Reno: Study Citizen DNA Testing
Attorney General Janet Reno has asked a federal commission to explore the
legality of the government taking DNA samples from every citizen who is
arrested.
This would place DNA samples from millions of Americans into state and
federal crime databases -- even if they were never convicted of a crime.
Over 15 million Americans were arrested in 1997, according to FBI estimates.
Such a move would be an enormous expansion of federal DNA databanks.
Currently only convicted sex felons and violent offenders have their DNA
collected.
The move follows a new state law in Louisiana that mandates testing of
everyone arrested. Similar laws are being considered in North Carolina and
New York City. New York City Police Commissioner Howard Safir backs the
idea, telling USA Today: "This is not an invasive process, and if it's used
properly it's going to protect society."
Opponents of the move argue that it is unconstitutional, amounting to a
warrantless search prohibited by the 4th Amendment; that it invades privacy;
that it gives government information it can later misuse; and that it treats
innocent arrested citizens no different than felons convicted of serious
crimes.
Mandated fingerprints on drivers licenses, omnipresent Social Security
numbers, roving wiretaps, cameras mounted on traffic lights, national ID
proposals... what's next?
(Source: USA Today, March 1)
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