What: Six out of ten support death penalty
Who: Americans
When: 23rd October 2014
Where: America
Why: There is a shortage of lethal injection drugs resulting in drawn out executions yet over half of Americans still believe in capital punishment. The stats have only gone down by very small amounts over the past couple of years and are nowhere near their lowest. Democrats have gone down a considerable amount while the Republicans largely favor it. When given the choice between the death penalty and life in prison without parole, half of americans choose death penalty.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/23/six-10-americans-support-death-penalty
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Current Event: Against Death Penalty
What: Death Penalty Mistake
Who: Kirk Bloodsworth
Where: Maryland
When: March 10th 2014
Why: The death penalty can be unfair because many innocent people are falsely accused and then killed. Anyone can be arrested if there are enough witnesses but witnesses are unreliable. DNA testing helps catch the real criminals but is not always possible (destroyed evidence, faulty equipment, etc.). There has been a decrease in death sentences and executions since the 1990's.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/07/opinion/bloodsworth-death-penalty/
Who: Kirk Bloodsworth
Where: Maryland
When: March 10th 2014
Why: The death penalty can be unfair because many innocent people are falsely accused and then killed. Anyone can be arrested if there are enough witnesses but witnesses are unreliable. DNA testing helps catch the real criminals but is not always possible (destroyed evidence, faulty equipment, etc.). There has been a decrease in death sentences and executions since the 1990's.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/07/opinion/bloodsworth-death-penalty/
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Current event: 5th Amendment
What: iphone fingerprint identification
Who: Apple, the Supreme Court
Where: America
When: 2013
Why: Fingerprint identification may mean you can't take the fifth because the fifth says "no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself", which doesn't necessarily apply to your fingerprint vs your pin and password (which you memorize). The supreme courts says the fifth amendment doesn't only apply to criminal prosecution. The courts say fingerprints, voice exemplars, etc. don't reveal anything you know; they aren't a testimonial.
http://www.wired.com/2013/09/the-unexpected-result-of-fingerprint-authentication-that-you-cant-take-the-fifth/
Who: Apple, the Supreme Court
Where: America
When: 2013
Why: Fingerprint identification may mean you can't take the fifth because the fifth says "no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself", which doesn't necessarily apply to your fingerprint vs your pin and password (which you memorize). The supreme courts says the fifth amendment doesn't only apply to criminal prosecution. The courts say fingerprints, voice exemplars, etc. don't reveal anything you know; they aren't a testimonial.
http://www.wired.com/2013/09/the-unexpected-result-of-fingerprint-authentication-that-you-cant-take-the-fifth/
Monday, September 29, 2014
Current Event: 4th Amendment
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/supreme_court_dispatches/2014/04/fourth_amendment_cellphone_cases_at_the_supreme_court_the_justices_are_tech.html
WHO
The police
WHAT
Phone searches
WHERE
California and Boston, MA
WHEN
April 29, 2014
WHY
The fourth amendment has to do with prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures as well as requiring a warrant with probable cause. Police still search phones when they believe their safety is threatened or that possible evidence on it could be destroyed. By looking through the phones of the arrested people, the police found evidence of additional larger crimes. The men would then be arrested for those crimes along with their traffic fines. Is it fair for phones to be searched during minor infractions? Phones have so much information and without a warrant people can definitely argue that it is against the fourth amendment for policemen to search it without one.
WHO
The police
WHAT
Phone searches
WHERE
California and Boston, MA
WHEN
April 29, 2014
WHY
The fourth amendment has to do with prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures as well as requiring a warrant with probable cause. Police still search phones when they believe their safety is threatened or that possible evidence on it could be destroyed. By looking through the phones of the arrested people, the police found evidence of additional larger crimes. The men would then be arrested for those crimes along with their traffic fines. Is it fair for phones to be searched during minor infractions? Phones have so much information and without a warrant people can definitely argue that it is against the fourth amendment for policemen to search it without one.
Current Event: 2nd Amendment
www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2014/03/13/is-idaho-right-to-allow-guns-on-campus
WHO
governor Butch Otter (signed law)
WHAT
right to allow concealed guns on campus
WHERE
Idaho
WHEN
March 2014
WHY
Otter said he swore to protect and defend the constitution, which is why he signed the law allowing concealed guns on campus. The law was drafted by the National Rifle Society. The second amendment is about the right to carry arms. Boise State University president Bob Kustra thought this law was doing the opposite of what the second amendment is all about; protecting lives. Will allowing guns really protect students or just lead to more violence? Many college and university presidents are against guns on campus although "all 50 states have laws permitting the carrying of concealed guns in public".
WHO
governor Butch Otter (signed law)
WHAT
right to allow concealed guns on campus
WHERE
Idaho
WHEN
March 2014
WHY
Otter said he swore to protect and defend the constitution, which is why he signed the law allowing concealed guns on campus. The law was drafted by the National Rifle Society. The second amendment is about the right to carry arms. Boise State University president Bob Kustra thought this law was doing the opposite of what the second amendment is all about; protecting lives. Will allowing guns really protect students or just lead to more violence? Many college and university presidents are against guns on campus although "all 50 states have laws permitting the carrying of concealed guns in public".
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