CCR: "the government could take your DNA and keep it on file if you are arrested at a demonstration"

Under a new plan, the government could take your DNA and keep it on file permanently if you are arrested at a demonstration on federal property. Take action today to stop the government from giving itself sweeping new powers to create DNA databases.

Please read this alert for background on the plan and immediately go here and click on the yellow "Add Comments" balloon to file public comments with the government to oppose the plan. The government is only accepting comments until this Monday, May 19, so take action today!

At the end of 2005, a little-noticed provision was slipped into the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill that provided the federal government with the power to collect and permanently keep DNA samples from anyone arrested for any crime whether or not they are convicted, any non-U.S. citizen merely detained by federal authorities for any reason, and everyone in federal prison. Now the government is trying to put the DNA Fingerprint Act into practice.

Federal agencies would be required to take DNA samples from:

Individuals arrested for the most minor of crimes, such as peaceful protestors who are demonstrating on federal property.
Countless numbers of visitors from other countries who are pulled aside in airports by the Transportation Security Administration.
Lawful immigrants seeking admission to this country, whether at the land border or in passport control at the airport.

Go here for more information on the law.

This is a dangerous invasion of privacy. Our DNA is not a fingerprint - it contains vast amounts of sensitive medical information about us. And Congress held no hearings on this dangerous legislation, even though it:

threatens the privacy of millions of Americans;

would disproportionately affect people of color;

and turns the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" on its head.

The Justice Department recently issued proposed regulations on the implementation of the law and is seeking public comments. Go here and voice your opposition to the federal government collecting and permanently storing our DNA. (See the end of this email for suggested talking points.) CCR will also be submitting extensive comments and notifying the press of this important story so the government can't slip their plan by without the public knowing.

Congress failed to oppose this dangerous new law - it's up to us to let them know that the we oppose the government collecting people's DNA, and that we care about our privacy. Please take action today.

Sincerely,


Vincent Warren
CCR Executive Director

Will our children need breeding licenses? I'm sorry you can't have children, your DNA says there might be a defect, your DNA says your children will be susceptible to cancer, etc.

-Hoot

:kick:

They've taken my fingerprints.

Why would I care about this?

Once they identify which parents go with which kids, the state/courts need to destroy the child's sample and that of any adult-parent who is not being charged with a crime.


A DNA database of convicted murderers and sex offenders is a good thing. A DNA database of everyone who has ever been arrested for any reason is a gross invitation for government misuse.