Dear Tea Team Washington:
As you may know, H.B. 2789 (
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2789&year=2014), putting constitutional limitations on sensing devices/drone surveillance (a precedent for ALL governmental surveillance systems in Washington state) passed through the senate committee! However, the Senate committee made two changes. The first is that they deleted a sections that prohibited law enforcement from using drone surveillance for regulatory enforcement and investigation without specific legislation. The Bill still requires probable cause for surveillance, but does not now specifically limit regulatory enforcement and investigation surveillance which may exponentially increase use.
The second change the Senate committee made was to exclude the Washington National Guard. If President Obama or our Governor (working with Obama) declared Martial Law and/or a state of emergency, the Washington National Guard would not be restrained from the provisions of this Bill as to drone surveillance. As many of you are aware, under Martial Law, constitutional rights are temporarily suspended. However, the Senate committee did NOT specify exemption under Martial law, merely that the Washington National Guard is exempt. I am hoping, the Department of Homeland Security will not be commandeering our state's National Guard to do unconstitutional drone surveillance. Inclusion under this Bill would have been a nice safeguard. If the Washington National Guard started using drone surveillance unconstitutionally, even inappropriately, I would hope there would be immediate litigation and public intolerance.
This Bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by the Governor. So, please let them hear from you (
http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Senators/Pages/default.aspx) and let me know if you would like to lead or participate in a (videotaped) rally outside your District's Senator's office or the Governor's office regarding this Bill. The last day of this year's session is March 13, so we have to act fast.
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