The Book of Ron Paul
1998 Ron Paul Chapter 22

Wireless Telephone Protection Act

26 February 1998

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Congressional Record (Page H639)   Cached





1998 Ron Paul 22:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition of H.R. 2460, The Wireless Telephone Protection Act. Setting aside the vital and relevant question of whether the enumerated powers and tenth amendment allow the federal government to make possession of electronic scanning devices criminal, another aspect of this bill should have met with harsh criticism from those who hold individual liberties in even some regard.

1998 Ron Paul 22:2
Under current “anti-cloning” law, prosecutors must prove a defendant intended to use scanning equipment illegally, or have an “intent” to defraud. This bill shifts the burden of proof of “innocent use” from the prosecutor to the defendant.

1998 Ron Paul 22:3
The United States Constitution prohibits this federal government from depriving a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Pursuant to this constitutional provision, a criminal defendant is presumed to be innocent of the crime charged and, pursuant to what is often called “the Winship doctrine,” the persecution is allocated the burden of persuading the fact-finder of every fact necessary to constitute the crime . . . charged.” The prosecution must carry this burden because of the immense interests at stake in a criminal prosecution, namely that a conviction often results in the loss of liberty or life (in this case, a sentence of up to ten years).

1998 Ron Paul 22:4
This radical departure from the long held notion of “innocent until proven guilty” warrants opposition to this bill.

Notes:

1998 Ron Paul Chapter 22
The text of this chapter was inserted in Congressional Record as an extension of remarks, and was not spoken on the House floor.

1998 Ron Paul 22:1
tenth amendment probably should have been capitalized: Tenth Amendment.

1998 Ron Paul 22:3
the persecution is allocated probably should have been the prosecution is allocated


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