal drug offenses. "There are only three federal crimes listed in the Constitution: treason, piracy and counterfeiting," he said. "So the 9th and 10th Amendments are being free-based. Apparently, law and order congressmen like Hatch and Cannon have smoked our Bill of Rights till they are high with power."

"Even if this bill goes down to defeat, another will come along just like it. In fact, one already has," said Browne pointing to a bankruptcy reform bill, HR 833, that included similar provisions, passed both houses earlier this year and is currently being considered in a conference committee.

"While opposing this bill is Constitutionally correct, that won't restore our lost and stolen rights," lamented Browne. "The only way to stop the politicians from further injections of unconstitutional authority is to end the insane war on drugs. That's the Constitutional thing to do."

 

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