Politicos: Fingerprint Everyone!

by Pat Michl

House Bill 1243, currently before the Washington State Legislature, threatens to put us all in chains. Championed by the retail and banking industries, this bill mandates fingerprinting for all Washington drivers' license holders

Ostensibly the purpose of this bill is to prevent criminals from fraudulently obtaining drivers' licenses from the state. However, data banks of fingerprints in the hands of the state promises an Orwellian future. Fingerprints of "undesirables" (such as Libertarians) could be planted by the state at crime scenes and used to frame targeted individuals.

HB 1243 would also completely destroy privacy rights and the presumption of innocence that citizens deserve. Fingerprint data banks may be appropriate for criminals, but they should never be mandated with a broad brush for law abiding citizens. If the retailers and the bankers need a data bank of fingerprints, they should develop their own. Instead, they are attempting to employ the state to do their dirty work for them.

No self-respecting Libertarian should be stand for HB 1243. I urge every Libertarian to oppose this dangerous bill. Call Les Thomas, House Chair of Financial Institutions & Insurance at (360)786-7866, or call the legislative hotline at: 1-800-562-6000.