Cameras
Re “Norfolk’s unconstitutional spy cameras should worry everyone” (July 8): The author thinks cameras infringe on the Fourth Amendment “right of the people to be secure in their person” from “unreasonable searches” and refers to them as fishing expeditions.
How is watching a film of a person committing a crime a fishing expedition? The Fourth Amendment clearly states the search is of a person’s home or property, not our public places. Only lawyers want it to cover everything, as that is to their advantage.
These cameras will be a huge asset for law enforcement. If an eye witness sees a crime occur, and then testifies in court, is his testimony thrown out because he infringed on the defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights? What is the difference between an eye witness and a film of the person in the act?
The author says Fourth Amendment law has tried to keep up with new technologies. This reminds me of the argument that the Second Amendment allows the right to carry all types of arms, including recent inventions such as bump stocks. The only opponents of cameras throughout our city are the lawyers because they stand to lose lots of cases. There’s a reason people have cameras everywhere in and out of their homes.
I hope the city floods the town with cameras. Keep us safe.
John J. Martin, Norfolk
Election
I’d choose a cognitively diminished President Joe Biden over a self-described “stable genius” of former President Donald Trump’s caliber anytime. On Biden’s worse day he knows more about leading this country in a competent and decent way than a pathologically self-serving Trump ever could.
I wish Biden had not chosen to run for a second term. After cleaning up the chaos and dysfunction of his predecessor’s administration, he should have passed the baton this election cycle. He apparently has made his choice to run again — and we have a lot to consider.
Biden might not be the same man he was a few years ago, but he still has the knowledge of what good governance entails and has surrounded himself with competent people. Contrast that with Trump, who has remained the same person and appears not to have advanced emotionally or intellectually since childhood. There would be ideological extremists in his orbit and administration who could manipulate Trump as their vessel to deliver their dystopian visions. Just a little subservient ring kissing needed to qualify as a trusted adviser or for a government position they are manifestly unqualified for.
We have choices. If you are a loyal Republican, there are other real Republican leaders you can vote for in the future. Let’s just make sure there is a future by rejecting Trump and his swirling cloud of self-serving chaos. Putting country before party is what is needed now more than ever.
Paul Kotarides, Norfolk
Biden
There is a lot of talk in the media today about whether President Joe Biden should continue to run for president or step aside. Unfortunately, the media seems to perpetuate this issue because that’s all it talks about. Instead it should be talking about the real problem.
Former President Donald Trump is a real threat to our country and our way of life. He wants to be a dictator and use the Justice Department to punish his enemies. He wants to eliminate the Department of Education and roll back environmental laws. He doesn’t believe in climate change and wants to prevent abortion. The media should be focusing on him because if he becomes president, our country is in real trouble.
David M. Grochmal, Virginia Beach
