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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.
-The
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
With local, state and DHS checkpoints randomly
popping up all over America many of our citizens believe that we must comply
with what more often than not amounts to unlawful requests and orders from
law enforcement officials.
While driving through California, Steven Anderson came upon three such checkpoints and he chose not
to play ball with officers who asked him, among other things, to prove his
citizenship, prove his identity and pull over for further inspection and
questioning.
When asked whether he was a citizen Anderson’s
immediate response was, “that’s my business.” When advised
that it was the officer’s job to ask the question, Anderson calmly
responds by saying, “I don’t have to answer you, because I have
rights as an American.” The law enforcement official courteously asks
Mr. Anderson to do him a favor and pull over for further questioning, no
doubt expecting Anderson to comply. But not today, as Anderson patently refuses
to do so per his Fourth Amendment Constitutional protections. He subsequently
makes his own request, saying to the officer, “no thanks, I’d
like to just go on my way.”
All of it was recorded on a digital camera in
Anderson’s car and out of view of officers.
What you’ll see below is a crash course in
exercising your Constitutional rights when faced with the threat of
detention, interrogation and random searches by Federal or local law
enforcement officials. You won’t see this one in mainstream media, and
it’s something they certainly don’t teach in college:
Anderson: Is this Nazi Germany now,
that I have to show my papers?
Officer: It’s a simple yes or no. I need an
answer or we can detain you until we figure out whether you’re a U.S.
citizen.
Anderson: Well, you know what’s more simple is the fact that my freedom is a little more
important than you seem to think. Seting up
checkpoints where people have to prove that they’re a citizen is not
something that America is supposed to be about. So, I’m not sure if you
understand that.
Supervisor enters scene: Grunt
Anderson: Grunt
Supervisor: Just pull up over there (points to
line of detained cars)
Anderson: No, thank you… I want to go free on
my way. Here I am just going about my own business and I don’t need to
stop at a checkpoint to prove who I am because this is America. Correct me if
I’m wrong – did I stumble into Mexico or is this still the United
States?
Supervisor: This is the United States.
Anderson: Therefore, I should have the freedom to
travel unmolested, because I’m in America here.
(pause)
Supervisor: Ok, go ahead and go.
 
Score one for liberty and the US Constitution.
It really is that simple.
Sure, some officers will overstep their bounds in an
attempt to intimidate and instill fear, but in this case cooler heads
prevailed and the officer in charge understood that Mr. Anderson was on the
right side of the law, and that their requests for him pulling over and
showing identification at a random checkpoint were nothing more than
requests, as no such mandate exists without probable cause that criminal
activity is taking place.
Mr. Anderson stood up for his rights – his own
individual rights. To be free and to enjoy the liberties reserved and
protected for the people by the Constitution of the United States it falls
upon each of us, as individuals, to ensure the rule of law.
On another day Mr. Anderson may have been detained,
perhaps even arrested (unlawfully).
But today in America freedom prevailed.
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