ANOTHER SLIPPERY SLOPE

ANOTHER SLIPPERY SLOPE
by Timothy Rollins, Editor and Columnist

May 13, 2010

My August 2001 article called "The Slippery Slope" spoke of Germany and its lack of freedom-of-speech laws when it came to matters striking a national nerve, such as denying the Holocaust, or otherwise glorifying the party or ideals of Adolf Hitler. Fast forward almost ten years later, and we see a couple of Georgia state legislators whose 'well-meaning' idea is simply a continuation of paving the road to Hell with alleged 'good intentions.' By their actions, these legislators told the world they have absolutely no regard for the personal privacy of others, especially in sensitive matters regarding the physical and mental health of some of our most vulnerable people, be they military veterans, or victims of sexual or serious physical abuse who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, known to most as PTSD. Under the guise of 'helping others', in reality, this legislation does an end run around medical privilege, and in the process, unfairly and unnecessarily 'brands' people - much like cattle - over matters that are clearly beyond their control.

What these two knuckleheads did, was to co-author a measure that has passed both houses of the legislature and which now awaits Governor Sonny Purdue's signature. The measure allows for veterans and others, if they so choose, to 'voluntarily' (yeah, right!) list Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a notation on their driver's license. If Governor Purdue - who leaves office at the end of the year - wants to keep his legacy intact, I would strongly advise him to not only veto this bill, but to publicly rebuke the bill's co-authors, State Senators Ron Ramsey (D) and John Douglas (R) for such a blatant abuse of authority. What's most frightening thing about this issue is that Douglas - the Republican - is an Army veteran himself. By signing on to this horrible idea, Douglas has tattooed "RINO" on his forehead for purposes of reelection, and should be disposed of in a manner allowed by law come November 2nd.

It seems that Douglas' idea for this bill is that it "might encourage safer encounters between people with PTSD and law enforcement officials," and that the legislation is again, "completely voluntary." What a crock! This bill is so damaging in so many ways, there is no 'up' side whatsoever, no matter how he seeks to spin it.

In applying for a job - especially one that involves driving - a copy of the driver's license is needed for the employer and their copy of Form I-9, that must be kept on file for review by Homeland Security, if asked. Should an employer see a PTSD notation on a license, the applicant would in all likelihood, not be hired. If a law enforcement officer making a traffic stop runs the plate through DMV, the notation on the license would most likely extend to the plates of any vehicle the patient owns or drives. The officer may choose to call for backup, and that could unnecessarily escalate a situation that could have been handled routinely and without incident. If a person with PTSD has had no prior run-ins with the law, then neither law enforcement nor any other government agency need know about their condition. This legislation could also give DMV ammunition to place onerous burdens on PTSD sufferers in an effort to get them to give up driving…once again, this is about power and control, pure and simple.

Persons with such 'tags' on their licenses going into bars, liquor stores, or even Wal-Mart to buy alcohol where 100% ID checks exist, could have a store clerk deny the sale, despite the purchaser's legal eligibility to buy and consume these items. The same also could apply to gun stores and weapon or ammunition purchases, not to mention such actions could earn the buyer a visit from the ultimate 'Big Brother', the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or ATF for short.

This is an idea right out of Hitler's - oops - Obama's playbook, where the incremental seizure of weapons and the disarming of America's people - a right enshrined in the Supreme Law of the Land, the Constitution of the United States - is being driven right into the ground. This is but yet another 'slippery slope' where so-called 'well-meaning' people seek to strip Americans of our personal freedoms and liberties in a manner that is unconstitutional, un-American and serves as an open repudiation of the ideals that have made America a beacon to the world.

And we as a people need to stand up to this and all other forms of tyranny. ***

Photo of Timothy Rollins courtesy of staff files
With files from FOX NEWS

A veteran freelance writer, Timothy Rollins brings a wealth of political and military experience dating back more than three decades. He is a freelance writer and policy analyst living in Oklahoma who has been featured both on television and radio. He has appeared both in online publications as well as in print newspapers in the United States such as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA TODAY, the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, and also in Canada, where he has appeared in The Toronto SUN and the Daily Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His television appearances include The Michael Coren Show in Canada and KWTV 9 NEWS in Oklahoma City. The views expressed here by Mr. Rollins are his own and do not represent the official views of any organization or entity with which he may otherwise be affiliated. As such, Mr. Rollins alone takes full responsibility for them. He can be reached by e-mail at rollins@american-partisan.com. ***