Update, 2.17.12, bumped again from 1.16.12, and before that 1.14.12 — we may safely say that this story is incredible — for the unanswered questions listed below — the chances that this gentleman was with the TSA are less than slight — I posted on this topic originally on 1.14.12 at 9 AM, but I…
Crime
Cats, Crime
FBI: Illinois Suspect Planned to Electrocute Wealthy Man, Blame Murder on Cat
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Outrageous: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Federal investigators helped by a conscientious paroled killer say they foiled a plot to abduct, extort and electrocute a wealthy man in a scheme they say borrowed elements from a television show and sought to blame the killing on the planned victims cat…. According to an affidavit, one plan…
Crime, Weird Tales
What Happens When People Actually Fall for Nigerian Email Scams
by JOHN ADAMS • • Comments
Crime, Laws/Regulations
The Wrong Strategy on Synthetic Marijuana
by JOHN ADAMS •
When a society’s drug enforcement focuses on the supply of a drug, drug traffickers will (1) alter the concoctions they sell and (2) change the way they sell those concoctions. Sure enough, in response to a ban on synthetic marijuana, dealers are altering their formulas to circumvent existing local laws, and are now selling though…
Crime, Government Spending, Police
Officers Punished for Supporting Eased Drug Laws
by JOHN ADAMS •
These officers can expect to be hounded out, as so much federal and state money depends, not on solving the problem of addiction, but on waging an ineffective, endless campaign, all the while insisting that this time – yes, this time – everything will be different and better. Those challenging their dismissals are buoyed by…
Crime
Governor Christie: The War on Drugs Isn’t Working
by JOHN ADAMS •
Crime, Law
Bad News for Drug Warriors
by JOHN ADAMS •
Turns out Newt Gingrich, the man of a thousand shifting, contradictory, and I’ll-considered opinions, wants to escalate the Drug War. If there’s worse news for drug warriors than this, short of an endorsement from Syria’s Assad, I can’t imagine what that worse news might be. In an interview with Yahoo!, Gingrich finds his model for…
Crime, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Regulating Over Prohibiting Marijuana
by JOHN ADAMS •
From last Monday’s national Libertarian Party message, there’s a proposal to regulate marijuana like wine. Whether it’s regulated like wine or more strictly, the trend against outright prohibition is unmistakable. See, Gallup Reports Record Number in Favor of Legalizing Marijuana Use. Of those who favor a complete prohibition, two things may be said: they often…
Crime, Liberty, Press
State Journal blasts arrest of Journal Sentinel reporter
by JOHN ADAMS •
Officials’ foolish over-reaching: We’re not anti-cop. Far from it. We’re actually very much pro-law and order. Some of our best friends are police officers, and we admire the difficult work done by the men and women who keep our communities safe. But the decision by Milwaukee police officers Wednesday to arrest a Journal Sentinel photographer…
City, Crime, Police
Meet the New Press Release, Same as the Old Press Release
by JOHN ADAMS •
Just about a year ago, Whitewater’s former police chief authorized a raid on a drinking party; this year, almost to the day, the city’s new police chief did the same. Scores were cited a year ago; scores were cited this year. Needless to say, last year’s raid did nothing to stop the underage drinking in…
Crime, Politics
Guilty plea in marijuana case forces Whitewater city councilman to step down – Walworth County Today
by JOHN ADAMS •
There’s a solid, straightforward story about the conviction by plea and subsequent resignation of Whitewater Common Council member Javonni Butler over at the Gazette, portions of which are excerpted below. Of this, three things may be said with confidence: that for some, this is a moment of particular schadenfreude; that so hidebound is Whitewater that…
Crime, Law, Liberty
Gallup Reports Record Number in Favor of Legalizing Marijuana Use
by JOHN ADAMS •
Respected polling-firm Gallup reports that for the first time, half of all Americans support legalizing marijuana use. Fifty-percent of all Americans favor legalization; that’s a huge jump from forty years ago. The ongoing trend is also clear: younger Americans are more likely to support, and senior citizens more likely to oppose, legalization. In another twenty…
City, Crime, Laws/Regulations, Liberty
Whitewater’s Concealed Carry Debate
by JOHN ADAMS •
Concealed carry legislation went to the governor, and he signed it, about a month ago. (For an overview of that legislation, see Mary Spicuzza’s Concealed carry bill heads to Walker for signature. A provision of the bill allows communities to place restrictions on the presence of otherwise lawfully-concealed weapons, beyond the restrictions (police stations, court…