NationStates Jolt Archive

Looks like now that the "Immigration Reform Bill" failed to pass in Congress for the second time the Federal Government has decided to start enforcing the laws already on the books.

Can anyone say, "It's about time?" Or should we say, "It's about time."

Well, I haven't a lot of confidence that the Feds will actually enforce the laws. After all, everyone is running for election/re-election so this is probably all "smoke and mirrors."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292806,00.html (AP News posted on FOX)

FOX haters click here http://www.google.com/search?q=Government+to+Step+Up+Immigration+Law+Enforcement&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Good. The half-assed way these laws were enforced before wasn't fair on anyone - not illegals, legal immigrants, or even regular citizens who got involved. If you can't predict the results of any move you make, all you have is confusion.

bump?

Oh, it's the right idea, but it's not going far enough! We need to enforce every law we have in the books, not just the key-issue ones like rape, murder, and being without papers!

I say we step up the punishment for "minor" crimes like jaywalking, littering, loitering, and smoking marijuana! Five-year minimum mandatory prison sentences for not just violaters, but anyone who through action or inaction support or accompany such violations!

Oh, it's the right idea, but it's not going far enough! We need to enforce every law we have in the books, not just the key-issue ones like rape, murder, and being without papers!

I say we step up the punishment for "minor" crimes like jaywalking, littering, loitering, and smoking marijuana! Five-year minimum mandatory prison sentences for not just violaters, but anyone who through action or inaction support or accompany such violations!

Hardly minor crimes. Littering in most states carries a pretty heavy fine, as does loitering, and depending on where you live the punishment for smoking pot can be very severe.

Oh, it's the right idea, but it's not going far enough! We need to enforce every law we have in the books, not just the key-issue ones like rape, murder, and being without papers!

I say we step up the punishment for "minor" crimes like jaywalking, littering, loitering, and smoking marijuana! Five-year minimum mandatory prison sentences for not just violaters, but anyone who through action or inaction support or accompany such violations!

Prepare to double, triple or even quadruple the police forces throughout the nation.

Hardly minor crimes. Littering in most states carries a pretty heavy fine, as does loitering, and depending on where you live the punishment for smoking pot can be very severe.

Exactly! "Misdemeanors," shmistemeanors!So we need much more enforcement. Ideally, anyone who ever commits one of these crimes gets hard time, wouldn't you agree?

Exactly! "Misdemeanors," shmistemeanors!So we need much more enforcement. Ideally, anyone who ever commits one of these crimes gets hard time, wouldn't you agree?

No, but if you're going to be sarcastic pick better examples. Also, arguing that laws should not be enforced is a poor way to advocate immigration reform don't you think?

Greater Trostia, if I may, you're being ridiculous. We're not talking about creating new harsh penalities on the lawbooks. We're talking about enforcing the laws that already exist rather than allowing them to be trampled on, as they should be.

Obviously we also need to adjust how we handle the issue, especially when it comes to helping to improve Mexico's economy and easing the immigration process(so that illegal immigration becomes a much less palatable choice) but enforcing our current laws isn't going to harm anyone.

No, but if you're going to be sarcastic pick better examples.

Those are excellent examples. They are minor laws that, regardless of what the punishment is, are usually low priorities in most places and practically not enforced a lot of the time. Certainly, not enforced "enough" to satisfy the cravings of the anti-illegal-immigration crowd, who are just so very concerned about law.

Also, arguing that laws should not be enforced is a poor way to advocate immigration reform don't you think?

Oh, was I arguing that laws shouldn't be enforced?

Greater Trostia, if I may, you're being ridiculous. We're not talking about creating new harsh penalities on the lawbooks. We're talking about enforcing the laws that already exist rather than allowing them to be trampled on, as they should be.

All I'm talking about is enforcing laws that already exist! It is already a crime to jaywalk. Yet I can do it daily without fear of any prosecution or so much as a warning from the cops! We need to enforce that law, so that our culture and nation are protected!

Those are excellent examples. They are minor laws that, regardless of what the punishment is, are usually low priorities in most places and practically not enforced a lot of the time. Certainly, not enforced "enough" to satisfy the cravings of the anti-illegal-immigration crowd, who are just so very concerned about law.
I don't know where you come from but where I used to live the cops wouldn't hesitate to arrest you if they caught you smoking pot. Just because law enforcement seems to be very lax where you live, does not mean thats the way it is for the entire United States.

Oh, was I arguing that laws shouldn't be enforced?
You certainly implied that.

All I'm talking about is enforcing laws that already exist! It is already a crime to jaywalk. Yet I can do it daily without fear of any prosecution or so much as a warning from the cops! We need to enforce that law, so that our culture and nation are protected!
Of course the law should be enforced.

Look, I'm not defending the laws themselves, because frankly I find them detestable and idiotic at best, but we need to enforce laws that are on the books that make sense.

Jaywalking is a rather dangerous activity as it can lead to accidents. Obviously that should not warrant jail time, but they should at least be given a warning, or maybe a minor fine. (Say, ten dollars?)

I don't know where you come from but where I used to live the cops wouldn't hesitate to arrest you if they caught you smoking pot.

Mm. And jaywalking too?

You certainly implied that.

I simply wonder why if law enforcement is such a major, major issue for the anti-immigrant, I mean anti-illegal-immigrant crowd, why they don't also request more enforcement of any other laws.

Of course the law should be enforced.

Look, I'm not defending the laws themselves, because frankly I find them detestable and idiotic at best, but we need to enforce laws that are on the books that make sense.

Laws that are detestable and idiotic need to be revoked, not enforced more. Being a law doesn't mean it's right. Or what, we have to make Jews wear gold stars, because it's the law?

Jaywalking is a rather dangerous activity as it can lead to accidents. Obviously that should not warrant jail time, but they should at least be given a warning, or maybe a minor fine. (Say, ten dollars?)

Honestly, the fact that cops rarely enforce this just tells me that a) most people won't hesitate to jaywalk if they feel like it and b) most cops have other priorities.

Oh, it's the right idea, but it's not going far enough! We need to enforce every law we have in the books, not just the key-issue ones like rape, murder, and being without papers!

I say we step up the punishment for "minor" crimes like jaywalking, littering, loitering, and smoking marijuana! Five-year minimum mandatory prison sentences for not just violaters, but anyone who through action or inaction support or accompany such violations!

Except they do. I don't know about where you live, but friends of mine have personally been caught by the cops jaywalking and fined. (It was ridiculous too, $120 or something). Of course, not very many people are stupid enough to jaywalk *while in the range of vision of a police officer*.

Littering is punishable by rather large fines here too, if you actually get caught. Littering on the freeway especially is punishable by fines that can be up to four digits. Of course, once again, violators must be caught.

Loitering mostly gets you a warning, but loitering and *refusing to leave* can get you brought in to the police station.

As for smoking marijuana, I personally know many people that have gotten in trouble for possession. But once again, you have to get *caught*.

Except they do. I don't know about where you live, but friends of mine have personally been caught by the cops jaywalking and fined. (It was ridiculous too, $120 or something). Of course, not very many people are stupid enough to jaywalk *while in the range of vision of a police officer*.

I don't know anyone who has ever been punished for jaywalking.

Then again good point about the police officer vision. Come to think of it, not many people illegally immigrate within range of a police officer's vision too. Maybe we could get barbed wire for illegal streetcrossing!

The fact that you actually posted a Fox news article, regardless if you provided an alternate source, tells me to avoid this thread.