Eastern Shore Undercover Editorial: Four Questions Every Flock Camera Critic Should Answer

The complaints about Flock Cameras are everywhere right now. You see it on social media, you hear it at council meetings, and now groups like the NAACP and even former law enforcement are speaking out against them.

I keep hearing the same argument. People say, "It's a violation of my constitutional rights! This is not what our forefathers wanted or wrote in the constitution. I have rights". That always makes me smile a little, because cameras did not exist when the constitution was written.

I can guarantee that James Madison, Gouverneur Morris, and Jacob Shallus were not thinking about video cameras while authoring and signing the constitution. Cameras did not come out for another 20 years or so, and they were nothing like what we have today.

So instead of just complaining, I want to ask you four questions. Put yourself in each situation and think about how you would feel.

Question one.... Would you rather have Flock Cameras record you, which you think violates your rights, but have a way to quickly find your elderly mother, father, or grandparent if they wander off with Alzheimer's or dementia?

This happened in less than six weeks ago. Because of Flock Cameras, that person was found and brought home safely a short time later.

Are we more worried about being recorded on a walk than helping find our loved ones before something bad happens? Cameras are already on us from our neighbors homes every time we walk around. A camera on the sidewalk, used by law enforcement, is no different.

Question two.... Would you rather have Flock Cameras record you, which you think violates your rights, or have a way to quickly find your child if they wander off?

We hear about this happening hundreds of times a year on Eastern Shore Undercover, and lately, some of these stories have turned tragic.

Our children should always come first. If I had a child who could wander off, like a child with autism or one who lives near the water, I would want Flock Cameras on every street in my neighborhood. It is not law enforcement's job to watch our kids, but it helps to know they have a tool to help find them if something happens, where time is of the essence.

Question three.... Would you rather have Flock Cameras record you, which you think violates your rights, or have a way to help solve a crime when no one is willing to talk to police?

A 10 year old boy was shot and killed in Salisbury, Maryland. Maryland State Police and Salisbury Police are still asking for tips because no one will talk.

If Flock Cameras were on that street, this family might already have the justice they deserve. It may not have caught a clear picture of the suspect, but with enough cameras, it could have followed them and helped police get an identification. Folks, Salisbury isn't exactly Mayberry and if you haven't noticed, there is crime happening all over, all the time!

Question four.... Would you rather have Flock Cameras record you, which you think violates your rights, or have a way to quickly find your car if it gets broken into or stolen?

Think about what happens when your car is stolen, or someone breaks in and takes your ID, credit cards, or cash. ID theft alone can cause months of headaches, and insurance does not always make it easy either.

I want law enforcement to have every tool available to find my car before it gets damaged beyond repair. To me, that is not a hard choice, it should be common sense!

We do not live in the 1700s anymore. Crime is a real problem here in Maryland, and it seems like something happens close to home almost every day. Instead of giving law enforcement more tools to solve these crimes, we are trying to take tools away.

Cameras already watch us everywhere. Walmart has them, Ocean City's boardwalk has them, even the MVA has them. But when law enforcement wants to use cameras to solve crimes and find missing people, people suddenly have a problem with it.

Why? Well, the first thing you have to do is look into those individuals who have an issue with them? Do they have a criminal background? Have they lost their jobs because of a camera? Think about it, for a person that has nothing to hide, why would they have an issue with a camera being placed on a public street?

The courts have already said many times that a person can take a photo of you, your family, your dog, your child, etc without your permission. If you are in plain view outside, on a street, or in a park, there is generally no legal right to privacy. So knowing that, why are we causing so many issues with law enforcement trying to add a tool to their tool belt?

Maybe instead of putting up roadblocks, we should be helping law enforcement do their job. People who are doing nothing wrong have no real reason to be against Flock Cameras.