By H. Lee Lawrence
Cellphones, cellphone accessories and other contraband seized from inmates by Texas prison officials at the Bradshaw State Jail on September 14, 2023
So, I just learned that the FCC is going to have to review if prisons have authority to confiscate and ban prisoners contraband cell phones, which are commonly used to manage gangs and other criminal activity in absentia, buy drugs, and order killings outside the walls, among other nefarious activities. Can anyone but me pick out how many things are expressly wrong with the previous statement??
My first question is why does the FCC need to be consulted in the first place? I understand that they rule over all things electronically communicated, but A), the phones in question are on their face 'contraband'; B), they are in the possession of convicted felons; C), they have been illegally smuggled in and handed off to convicted felons; and D), they are being used to engage in ongoing criminal enterprises.
This issue in clearly something that the warden, staff and prison administration should have complete autonomy over and they shouldn't need any entity's review or approval to deal with unilaterally. Should the FCC be consulted when a prisoner is found in possession of a homemade shiv or other deadly weapon? This is absolutely absurd.
The Bible speaks of persons that are of a "reprobate mind." This phrase is found in Romans 1:28 referring to those whom God has rejected as godless and wicked. The Greek word translated "reprobate" in the New Testament is adokimos, which literally means "unapproved, that is, rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally).
What I'm trying to say here is that this is the very kind of worthless thinking that has turned rational thought upside down. I suppose someone would say that this is just another example of bureaucracy run amok. I would have to agree with that statement. God help us!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Lee was one of my students back in the early 1970s. He served as a sergeant on the Houston Police Department's SWAT team. Lee was also an Army Ranger and saw combat overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Lee is a patriot and a true hero in every sense of the word.
1 comment:
I can see that the FCC would be interested if the prisons wanted to use cell phone jammers. Why should they give a damn about confiscating cell phones? Will they now stick their nose into whether or not schools can prohibit cell phones during school hours. How about using cell phones on board aircraft during takeoff and landings (a very dubious safety assertion at best)?
Post a Comment