Surely its time we are all on a DNA database

[Bongo]

It's not quite as simple as that, it's very easy to say "We should have a DNA database it would prevent these from happening" without looking at all the potential downsides (in both opportunity cost and potential for nefarious use), and also it's ability to prevent these crimes from happening.

Question: How does a database of DNA prevent a crime from being committed?

[Bongo]

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Another quote from Mr franklin:
as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours;

Agreed, completely off topic though!

[totalise]

id happily give up some libery and freedom to reduce the chances of small kids/women getting raped/beated/murdered.  If that means i cant break the law by smoking weed, drink driving or stuff like that, its a minute price to pay. id happily do it. Can one of the learned people tell me what liberties we would give up under this system?

And how would me giving me DNA stop those crimes you describe? Or yours for that matter?  The liberty some would be giving up is consent and the freedom of choice. A blanket database may be a choice you would make based on your assumptions about DNA stopping crime, but it's not the choice of many.....

it would be a zero sum percentage. I am still yet so see a logical reason to argue against it... i see a lot of people crowing aboout consent and freedom of choice.. but my perspective is that if there is a 1% chance this would reduce rape and child crimes... id happily go for it.... even if it meant i got "done" for smoking weed.

[Royal Flush]

This is highly worrying.

Here's a couple of examples...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/13/mp3_gun_swoop/
Someone thinks an mp3 player is a gun, calls the police, they find him on CCTV and he's arrested by armed police.

http://gizmonaut.net/bits/suspect.html
Man arrested for "looking suspicious" when entering tube station.

If anyone hasn't taken the time to read the second one then I would advise it. Its incredible that it took so long for him to clear his name, I doubt many people would have his determination.

I didn't read all of it but i think its only fair to point out this was 3 weeks after the attacks in the tube, i don't know the full details of the case but i imagine he must have met some criteria for a person of interest

Question: How does a database of DNA prevent a crime from being committed?

It stops repeat offending, guy can't rape and murder 5 women if they already know who he is after the first.

[Bongo]

What if future research showed people with certain DNA profiles were more likely to commit some form of crime. What would you do then?

[Bongo]

It stops repeat offending, guy can't rape and murder 5 women if they already know who he is after the first.

He can if they can't find him.

I guess we should all be tagged so the police know where we are at all times!

[Geo the Sarge]

It's not quite as simple as that, it's very easy to say "We should have a DNA database it would prevent these from happening" without looking at all the potential downsides (in both opportunity cost and potential for nefarious use), and also it's ability to prevent these crimes from happening.

Question: How does a database of DNA prevent a crime from being committed?

An instance could be:

A woman is found raped and murdered, no other evidence available to the police except for DNA samples. DNA sample matched to criminal through the database. Further investigations of criminals whereabouts/property/car etc uncovers further evidence which is good enuff to convict.

Whilst we have not prevented the first crim, we sure as hell have pevented this crook from committing similar...........Would this not then be a DNA database assisting to prevent a crime from being committed???

I am also dissappointed in some of the posts from members who regularly post here about having respect and doing well by others that are unwilling to support an action that could ensure that someone in the future may have the most important right we have..............the right to live.


Geo

[madasahatstand]

id happily give up some libery and freedom to reduce the chances of small kids/women getting raped/beated/murdered.  If that means i cant break the law by smoking weed, drink driving or stuff like that, its a minute price to pay. id happily do it. Can one of the learned people tell me what liberties we would give up under this system?

And how would me giving me DNA stop those crimes you describe? Or yours for that matter?  The liberty some would be giving up is consent and the freedom of choice. A blanket database may be a choice you would make based on your assumptions about DNA stopping crime, but it's not the choice of many.....

it would be a zero sum percentage. I am still yet so see a logical reason to argue against it... i see a lot of people crowing aboout consent and freedom of choice.. but my perspective is that if there is a 1% chance this would reduce rape and child crimes... id happily go for it.... even if it meant i got "done" for smoking weed.

Maybe you are stoned right now?  

What would happen if it became law and people were jailed for not consenting to give DNA?  Would you drag them kicking and screaming? Thats one example of loss of freedom because how else would you enforce it?

[totalise]

It stops repeat offending, guy can't rape and murder 5 women if they already know who he is after the first.

He can if they can't find him.

I guess we should all be tagged so the police know where we are at all times!

what liberty would u give up.. would you be refrained from buying beer at the store? what liberties would they take from you if we agreed to a database. I am really interested in that. where do we lose our liberties.

[madasahatstand]

It stops repeat offending, guy can't rape and murder 5 women if they already know who he is after the first.

He can if they can't find him.

I guess we should all be tagged so the police know where we are at all times!

what liberty would u give up.. would you be refrained from buying beer at the store? what liberties would they take from you if we agreed to a database. I am really interested in that. where do we lose our liberties.

Choice

[Bongo]

I can think of a million ways such a database could be used in future to take away people's liberty. No one can guarantee that these won't happen.

[totalise]

id happily give up some libery and freedom to reduce the chances of small kids/women getting raped/beated/murdered.  If that means i cant break the law by smoking weed, drink driving or stuff like that, its a minute price to pay. id happily do it. Can one of the learned people tell me what liberties we would give up under this system?

And how would me giving me DNA stop those crimes you describe? Or yours for that matter?  The liberty some would be giving up is consent and the freedom of choice. A blanket database may be a choice you would make based on your assumptions about DNA stopping crime, but it's not the choice of many.....

it would be a zero sum percentage. I am still yet so see a logical reason to argue against it... i see a lot of people crowing aboout consent and freedom of choice.. but my perspective is that if there is a 1% chance this would reduce rape and child crimes... id happily go for it.... even if it meant i got "done" for smoking weed.

Maybe you are stoned right now?  

What would happen if it became law and people were jailed for not consenting to give DNA?  Would you drag them kicking and screaming? Thats one example of loss of freedom because how else would you enforce it?

no i dont do drugs, unlike most law abiding people.  your example shows no depth. I still want one person to tell me why DNA sampling is so bad for a human. Give DNA, help stamp it out, and be happy. If you want to smoke pot and break the law, fair play to you.

[totalise]

I can think of a million ways such a database could be used in future to take away people's liberty. No one can guarantee that these won't happen.

so tell us in detail all these millions of ways it might happen! coz i cant see it

[Geo the Sarge]

Question:

If a family member was murdered and the only evidence against the criminal was a DNA link, would you be glad that that link was there or would you be asking the court not to convict because the criminals civil liberty/freedom of choice had been infringed??

Geo

[Bongo]

I can think of a million ways such a database could be used in future to take away people's liberty. No one can guarantee that these won't happen.

so tell us in detail all these millions of ways it might happen! coz i cant see it

http://www.ibmandtheholocaust.com/