Project 4

Protecting Our American Rights

          The way our law enforcers and their officials have been acting and or reacting has caused a lot of Americans to become leery and uncomfortable. A lot of people aren’t aware of the vibe that a select number of police officers carry with them because they’ve never had a run in with one. While not every law enforcer is out to be power hungry, the majority of encounters people face seem to be more confrontational than necessary. It’s a problem that I’ve personally experienced as well as witnessed and read many articles about. The problem that I’m here to focus on however, is the way some of our American rights have been stomped on and ignored in these situations. I’m here to make sure that people who read this understand that there is a problem and provide reasons why it may have started. Most importantly, I will provide possible solutions and the steps each and every one of us could take to protect our rights.

            The number of crimes has greatly increased over past decades, which is the most logical explanation for officials being more forceful than necessary. That however, does not give them the right to even attempt to step on anyone’s rights. Many American citizens have taken a stand against the police force and the reaction of many officers isn’t pleasant. They attempt to act like brutes when in the face of a camera, even though the camera is only present in order to protect citizens from any wrong doings. So I ask, what is it that the officer is trying to keep off camera? It wasn’t until personally experiencing it that I realized what officers try to do and how unethical some may be.

          Since a lot of suspicion has arose about what our police force is really here to do, they have received a lot of hatred and problems from people. In the people’s defense however, many officers tend to approach people too directly as if all people are a threat to them and the public. Due to personal experience, I understand how nervous a cop can make an innocent person feel. I witnessed one accuse a driver of being drunk before asking if him and the passenger are ok after sliding into a ditch. Only later to be proven wrong, the officer continued making accusations and speaking to the civilian as though he’s a criminal. It was almost as if there was no convincing the officer.

          On top of personal experience, I’ve read many articles and watched endless videos of cops ignoring the rights of Americans. From not informing the citizen of why they’re under arrest, to unlawfully entering their homes and other private property. These videos are a way to prove that some of us citizens are being treated unfairly by the people that have sworn to protect us. Entering someone’s home without their consent or providing the homeowner with a valid warrant has been considered unlawful for two-hundred and twenty five years now. The Fourth Amendment clearly states “The right of the people 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, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized” (Amendment IV). Even still, unlawful entry by a police officer into someone’s car or home is not an uncommon thing to hear about today. In another article from The Rutherford Institute relating to the same problem, someone had stated “In 2011 the Supreme Court essentially eviscerated the Fourth Amendment when it ruled 8-1 in Kentucky v. King that the police may forcibly enter your home without a search warrant as long as they believe someone inside is trying to destroy evidence of a crime.” Which then led them to ask, “Are you secure in your home as long the government can knock down your door and take over your property at gun point with no search warrant whatsoever?” Unfortunately, officials seem to be getting away with murder nowadays and the only people that are here to protect our rights, is us.

           Since not everyone has had to protect their rights, they tend to blow it off and act like it’s not a big deal. What they don’t understand is that OUR rights were made in order to protect us from the government and the people belonging to it. Informing people of their rights and making sure they understand them is essential to ensuring that our rights don’t disappear. Know Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement is a great booklet to look into if you’re interested in protecting the American way. It provides you with scenarios that may take place when involving a police officer or other official and lets you know what they can and can’t do and what you do and don’t have to do. As stated earlier in the paragraph, not everyone understands their rights which results in law enforcement taking advantage and coercing them into doing something they never had to do which could possibly result in the incrimination of yourself even if you are innocent. While it can’t be proven, many stories have gone around of how certain police officers write down what they want, rather than what the interviewee would actually say which later resulted in the innocent having to plead guilty for something they didn’t do in order to prevent a higher charge which would be irrationally placed. States such as California have taken steps in order to prevent this from happening to their best ability. They have something called the California Penal Code 118.1, which makes it a crime for police officers to file reports with deliberately false information. Even with the penal code, it’s still your word versus the officers most of the time.

          The very first step to take in order to protect our American rights is to obey the law. Your rights should never be in harm’s way if you consistently obey the law and make choices that will keep you away from those situations. It is your job as an American citizen to fully abide by the rules that are laid out. The next step is to remain calm when speaking to those who serve and protect. If you come off as extremely nervous, they may find you to be suspicious. There’s no need to be nervous when speaking to them, they are humans just like us. If they make you feel uncomfortable, you have the right to remain silent and say absolutely nothing. However, “If pulled over while driving, and upon request, show police your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance”(Know Your Rights, What to do). If the cop threatens to arrest you for not talking, you simply state that you understand your rights and would like a lawyer first. Make him have to make irrational decisions before you give out any unnecessary information that way if the problem escalates to the next level, you look like the good guy.

          Another solution that could offer a great outcome is being taught about this subject throughout our school career. While growing up, our rights aren’t really brought to our attention in full detail. Schools touch on the subject of the Bill of Rights and the Amendments, but they don’t put it in a context to where we understand what they’re used for. It’s just brushed over because it’s in the course material. Protecting our rights is an American tradition and should be understood by all citizens, especially the children since they are the most likely to be taken advantage of due to not knowing the limits that authorities can push. For schools to teach today’s children about their rights and how to utilize them would set a huge example for the rest of the Americans to follow.

          The most important thing one can do to protect their rights is to not give up. Do not allow officers to commit unlawful acts, and if they continue to do so, make sure you know their badge number, department and name. You have the right to ask for that information. Always be the one in the right so you know that they have no reason to bother you. All too often people allow cops into their home and to search their vehicles. Over half the time it is an unnecessary measure to take, but if they’ve been allowed to before, they assume that it’s okay to do. The badge only provides them with as much power as we allow it to.

          While it’s hard to imagine, it’s not hard to believe that this problem is taking place with all the evidence put in front of me. While it’s not necessary to be rude to or cause a problem with an officer who is questioning you, it is important that they stay within their boundaries and respect you as you do them. Even more importantly, to protect your rights and ensure that our American tradition of equality and power of the people continues.