Police to search for guns in homes

[82Rigger]

Globe Staff - November 17, 2007

Boston police are launching a program that will call upon parents in high-crime neighborhoods to allow detectives into their homes, without a warrant, to search for guns in their children's bedrooms.

The program, which is already raising questions about civil liberties, is based on the premise that parents are so fearful of gun violence and the possibility that their own teenagers will be caught up in it that they will turn to police for help, even in their own households.

In the next two weeks, Boston police officers who are assigned to schools will begin going to homes where they believe teenagers might have guns. The officers will travel in groups of three, dress in plainclothes to avoid attracting negative attention, and ask the teenager's parent or legal guardian for permission to search. If the parents say no, police said, the officers will leave.

If officers find a gun, police said, they will not charge the teenager with unlawful gun possession, unless the firearm is linked to a shooting or homicide.

The program was unveiled yesterday by Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis in a meeting with several community leaders.

"I just have a queasy feeling anytime the police try to do an end run around the Constitution," said Thomas Nolan, a former Boston police lieutenant who now teaches criminology at Boston University. "The police have restrictions on their authority and ability to conduct searches. The Constitution was written with a very specific intent, and that was to keep the law out of private homes unless there is a written document signed by a judge and based on probable cause. Here, you don't have that."

Critics said they worry that some residents will be too intimidated by a police presence on their doorstep to say no to a search.

[b3196]

Maybe the lazy-ass parents should get off their chicken-shit asses and go search the room that belongs to them to begin with, and let their gun toting kids stay there.

[reconeil]

Don't see any: "End run around The Constitution" since; "If the parents say no, police said, the officers will leave".

If were up to me regarding any such suspects, I say: "Screw such a stupid waste of police time & assets". Get a Search Warrant the old fashioned way, and/or where no Parental Consent is needed nor will more than likely hinder any investigation.

Besides, why let teen age: "Gang Bangers" or future killers skate for having anything like a Mac-10, Uzi, Glock or 9 mil in their rooms, anyway? Are such people in authority nuts???

Neil

[Keith_Hixson]

[Maybe the lazy-ass parents should get off their chicken-shit asses and go search the room that belongs to them to begin with, and let their gun toting kids stay there. ]

Why don't the parents do the search then call the police. Probably save lots of time.
Brother Bob, you indeed are a genius.

Keith

[SuperScout]

Originally Posted by b3196

Maybe the lazy-ass parents should get off their chicken-shit asses and go search the room that belongs to them to begin with, and let their gun toting kids stay there.

Here's the ultimate solution: if the lazy-as parents find the weapons in their children's rooms, we send them all to jail, the parents for being so disconnected from reality, the children for being potential or actual thugs. Send them down to Sherrif Aricopa's (sp?) jail in Arizona.