I think this is a bunch of silliness. Even if I suspected a child in my home had guns or drugs, no way would I invite the police to go on a searching expedition. I would do it myself.

I'm not sure but I think the limited amnesty is that they won't prosecute for an illegal handgun but after they do ballistic tests if the gun was used in a crime, there is no amnesty for that previous crime.

That is an ignorant statement, JT & Old. I among many others who grew up in DC who had parents that raised them correctly. Me and all my siblings all have a college education, one a MBA and another a CPA. All the people who i grew up with are successful as well. Only one or two feel by the wayside and it was not because of poor parenting and that is common in any community. One thing is for sure and that is we dont kill our family and shoot at random cars passing in the street.

Please take you sterotypical, racist remarks elsewhere. They serve no purpose here.

Ditto, Old WV Guy, but the sad truth of modern inner city culture is that parents are optional and parenting is a skill which eludes large numbers of parents. The reason none of the Presidential candidates have an "urban" policy is that there is precious little government can do for people who are unwilling to help themselves.

The bonehead lawyers on the District's legal team who dreamed this plan up should be shown the door. There are a lot of vacancies in the Bush Injustice Department where their "outside-the-Constitutional-box" thinking would be welcome.

For crying out loud!!!! People should try being parents. They should quit expecting the government to come in and fix things.

Take a little responsibility! You should be involved in your kids lives enough to know whether they have drugs or hidden guns.

I get sick of this Nanny State mentality. Look up "parenting". You might find some useful information.

for those who are worried about the cops finding drugs in their kids' crib .. that;'s your kids' problem .. not yours .. they will be doing time .. not you .. but then the limited amnesty would cover that .. wouldn't it .??. but then you'd find a residnt of your digs is into drugs ...like the drug control PSA says: "Forty five percent of all drug abusers live in the city. Guess where the other 65 percent live?"..

Quote: "And you have a right to refuse, but I would be a bit suspicious of people being so rude and defensive about having the police look through their home to find illegal things."

Imagine....people whio have the audacity to stand up for their constiutional rights now can be labeled as RUDE and Defensive!

Are you so versed in archaic DC law that you are aware of every silly law on the books?....You could be breaking a law written in the 1800s and not even know it.

Quote: "People want all these liberties and freedoms, but don't want to put in any effort, and are so quick to blame those that are trying to help with that effort."

How does giving up my freedom, enhance my freedom?

And most of all.....After they announce in the media they are going to do it .....how many thugs do they REALLY expect will leave their ILLEGAL gun in their place of residence?

And I still want to know what the heck is Limited Amnesty? ....either it IS amnesty or it isn't.

They are not just going into your house whenever they feel like it. It is one day out of the year (so far) that they have decided to do this. And you have a right to refuse, but I would be a bit suspicious of people being so rude and defensive about having the police look through their home to find illegal things.

People want all these liberties and freedoms, but don't want to put in any effort, and are so quick to blame those that are trying to help with that effort.

The "big deal' is my right to privacy. Why not give the police a key to your home to enter and search at will? You have nothing to hide. I believe most of us want a sense of privacy. If you want unlimited access to my home and my activities. I expect a free home, healthcare and food. And I don't mean living in the hood or a trailer park.

I realize that people think this is a breach in their own living space, but I really don't see the big deal in allowing the police to search my home, because I can guarantee they won't find anything. What are you so worried about them finding if you're a law abiding citizen, or is there a chance or an inkling that they might find something that could actually get you into trouble?

Quote:,"The program, called the Safe Homes Initiative, will offer homeowners and renters limited amnesty for possessing any contraband found by police. "

What the heck is Limited Amnesty?

Is that like being "a little pregnant?

We are protected against "UNREASONABLE searches" by the Constitution.

If they had a REASON to search....they wouldn't have to ask,......they'd have a warrant.

I challenge them to come to my house next! This is a clear violation of the 4th Amendment. You can't tell me having police show up at your house isn't an intimidation tactic. What a waste of resources! Perhaps Lanier's ability to do her job needs to be reviewed. She definitely wants to run an Orwellian police state rather than a place where the citizens aren't afraid of the police. I'm also disappointed in Fenty supporting this and hope that the ACLU brings a suit against the police department. We need to remember this when he runs for re-election.

Any idiot knows, Lanier included, that the vast majority of citizens in any city in this country are good law abiding citizens, even if they live in SE. Let's say even as many as 10% are thugs, you are violating the rights of 90% of the citizens to maybe get to these 10% who aren't going to let you into their home anyway.

Even if there is "amnesty" this time around. How can we be guaranteed that won't be used as probable cause to search these folks houses again? Also what consequences are there for saying no to the search? Will you be hassled?

One parent/resident says "i think it's a good idea. Get the guns and drugs off the streets." I wonder what her comments will be after they search her home and her son is incarcerated for the next ten years or either he denies ownership and says its yours.

While I like the idea Dorothy the problem is that the ILLEGALS do not reside in these crime ridden areas. They may not live in great neighborhoods and actually bring the value down in those they do live in but they will not move to a crime ridden area of DC.

It is very big brotherish but it is voluntary. If they do not sign the paper then the police are not allowed to search.

My thoughts on this is that it is an DESPERATE ploy by the commish. She has not been able to bring the crime rate down during her term and is grasping at "initiatives" to try and clean up the streets. Good Luck to those that will actually brave going to a Nat's game this summer. I wonder how many of the fan's will turn into victims.

Hi. Can we come in to look for guns and drugs?

Sure Officer. Help yourself.

Uh Oh. We found some crack and a gun in your son's room.

Guess we'll be taking little Johnny off to jail now.

Have a nice day!

AMAZING!!!! With plans like this, I am starting to agree with those people who say that DC is incapable of governing itself.

Only in DC....why dont they do some real police work for a change?

Taking advantage of people like this should be against the law as well.

I wouldnt even answer my door if they knocked.

Put a sign on the door "COME BACK WITH A WARRANT AND THEN KNOCK ON MY DOOR".........

Next thing we know they will be asking for DNA samples from all houses searched, if they havent already done so without any consent.

Pathetic

~~~? This is crazy, underhanded and down low. What you deny them entry? Will they get a search warrant, come back and bust their doors in? Where is the ACLU on this one?

If you're a DC parent or guardian and don't know if your kids have guns or drugs, _you_ are the one who should be prosecuted. DO NOT CONSENT TO A SEARCH UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Do your job yourself instead of relying on the government to do it. It doesn't take a village, just responsible parents or guardians.

Why doesn't Washington, D.C. and surrounding areas START going door to door looking for ILLEGAL ALIENS. TOO. Seems to me being in our country ILLEGALLY IS AGAINST THE LAW.

Do you think the police when they find guns are going to call ICE when the people they speak to Can't speak ENGLISH.???

I am with you Traveloer. But thiere are going to be some idiots that actually allow them in and I doubt very seriously if there willbe any amnesty or immunity. Just reason to keep an eye on that house for future activity. I have never heard of such nonsense in my life. I guess they are like "lets see how dumb these people really are?.