Signed By the Governor: Sweeping Vermont Privacy Law Will Hinder Several Federal Surveillance Programs by Mike Maharrey.
From the post:
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed a sweeping bill that establishes robust privacy protections in the state into law. It not only limits warrantless surveillance and helps ensure electronic privacy in Vermont, it will also hinder several federal surveillance programs that rely on cooperation and data from state and local law enforcement.
The new law bans warrantless use of stingray devices to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications, restricts the use of drones for surveillance by police, and generally prohibits law enforcement officers from obtaining electronic data from service providers without a warrant or a judicially issued subpoena.
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Some random examples of federal government lying:
So, Mike would have us believe that Vermont (drum roll) passing a bill and the governor signing into law is going to interfere with federal surveillance programs in what way?
“But, but…, it’s a law!” (in a shocked tone of voice).
And you think that means what? Exactly?
Laws don’t enforce themselves. I know that comes as a surprise but there it is.
As Andrew Jackson once remarked, of Chief Justice John Marshall, “John Marshall had made his decision, now let him enforce it.” (For constitutional history buffs, that’s Cherokee Indian Cases (1830s).)
If the police, state and federal, ignore this new Vermont state law and no one will prosecute them, how much hindering of Federal surveillance programs do you see?
My multiple-choice survey questionnaire has only one response for that question:
None.
If we disagree, the missing piece maybe that the executive branch consists of the people who put laws into effect.
When the executive branch ignores the law, the judicial and legislative branches become distractions, nothing more.