‘Petitioners do not want their members to accidentally shoot a wildlife officer while hunting’
A new lawsuit has been filed in state court in Pennsylvania challenging the practice that law enforcement officers can search private lands and property – at will – without a warrant.
The case is being brought on behalf of the Punxsutawney Hunting Club and the Pitch Pine Hunting Club against the Pennsylvania Game Commission and commission officer Mark Gritzer by the Institute for Justice.
The legal team explained the problem:
Imagine spending July Fourth with family in the beautiful forests of the Allegheny Mountains. You’re sitting on the porch on private land, enjoying the peace and quiet and making memories. Then, a man storms up out of nowhere and says he’s been watching you for days with binoculars from a hidden spot on your property. Most people would call the cops. But in this story, the intruder was a cop—specifically, a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer surveilling Pitch Pine Hunting Club member Jon Mikesell without permission and without a warrant.
Mark the property as Private – No Trespassing!
If someone is sneaking through the woods – they deserve what they get!
If one finds armed men hiding (stalking) on one’s property and one is all alone with said armed men, it can be reasonably assumed that the property owner’s life may be in danger.
PRIVATE property is just that — private.
Secondly, wearing camo gear and weapons and HIDING on someone’s land, while you “watch” them is not the best way to make sure you see tomorrow.
When did it become police operational procedure to LOOK to see if INNOCENT people are possibly, maybe, in some form, in some way, COULD be committing a crime???
Like the Nazi “checkpoints” the police love, it’s another way of telling “We, the people” that “we, the police” can do anything we want and if it’s against the law, well, your best move is to shut up — right now— and not get killed by us. There is “law” and then there is whatever the police want to do. Two different things.
Bottom line??
Let me catch you in camo gear and armed on my private property? I’m keeping your gun, too.