"We Cart Away Your Unwanted Constitutional Rights for Free!"

Imagine seeing such an ad online or in your local paper.  Would you take advantage of such an offer?  Well, a political appointee in Wisconsin is hoping you will do precisely that.

Police Chief Norm Jacobs has a brilliant suggestion in an effort to fight crime.  He's asking residents to volunteer to have their homes - privately owned residences - searched for guns.  He offered that you may have some on your property that you don't know about, that may have been used as a crime, or that might even have been manufactured by your teenaged child without your knowledge.

If you find this novel offer interesting, you may wish to volunteer to have police extend their search to:

• your families' electronic devices searched for pornography, which might unexpectedly include underaged participants;
• all written correspondence, which may accidentally include "hate speech," evidence of law violations and/or criminal threats;
• the content of your texts and call logs, in case you have accidentally been in contact with a known criminal - for your safety, of course;
• all materials stored in garages, which may include items that could be used to build bombs;
• medicine cabinets, closets, and under-bed storage boxes - especially in the childrens' rooms! - in case there are any drugs laying about, waiting to be abused or sold "on the street."

Seeing any difference? 

It's a kind offer, Chief Jacobs, but I would pass if I lived in your jurisdiction.  Our fourth and fifth amendment rights are on shaky enough ground these days without citizens actively facilitating their further violation.

Of course, some people might actually agree with him and think this is a smashing idea.  I'll kill two birds with one stone by offering another historic quote as an appropriate response, from Samuel Adams:

"May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”