A Police Taser Drone. Photo Credit: The Blaze
By Adam Bitely — Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is constantly doing things that perplex those that remember him claiming to be a supporter of limited government. Last week, he compromised on stopping voter fraud. This week he says police drones patrolling the Virginia skies is a “great” idea.
When I think of what a limited government in Virginia would look like, I have never imagined police drones patrolling the skies. But then again, I never think of a politician like McDonnell bringing about the limited form of government that exists in my dreams.
What is most troubling about McDonnell’s support for such police drones in Virginia is that he points to war zones as examples of why the drones would work so well in Virginia. Is Virginia a hotbed of battle? If so I haven’t noticed it.
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, says he is open to any technology that makes law enforcement more productive. The use of drones, which was recently endorsed by the police chiefs of Fairfax County and D.C., would make better use of valuable police resources.
Increased safety and reduced manpower are among the reasons the U.S. military and intelligence community use drones on the battlefield, which is why it should be considered in Virginia, he says.
“It’s great,” he said while speaking on WTOP’s “Ask the Governor” program. “If you’re keeping police officers safe, making it more productive and saving money…it’s absolutely the right thing to do.”
A proposal to purchase drones hasn’t yet reached his desk, he says, but state law enforcement agencies are looking for the the most current ways to fight crime.
That sentiment was echoed last month by David Rohrer, chief of police for Fairfax County, one of the state’s most affluent areas.
“Drones will certainly have a purpose and a reason to be in this region in the next, coming years,” he told WTOP. “Just as a standpoint as an alternative for spotting traffic and sending information back to our VDOT Smart Traffic centers, and being able to observe backups.”
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier, a national security expert, told WTOP in early May that the use of drones is ideal for “a sprawling county” such as Fairfax.
Unmanned aerial aircrafts were first proven in combat environments over Afghanistan and Iraq as a part of the military and CIA presence there. Police forces in Arizona first employed them domestically to help monitor illegal immigration and trade over the U.S.-Mexican border.
McDonnell added Tuesday it will prove important to ensure the state maintains Americans’ civil liberties, such as privacy, if it adds drones to its law enforcement arsenal.
This seems like something a fascist would do. And having police drones patrolling Virginia would be one of the biggest growths of government power and authority in Virginia’s history. McDonnell isn’t pro-Big Government, he is pro-HUGE Government.
Adam Bitely is the Editor-in-Chief of NetRightDaily.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @AdamBitely.
