Martial Law

[losttrail]

One of the biggest problems is that the people of Boston and that whole region, and all major metropolitan areas, have been almost completely disarmed and emasculated.

They have been indoctrinated for decades that they do not need to defend themselves, that when seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

They are/were scarred beyond reason about a 19 year old fanatic that brought one of America's largest cities to its knees because our officials are more concerned with controlling the populace than defending our freedom.

[buffalobo]

Incrementalism. That's what it means. Not taking everything at once, but small pieces, bits at a time.

I believe it was a test and a clever one.

By not issuing an order to stay inside, but making it a request, it was much less innocuous, thus setting the stage for future events. Slowly getting the public used to the idea that the police/mayor/governor are only looking out for their best interests.

Trust Big Brother.

This yahoo had been identified late Tuesday or early Wednesday and was still on the loose, but the request to "shelter in place" was not issued until Friday?

Obama saw his latest photo op on Thursday in Boston, so evidently this remaining terrorist was not too dangerous until after Obama left Boston?

Why was the request to "shelter in place" issued AFTER commuters were already at or on their way to work and school?

How about shutting down the T and taxi services?

BG, you asked "What government?" Gov. Deval Patrick (a government official I believe) issued the "shelter at home" request, correct? Didn't Gov. Deval Patrick also issue the orders to shut down mass transit? As I understand it, a governor is the highest ranking GOVERNMENT official of each state and not just some random civilian.

That government.

How much disruption of mass transit was there following the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building bombing in Oklahoma City? There were no issued requests or orders to "shelter in place" while the suspects were still unknown or known but not yet aprehended.

How about the DC snipers? Was mass transit shut down and the citizenry requested to "cower in fear"? Was DC placed in "lockdown"? No.

Is Chicago placed in lockdown every night due to the mass shootings that occur on an almost daily basis? No.

Just some items to ponder.

+1, close enough for the girls I go with.

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[davsel]

I didn't realize military forces were making and enforcing civil and criminal law in Boston. I didn't realize the courts were non-functioning to the point habeas corpus was suspended. Guess I missed that part.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/327/304

...
We believe that when Congress passed the Hawaiian Organic Act and authorized the establishment of 'martial law' it had in mind and did not wish to exceed the boundaries between military and civilian power, in which our people have always believed, which responsible military and executive officers had heeded, and which had become part of our political philosophy and institutions prior to the time Congress passed the Organic Act. The phrase 'martial law' as employed in that Act, therefore, while intended to authorize the military to act vigorously for the maintenance of an orderly civil government and for the defense of the island against actual or threatened rebellion or invasion, was not intended to authorize the supplanting of courts by military tribunals. Yet the government seeks to justify the punishment of both White and Duncan on the ground of such supposed Congressional authorization. We hold that both petitioners are now entitled to be released from custody.
...

SCOTUS said suspension of habeas corpus is not required under "martial law."

[speedysst]

Some of you guys really need to take a deep breath and relax. Some serious paranoia going on around here.

[Bailey Guns]

Unlike some other recent instances of mass destruction, I don't believe Boston was planned or perpetrated by the gov't. However, I do think they're quite adept at turning a situation like that beneficial to their agenda, be it a test run for future plans, emotionally-backed legislation, or bolstering their militant presence incrementally here in the states.

Boston was a perfect scenario for them to practice a bit against what could be an armed insurgency in the future. It's painfully telling of how things have changed from how they used to be. 200, even 100 years ago, an event like that would have been perceived as a threat to the community. To be dealt with by the COMMUNITY... armed posses, deputizations, citizen watches etc. These days, it's just "return to your pens... we'll let you back in the pasture when we've dealt with the threat appropriately."

100 years ago...aside from technology probably not too much different. 200 years ago, much different.

However, 200 (or even 100 years ago) there wasn't the civilian police presence with associated technology and communications there is now. I'm not saying it's right or wrong but there isn't the need for posses and such today.

I can't really disagree with the first part of your statement. After all, never let a good crisis go to waste.

These days, it's just "return to your pens... we'll let you back in the pasture when we've dealt with the threat appropriately."

But I do disagree with that assessment. As a matter of fact, the police did say the "shelter in place" request was lifted even though they had not apprehended the suspect or "dealt with the threat appropriately". A citizen came out of his home and located the suspect and alerted police.

[newracer]

Do you have the source back up, that it was just a polite "stay in your home" request ? I didn't see a soul outside their home, but then again I really didn't follow this. From what I did see; there was not a soul on the street and there were some heavily armed presence rolling around.

Either way there is a war going on and it is now on the streets of America. To what point it escalates is unknown, for now! Of course that is another issues about American rights or enemy combatant. Stay Safe, stay vigilant!

There was no one on the street because they all saw it as a free day off from work.

[Bailey Guns]

First, I'll concede martial law does not always include suspension of habeas corpus. Let me take a minute to read the other replies.

[Mountain Boy]

Call it whatever you want, sadly, times like this makes the entitled sheeple, feel safe. They expect Big Brother to watch out for and take care of them while raising their children all while being entitled to everything. They could all tweet from their living rooms "woe is me, I was so scared while the bad men were running free and the tough men in blue saved us all".

[Aloha_Shooter]

Some of you guys really need to take a deep breath and relax. Some serious paranoia going on around here.

+1

I detest Deval Patrick and his mentor in the Oval Office but there's no need to read some plot to exercise totalitarian dictatorship into what happened last week. The circumstances behind the manhunt and time criticality of it were somewhat unique in recent American experience. Probably the closest things to it were the hunts for Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth. I don't see it establishing a precedent or blueprint for Obama to follow.

[brokenscout]

This

True, it was not martial law instituted in Boston, but it WAS pieces of what martial law would be.

I think this may have been a micro test to see what how the citizenry would react; would they be docile sheeple and follow along blindly.

The actions taken by the government were ill timed and over-reaching in my opinion. They just didn't make sense.