I concur. Something needs to be done. But not at the expense of depriving the people of their basic right to be free in their own person. I sincerely believe that this law violates the 4th Amendment (giving the policia WAY TOO MUCH latitude in deciding what is "reasonable suspicion" to begin a search and/or seizure) and the 14th Amendment (Equal Protection).
Every time I hear about this law I think of these quotes from our Founding Fathers:
"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself." - Thomas Paine
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security." - Benjamin Franklin
Totally unrelated to this topic, but since you bring up quotes by great Americans...how are you with these two?
"...There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else."
- President Theodore Roosevelt
"Any man who carries a hyphen about with him carries a dagger that he is ready to plunge into the vitals of this Republic whenever he gets ready."
- President Woodrow Wilson
Now back to the original topic, I understand your concern re: 14th Amendment; we've discussed that before, but I do NOT see your 4th amendment argument.
Taking just one part of the 4th for review, "...The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches, but not every government action to obtain information is a "search." A search occurs only when 1) a person expects privacy in the thing searched and 2)
society believes that expectation is reasonable."
The SCOTUS has also held that a vehicle is different from a home re: expectation of privacy: "The Supreme Court also held that individuals in automobiles have a reduced expectation of privacy, because vehicles generally do not serve as residences or repositories of personal effects. Vehicles may not be randomly stopped and searched; there must be probable cause or reasonable suspicion of criminal activity. "
And the proposed law in Arizona was written using SCOTUS decisions to follow the law precisely.
That's why I have no issue with it.
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83