How wonderful it was to have the sun brightly shine over our Puna
property this past week, a rarity in a place with the reputation of being
one of the wettest spots on Earth. Wanting to take full advantage of this
mt girlfriend and I decided to do a little nude sun bathing in the privacy
of our backyard. However, the sky soon became overcast and shadowed;
though not with the dark moistureladen clouds usually associated with
such an event, but with government helicopters hovering at treetop level
taking pictures and searching our property, let me repeat that SEARCHING
OUR PROPERTY, and robbing us of our day in the sun.


Feeling somewhat insecure about this I decided to do some reading and
took my prized copy of that famous document known as "The Bill of Rights."
As I studied the Articles one by one I suddenly became outraged upon
reaching Article IV. It states that, "The right of the people to be secure
in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue,
but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and
particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or
things to be seized."


Had we been violated? It didn't say backyards, or did it? Checking
Webster's I looked up "effects." The definition of that word is "goods;
movables; personal property." There was also a note to, "see property." So
I did. "A piece of land or real estate" is clearly defined under Webster's
definition of property. To answer my own question I had to ask, was I
served with a warrant based on probable cause and affirmed by oath
describing the place to be searched and what was to be seized? No I had
not. Then yes, my girlfriend and I had been violated. And all of you, who
privately own or have right of possession to land, have been violated by
those sworn to uphold this sacred document that we call our Constitution.
WHERE IS YOUR OUTRAGE?


Surely our forefathers, those who framed, and those who bled in the
defense of this Constitution, would be outraged. Had aircraft been
invented twohundred years ago would those who witnessed this document put
up with these government breaches? I think not.


We must stop being lambs led to the slaughter or soon all of our rights
will be taken away. Do not think for a minute that the government's
argument if you're not growing anything illegal you have nothing to
worry about can't be applied to other rights. What would be your
response to If you're not worshipping an inappropriate God you have
nothing to worry about? Or If you're not speaking blasphemy of the
government you have nothing to worry about? How about our right to
peaceably gather, can you see now the writing on the wall?


We are not against the government's eradication efforts if they want
to carry out their war over State and Federal lands. However, I must speak
out against those who will deny us our basic freedoms set forth in our
Constitution by carrying out their war over privately held property. One
must ask, is this a war on drugs or a war on the American people?


And then there is you, the media. Once supporters of the masses, the
voice of the little man, now becoming the voice of government with your
staunch support of the repeal of Article II and your silence as Article IV
continues to be breached. Where is your outrage? What will you say when
the argument is put to you and they say You have nothing to worry about
as long as you're not printing or broadcasting censored material? I bet
then you'll show your outrage. The only question left is: Who will be
there to listen?

Tom Tedder

Keaau, Hawai'i