If this bill passes on a state level expect more bills like it in other states. We as a nation are no longer a nation of laws protecting the citizens, but a nation were the government is all powerful and your civil liberties don't matter. Ohio will offical become a police state were you the people have no rights.
http://news.yahoo.com/...
The Ohio Patriot Act has made it to the Taft's desk, and with the stroke of a pen, it would most likely become the toughest terrorism bill in the country. The lengthy piece of legislation would let police arrest people in public places who will not give their names, address and birth dates, even if they are not doing anything wrong.
As you know you better be a good german and compile with this or you can be arrested for not showing your papers.
McGinty said he isn't sure the law would do what it's intended to do.
"I think anything we do to enhance security and give power to protect the public to police officers is a good idea," he said. "It is a good law in the wrong direction."
The fact they say it is a good law scares the hell out of me.
From the ACLU
http://www.acluohio.org/...
Yesterday, in the final hours before the holiday recess, the Ohio General Assembly voted to pass the Ohio Patriot Act.
Despite mounting pressure from the public, the amended bill passed the House in a vote of 69-23. It was then sent to the Senate to approve amendments made by the House. The Senate passed the bill by a vote of 29-2 and will now be sent to Governor Taft.
A vocal bipartisan minority in the House and two Ohio Senators voted against the Ohio Patriot Act, and they are to be commended. Also deserving of praise are all those who took action and repeatedly urged elected officials to oppose the Ohio Patriot Act. Thank you.
Bill Peirce view of the bill
I urge you to veto SB 9, “The Ohio Patriot Act.” The bill is redundant, cumbersome, and unnecessary.
It also has some very serious problems. It moves the State toward a regime where residents are required to carry an ID card at all times and present it to any person in authority on demand. It treats all immigrants as though they were under suspicion of terrorist activity and converts the law enforcement system of Ohio into a junior partner of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service.
The bill would also require many Ohioans to answer a question about terrorist affiliations that evokes the era of Senator Joseph McCarthy, “Are you now, or were you ever, involved with any group on this list…?” The comic stupidity of expecting the terrorist to declare his intent on a license application would set back Ohio’s efforts to be taken seriously in the modern world.
For the sake of Ohio and its residents, please veto this bill.
Cross-posted links from the ALCU website.
10 reasons why to oppose this bill The second page is really the first page
Most recent version in the Senate
ACLU of Ohio Staff Attorney Carrie Davis testimony
ACLU of Ohio Legal Director Jeff Gamso testimony