What would you do?

[expat]

[font=Comic Sans MS]Back in May there was a murder in the town I live in. It was rather a nasty affair and the lady concerned was found after a couple of day in a field by some walkers. The police gathered DNA of the suspect from the body, but since then they have drawn a blank. Today it was announced that they will DNA test the entire male population of the town, a shade over 50,000 people. It would appear that this testing is not a free choice, naturally the responsible person could just say no and evade justice. However, once your sample has been taken it will be added to the national data base and there is no word of it being returned to you or destroyed regardless of the fact that you are innocent and are only helping by illiminating yourself from the enquiry. Just because you are a man, it would appear you are a potential rapist, murderer etc.

[Rich H]

Wouldn't bother me at all.

[skoker]

As long as I didn't do it I wouldn't care.  Besides they already have my DNA

[Hagar]

I have mixed feelings about this. On the face of it a database of DNA samples of every citizen sounds a good idea. Objections to this suggestion are much the same as those for national ID cards.

It would appear that this testing is not a free choice, naturally the responsible person could just say no and evade justice.

Not sure I understand that. Either it's compulsory or it isn't. If anyone can simply refuse to give a sample there is no point in doing it.

[machineman9]

I hate the assumptions and prejudice people can get. It really annoys me when people expect you to be a certain way. With this, however, I can see the point. I know there was something on the radio about the collection and storage of a DNA bank for the country and I agree with it. If you've got nothing to hide then you shouldn't be worried.

I'm all up for a DNA data base to be set up. Don't do anything wrong and you won't get caught. It has lead to people being prosecuted for past crimes just because the DNA matched 2 cases.

So what if they have my DNA? So long as it is either an everyone or nobody approach (so that there is no prejudice and everyone has DNA stored) then I can't see the problem people are having. You might complain about how DNA belongs to you, but you leave skin cells, hair, etc all over the place as it is. They are just asking for people to give them a tiny bit of data to help stop bad people.

[olderndirt]

One data base seems to inevitaby lead to another.

[JoBee]

Without probable cause this is a direct violation of an individuals rights as guaranteed by the 4th amendment to the United States Constitution.

[quote]No Unreasonable Search and Seizure

[Felix/FFDS]

Don't know where you live, but in the USA this is just plain wrong.

regards,
Joe

I believe expat is in Germany.

However, "probable cause" is easy to prove  "It's probably someone around here who dunnit."

[tcco94]

Even if I didnt do it, I still say no.

[hhomebrewer]

I'd tell 'em to go to Hell. Not only to go there, but to go STRAIGHT to Hell-- do not pass Go, do not collect $200. I'm an American. I am presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law after proper trial by a jury of my peers. The duty of the law is to develop clues by its own efforts-- not to drag every male in and grab a DNA sample that may or not be saved. What's to say John Smith's sample is not years later planted at a crime scene and he's dragged in, charged, tried, convicted and sent to the gas chamber because he did not contribute any money to a certain political candidate's campaign-- or something like that? When the law has something that is yours and only yours, they have controls over your life that you cannot imagine. This is straight out of Nazi Germany...

[Hagar]

I'm an American. I am presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law after proper trial by a jury of my peers.

I agree with olderndirt on that, not for the first time. The government already has a lot of personal information on you so a DNA sample won't make much difference.

I'm English & proud of it. I've never been accused of any crime, except for speeding. I have never been fingerprinted or taken into police custody. Despite this, if I wish to visit the USA my fingerprints & other personal information will be taken by the Immigration Service & added to the US Government database. This is being done in the name of national security. The records are permanent & will not be removed. There is no way of knowing who will be allowed access to my personal information.

I resent being regarded as a criminal without any justification but if I wish to visit America there is nothing I can do about it. This makes a mockery of the saying, 'presumed innocent until proven guilty'. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3595221.stm

[expat]

Well, after giving it due consideration, I am going to try and avoid this. I resent that every crime that potentially happens in my town, my sample could be run to basically make sure it was not me. Another point and as a regular visitor to the USA, I can see a the possibility of a new question on the immigration form, "Have you ever had to give a DNA sample in connection with any crime or criminal investigation". Well, the answer would have to be "yes" even though it was to eliminate from enquiries. This could also go for any application form for a wide variety of subjects.
I am not in principle against a DNA data base, but it should be absolutely all or nothing. However, with the general knowledge that everyone now has of DNA, think of this;
Fozzer is a bit of an old boy and at his advance years he is going to be a bit infirm Now, being an old chap, no doubt he keeps his life's savings under the bed . Not to mention a nice motorbike in his shed 8-). So, all I need is some dark clothes :-?, gloves :-? and something to cover my head :-? AND a quick trip to the local swimming pool for example, for......a nice fresh looking hair that I can place in his hand after I have done away with him . In the past it was a gun/knike that had the possibility to be planted, DNA would be even easier and I think it is only a matter of time before it happens. Not to mention in the new last week that it is possible now to "make DNA evidence".

Matt

[Hagar]

I've read all the arguments from both sides & still haven't made my mind up on this. Note that I haven't cast my vote as there is no "Don't know" option.

I am not in principle against a DNA data base, but it should be absolutely all or nothing.

That was the point I made earlier. However I realise that it could be planted & used against you. The same goes for any personal information held on a government database. I don't trust government departments to do anything right.

[expat]

Note that I haven't cast my vote as there is no "Don't know" option.

Good point and amended

Matt

[machineman9]

I've read all the arguments from both sides & still haven't made my mind up on this. Note that I haven't cast my vote as there is no "Don't know" option.

I am not in principle against a DNA data base, but it should be absolutely all or nothing.

That was the point I made earlier. However I realise that it could be planted & used against you. The same goes for any personal information held on a government database. I don't trust government departments to do anything right.

Well wouldn't the records just be the scans of the DNA or the numbers relevant to each section of DNA? If it was just the output from processing DNA and no actual substance being withheld then I don't see it being used against you or planted, which was something I did think of but I don't see it being a problem.