The Pros And Cons Of The Fourth Amendment

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On December 15, 1791 the Bill of Rights was ratified to limit the government 's power, but no one could have predicted how the world would change and how the amendments would be tested. Since the Bill of Rights was written the world has changed drastically. With advances in technology, that the founders of the constitution could have never predicted, many of the amendments are not applied in the same ways as they were when they were written. The Fourth Amendment in particular has changed very much. The modern forms of communication have tested the Fourth Amendment and the government 's responses. Since the Bill of Rights was ratified, there has been constant change in the world and therefore all the amendments have been tested and questioned.
Many people in the past and in modern day, say that “a man 's house is his castle” and therefore that man has the right to protect his house and effects. That protection goes for anyone that wants to inflict harm in the person or property. It also extends to law enforcement and the government, not allowing them to conduct unreasonable searches and seizures. The extent of unreasonable searches and seizures go from uncalled for arrests that seem to be at random and to warrantless searches of private property. Searches on private property will only be allowed if there is reasonable
David Riley was pulled over on August 22, 2009 for driving with expired tags. Riley’s license was suspended and therefore, the car had to be impounded. Upon impounding the car it was searched, and its contents cataloged. When searching the car, police found two guns and added the charge of carrying a firearm to Riley’s offence. Riley also had his cell phone. The gang unit detective searched his phone and found evidence connecting Riley to gang activity. They also found evidence connecting Riley to a recent shooting of a car that belonged to a member of a different gang. Evidence on his phone, along with ballistic tests, indicated that Riley was involved in the shooting of an occupied vehicle. Riley was charged for shooting the vehicle, attempted murder, and assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
The Fourth Amendment and the Bill of Rights will always be debated. It will not matter what year it is or who is running the country, there will always be people on both sides of the constitution. The amendments will always be tested and there will always be new acts and laws that could contradict what the constitution says. People will constantly take a side to every issue that arises and will question the government 's decisions. The Bill of Rights will be tested but, this country was created to let its people have freedom and

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