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Founded Mar. 10,
1991
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Cops
Against Home Video
"Home on the Web"
The C.A.H.V. has been featured in several articles in the San Francisco Examiner recently. We would like to take this opportunity to respond to some of the questions that we have heard as a result of this press coverage. Q: Why home video? Why not casette recorders and computers? A: Whoa! You are actually asking 2 questions here. Let's tackle these one at a time. First, because video evidence is almost unrefutable in court. Audio recordings can be highly subjective and rarely are the key factor when police officers are unjustly convicted of brutality. Second, although home computers pose new threats to the already massive problems created by the unregulated home video industry, the key is still the camcorder. Q: Isn't regulating the private use of video cameras a violation of our personal freedoms? A: Many people who ask this question already seem to have a poor understanding of "personal liberties" or "freedoms." First and foremost, nowhere in the Constitution does it say anything about our right to record each other! Freedom of speech means just that, to say what you want to say, as long as you don't break any laws. Freedom of the press means that newspapers can be printed without interference from the United States Government. But, believe it or not, there is no section of the Constitution that says anything at all about recording. We hear this question a lot. The most important answer is that when the consumer engages in the practice of capturing on video tape an act of law enforcement, they violate all of our freedoms and right to be protected under the law, unless we should break it. Q: Don't physical police interventions and judicial actions violate the citizen's rights? A: This is a tricky question! Yes and no. Although the C.A.H.V. is not racist, and we do not support police killings or violent public punishment, such as beheadings or public beatings, we do acknowledge that the use of force is an essential component to law enforcement. When a citizen commits a crime or occupies a social group that is known to be more frequently involved in criminal activity than another group, they do not have the same rights as you and me! These people are violating <i>our</i> rights. The goals of law enforcement are first and foremost to serve and protect our citizens <i>from</i> rights violations! Anyone who claims that the use of force against potentially dangerous individuals violates rights is probably confused. Q: Should I stop recording my family vacation? A: Of course not. But you should be aware of the problems created by the lack of regulation of this industry. Should you encounter an instance of police action, the best thing is always to turn off your camera and leave the premises immediately! For further press information, please contact our press agent Diane at [email protected]. |
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