BoarSpear

Houston's police chief proposed Wednesday placing surveillance cameras in apartment complexes, downtown streets, shopping malls, and even private homes as a way of combatting crime with a shortage of police officers.

"I know a lot of people are concerned about Big Brother, but my response to that is if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?" Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt told reporters Wednesday at a regular briefing.

http://story.dallassun.com/p.x/ct/9/...b95cfe01d1f7d/
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It must be something in the air in Texas that causes Nazi like behavior....first its bush, now the police chief!! WTF??? That loopy shit needs to be fired and put in Rex 84 This shits gotta stop!!

Sagacious Lu

This is one of the scariest and most unamerican things I've ever heard. Frankly, I'd be more afraid of the faceless officials watching my property than I am of the other criminals. They have cameras set up in Buckhead (a wealthy part of Atl.) and they make my skin crawl every time I go to that part of town. At least there they only have them watching very commercial public streets- not private residences. It's still scary to me though. I wonder who has access to those tapes and what are they allowed to do with them? The potential for abuse is huge.

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Hikage

Oh dear.....

You're right in saying that if I'm not doing anything wrong, what do I have to fear. That being said, I don't want cameras in my house any more than I would want a camera crew for the next reality show in my house, watching how I interact with my friends, family, and wife in my most intimate moments. No thanks. I'm all about putting them in public areas and walkways in apartments, but not behind any locking door.

-Hikage

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aseepish

I think a mandatory camera in your home would violate the Fourth Amendment.
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/c...n/amendment04/

In the UK there have been surveillance cameras in public places for years. Their effectiveness in reducing crime has been limited. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2192911.stm

Edit: Duh. Maybe I should have read the article before responding. My criticisms are pretty much the same as those of the ACLU.

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"It was about that time I realized that searching was my symbol, the emblem of those who go out at night with nothing in mind, the motives of a destroyer of compasses." -Cortázar

Tom Yum

I'm sure there's hidden cameras in my apartment with some bored CIA guys eating popcorn viewing via live circuit t.v.

Its still a messed up concept though.

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Love it, leave it or fix it.

Hikage

BTW... your link points to an article about a Radio Shack Executive who recently was arrested for his 3rd DWI and who lied about his academic credentials. Sounds like the making of a B-rate movie. All we need to make it complete is a gay guy.

-Hikage

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GonzoStyles

close circuit cameras are all over the UK they used them along with face recognition software to remove soccer hooligans that have been banned from stadiums. it has its ups and downs, if you knew how many unsolved murders we have here in Houston Boar youd understand where the support comes from.

BoarSpear

I dont care how many murders there are, camera's in homes is completely unacceptable....maybe a gun in every home is a better idea.....just last week they found some cop who was using his cruiser camera to record YOUNG girls at the beach and passengers of people he pulled over....there is too much abuse happening already to give them any more ability to abuse....imagine a camera in your bathroom and shower and bedroom...and car and EVERYWHERE otherwise people will just act out off camera, so cameras will have to be everywhere....then they will want to put it ON you or IN you so they dont miss anything....all for your safety of course

CS J0ker

"if you are not doing anything wrong, why should you worry about it?" I worry about it is because I am not a saint. I do wrong stuff . Not anything like beat a person in my own home but... different stuff...

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When I read about the dangers of video games, I stopped reading.

EmptyneSs

its actually not such a bad idea. nobody has to necessarily be watching it on the other end. it can just be there in case something happens, then they can go to the video and see it all. the cameras can just run 24/7, and only be checked if they are needed to. what if someone robs your house when you are gone? you can go right to the camera and see it all happen on tape. it wont prevent crime, but it can help bring those responsible to justice afterwards. it can also serve as a reminder to would-be criminals that they are being watched. in this wack ass post 9/11 world we are living in, safety is big issue.

elliotNess

Anybody old enough to remember George Orwell's 1984?

Tom Yum

I wonder if the CIA agent's high-five each other when I score....

...a shot of waded paper.....into the garbage can .

GBush

Cameras in your homes are for watching terrorists. We do not actavly monitor the not-evil-doers. Discussing our intelligence actavlyies exposes US to evil-doers, so stop it.

Sagacious Lu

It's a classic everyone should read, along with Animal Farm.

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gregimotis

Also 'Brave New World' which tries to demonstrate the ways in which people get just the governments they deserve.

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I am Tired. Tired. Tired.