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neifirst t1_j7pcf0k wrote

We need a state constitutional amendment to ban this practice

Ideally a federal one but that seems unobtainable

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PabloX68 t1_j7q5xhp wrote

The 5th amendment's takings clause should already cover this, but it seems to be ignored with civil asset forfeiture.

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neifirst t1_j7q6nfg wrote

It’s because of the nonsense of jurisdiction “in rem”; the government isn’t taking from you, it’s accusing the item itself

Which is nonsense, but common law says that if you do nonsense long enough it’s fine

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PabloX68 t1_j7qbwha wrote

IANAL, but I've had a lot of interactions with them dealing with patents.

As an engineer, I just don't get the way they think. It seems like a major foundation of the law is cognitive dissonance and/or willful ignorance.

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petrichor1969 t1_j7s6166 wrote

The lawyers I've known have no concept of justice at all, none. They have no conscience; they only have law. If it's legal, it's moral. It's all about beating the other guy for their client's and their own wallet and dick size (although the mindset is by no means limited to persons with dicks.)

One of these guys used the law to turn an old man out of his home so his client could grab the land, and he could not for his life understand why I had a problem with that. It was legal, so ...?

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WarPuig t1_j7qgg4z wrote

“But how do you know it was the money they received that made them do what they did? Bribes are legal.”

0

Maddcapp t1_j7sujfh wrote

I can’t imagine a time when that law would have made any sense. I wonder how it all came about and what the reason was, if it wasn’t pure greed.

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3720-To-One t1_j7pfvsf wrote

Yeah… “freedom-loving” republicans would never let that happen.

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mattgm1995 t1_j7pm8pj wrote

STATE constitution. Democrats in MA have super majorities in the house and senate, they have the SJC, and the governors office. They can pass anything they want here unilaterally. It’s just a matter of if they care enough to do the right thing.

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3720-To-One t1_j7pngrc wrote

“Ideally a federal one, but that seems unobtainable”

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wittgensteins-boat t1_j7sw3su wrote

You assume Democrats are united on everything They are not.

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mattgm1995 t1_j7swgko wrote

I don’t. The point is, in MA, they can’t go blaming boogeyman republicans anymore. It’s 100000% on them.

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wittgensteins-boat t1_j7tvxuo wrote

Democratic legislators have had a supermajority in both houses since before Romney. Since before 2000.

They don't go around attribuing anthing to Republicans.

ROMNEY, in his last year in office had 100% of his grandstanding budget vetoes overturned in his last year in office.

You are beating up a straw man.

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Garethx1 t1_j7q7q2s wrote

We could of course go back and forth about why this isnt ever addressed by Democrats. I dont want to give them an "out" but I think most wont touch it because even Massachusetts dems are frightened of being painted "anti-cop" and "pro-crime". I think they should say the assertion is ridiculous and explain how they want common sense legislation that protects people, but they prefer the tactic of shying away from these issues and trying out cop love the republicans.

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frenchosaka t1_j7ph9n2 wrote

Both parties support it

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3720-To-One t1_j7pmshf wrote

And take a wild guess which party at least has elements speaking out against it?

bOtH sIdEs!

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ItsMeTK t1_j7q7qpy wrote

I’m a freedom-loving independent conservative and I fully support any efforts to combat asset forfeiture nonsense. The state has no right to a person’s property.

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3720-To-One t1_j7q9ca9 wrote

And far too many “freedom-loving” conservatives are some of the biggest cop boot lickers around, and will gladly turn a blind eye to their abuse as long as cops are violating the rights of others.

Don’t tread on me, but feel free to tread on others, especially people I don’t like.

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d1sass3mbled t1_j7rkkx7 wrote

It's funny seeing democrats and republicans arguing over who are the biggest boot lickers. We have the war on drugs on one side and public health pandemics on the other side (Covid and firearms). Seems like everyone is all for the police doing shady shit as long as its their shady shit.

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3720-To-One t1_j7rkw9o wrote

bOtH sIDEZ!

Ah yes, because conservatives’ bootlicking for police brutality is TOTALLY the same as supporting measures to counter Covid during a pandemic.

TOTALLY the same.

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d1sass3mbled t1_j7rl83s wrote

They are. If you are wanting the brutalizers to support covid measures or seize weapons then you are licking the boot too. Personally, I'd prefer armed thugs not come to my house to shoot my dog or flashbang my kids for any reason.

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3720-To-One t1_j7rr3z3 wrote

Who’s seizing weapons?

Lolbertarians sure love being melodramatic.

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d1sass3mbled t1_j7rz1zf wrote

In Massachusetts? The police. Kudos on the well thought out response.

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3720-To-One t1_j7sn5k5 wrote

Oh no, you’re so oppressed because you can’t own any weapon you want, no questions asked.

Libertarians are an absolute joke who have no clue what real oppression actually is.

And Covid proved that. Comparing Covid measures to police brutality just shows that you have no clue what actual oppression or persecution actually is.

Maybe someday lolbertarians will grow up and realize that they don’t exist in a vacuum, and living in a society requires some degree of sacrifice for the collective good.

Cry me a river.

And let’s be real, most lolberts still just vote Republican because all you care about is guns.

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d1sass3mbled t1_j7svpmv wrote

Dumbass, you don't even grasp the basic concept here. You don't get to cheer for the police state when they enforce laws you like and then bash them when you don't like what they're doing. Try being consistent in your beliefs.

I wouldn't expect much else from a eunuch though. See, I can scroll through your post history and launch ad hominem attacks too, lol.

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3720-To-One t1_j7u74u0 wrote

Once again, the bOTh sidEz brigade completely lacks any sense of nuance.

No, having basic rules for society to live by, is not remotely equivalent to cops murdering people over traffic stops, no matter how badly lolberts want to feel oppressed.

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d1sass3mbled t1_j7wij9t wrote

Basic rules... Like the ones cops use as an excuse to initiate traffic stops when they don't like how a driver looks? Are those the same guys enforcing your basic rules?

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3720-To-One t1_j7wj8ht wrote

Stay angry, lolbertarian.

NO STEPPY ON SNEK!

1

d1sass3mbled t1_j7wn4y2 wrote

Nah, I've got no major complaints. Life is good. Believe what you want if it makes you feel better, but I think you may be projecting.

1

5entinel t1_j7pirgo wrote

Oh the republicans are in charge in MA?

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3720-To-One t1_j7pneb0 wrote

What part of “federal” did you not understand?

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chucktownbtown t1_j7q34sg wrote

Easy to understand. The point is there is no reason to wait. You can solve the problem locally. We do t have to sit back and wait for Washington to do everything for us.

It’s not being solved locally here because democrats equally don’t want to solve it. This isn’t a republican exclusive thing.

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ben70 t1_j7q94nj wrote

Biden is a republican??

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3720-To-One t1_j7qbgu4 wrote

The POTUS doesn’t write laws, do they?

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ben70 t1_j7qbsuj wrote

Presidents have drafted and submitted legislation via friendly reps / senators. More importantly, if Biden weren't to sign off on the notional legislation, it would take a supermajority to enact without his signature / over his veto. POTUS has a role.

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