The Case For Profiling

By Semperpapa

SB 1070, the anti-illegal immigration bill in Arizona, has brought the issue of profiling once again on the main scene of America's social consciousness.
Just about everyone who supports the Arizona bill, has come out vehemently defending the bill's intention of avoiding profiling at all cost, going the extra mile to insure that profiling will not be used by LEOs in the application of the law.

But in reality, every day of our lives we engage in some sort of profiling as a way to remain vigilant and safe.
Let's consider, for example, our Neighborhood Watch programs, those programs that warn strangers that any unrecognized person and/or activity may be reported as suspicious to the authorities.
Isn't that a form of profiling? If I should see a person I do not recognize roaming around my neighbour's residence, when I know he or she is away for the weekend, should I refrain from reporting it so not to engage in profiling?

Not too long ago, I saw the press conference of an FBI agent involved in a case of a child abduction somewhere in the Mid-West. He called upon the residents to come forward to help in providing possible leads in finding the child. He did so because the community was so small that he realized they basically all know each other, so it could be possible that someone may recall seeing a person or persons that they did not recognize.
Was the FBI agent enticing the public to exercise profiling?

And what if I see an Arab looking young man walking in a crowded mall in the middle of July with a bulging heavy coat perspiring profusely. Would it be acceptable profiling if I called the cops?

We all know the answers to these questions. Even the most progressive lunatic liberal would want me to call the cops if he was my neighbor. In the above cases, profiling would be the civic thing to do.

But we are awfully ready to place the burden on police officers to reject a very important aspect of police work aside for the benefit of political correctness. It is that sixth sense that officers develop after dealing with the scum of society for some time: instinct.

This degrading of police efficiency has already been occurring in the Faifax County, Virginia Police Dept. where CAIR (Council for American/Islamic Relations) was successful in imposing their version of sensitivity training for the officers as they interacted with Muslim suspects.
The result was that as CAIR gained the trust of the Department leadership so eager to act in PC fashion, CAIR was alerting Muslim suspects of potential police surveillance.

The bottom line is that in Arizona, illegal immigration, and the criminality that comes with it, has taken a heavy toll on the quality of life of many US citizens and on the economy of the state. The influx of illegal aliens has grown to a full invasion, threatening the safety and security of the whole Nation.
And if profiling can be a successful tool in the reversal of this destructive trend, I feel it's a small price to pay.

Just my thoughts!