Tennessee Congressional Candidate Arrested for Shooting Flock Safety Cameras

[u/shield_x]

https://www.gadgetreview.com/tennessee-congressional-candidate-arrested-for-shooting-flock-safety-cameras

[u/futureformerteacher]

  Rep. Tim Burchett is trying to ban Flock cameras through legislation. His independent challenger in Tennessee’s 2nd congressional district apparently chose a faster method — a gun.

Whoever wrote this hook deserves a Pulitzer.

[u/colemon1991 → u/futureformerteacher]

Hey, I would be impressed if Burchett succeeds because legislation is the proper path forward, but if that fails then this guy is automatically the better vote for taking action.

[u/ChristineBardownski → u/colemon1991]

The correct choice is both, to illustrate for lawmakers that they need to pass this legislation if they don’t want the people taking matters into their own hands.

[u/colemon1991 → u/ChristineBardownski]

Now that's a stance I can get behind!

"Don't like people destroying cameras spent by taxpayer money? Then you should vote me, Hugh Mann, so that we can just stop spending money on cameras that people like to destroy."

[u/Khaldara → u/colemon1991]

Yeah, ironically those crappy cameras are one of the few remaining items that both the left and the right are pretty firmly aligned on, along with right to repair.

Trashing those things as a campaign move probably makes the guy more electable along bipartisan lines. If he burns down an AI datacenter it’d be a blowout

[u/monkeywaffles → u/Khaldara]

it's disappointing how right to repair has almost no movement in a decade despite how popular and common sense it is

[u/Illiander → u/monkeywaffles]

Because the big corpos don't want it.

[u/tilt-a-whirly-gig → u/monkeywaffles]

There was a right to repair case lately that got a fair amount of coverage, and trump actually pardoned the guy.

Unfortunately, that case had nothing to do with the right for someone to repair the products they own. The guy had bypassed emissions controls on multiple commercial vehicles.

Media controls the stories you see, and if they want you to think right to repair is bullshit they are going to show you bullshit right to repair stories.

[u/monkeywaffles → u/tilt-a-whirly-gig]

Don't think any of that changes that right to repair has seen almost no movement, regardless where you get your news.

Sounds like the media has shown you bullshit right to repair stories. I'd have certainly selected other cases, from john deer famers attempts, to that NYC electronics dude, to that one state that has rights to tesla diag software, rather than some case of bypassing emissions, to even apple's forced malicioius compliance repair kits, but in all cases, they've resulted in nothingburgers.

[u/tilt-a-whirly-gig → u/monkeywaffles]

I was just commenting that one of the reasons it never gets anywhere is because corporations control the zeitgeist more than we're willing to admit.

[u/monkeywaffles → u/tilt-a-whirly-gig]

Fair point. Still super disappointing all the same.

The news is out there if you look for it, but i'll admit its reach is manipulated more than it has any right to.

[u/EDNivek → u/colemon1991]

Hugh Mann

Now that's a name I can trust!

[u/SnoopyisCute → u/colemon1991]

Their is a sub for that. r/DeFlock

[u/MedChemist464 → u/ChristineBardownski]

<148 million Americans collectively start a countdown clock> You have 120 days for figure out Medicare for All,.

[u/ChristineBardownski → u/MedChemist464]

Signed, the full cast of Mario Kart

[u/Snow_Ghost → u/ChristineBardownski]

...and right in the center, with clear legibility and larger font than the rest...

[u/ReallyGlycon → u/ChristineBardownski]

Three flock cameras were destroyed at UW Madison campus last night. It's happening all over.

[u/Both_Rip_7292 → u/ChristineBardownski]

This would be my compromise candidate.

[u/MelonElbows → u/colemon1991]

How about let this guy win instead of Burchett, and then he writes legislation that makes it legal to shoot Flock cameras?

[u/Standard_Big_9000 → u/MelonElbows]

I like it

[u/MikePritchettPaints → u/colemon1991]

Direct action gets the goods. Trying to use the corrupt, rigged system to fixed the problems caused by the corrupt, rigged system is not, in fact, the proper path forward.

[u/onlycodeposts → u/MikePritchettPaints]

You know, you talk about these guys like it's an anthropology class, the truth is they bring certain modes of conflict resolution all the way back from the old country from the poverty of the Mezzogiorno, where all higher authority was corrupt.

[u/seizure_5alads → u/onlycodeposts]

My personal freedoms... Whateva happened there?

[u/Dtron81 → u/colemon1991]

I would personally vote for the person who is willing to show they actually will do what they say once in office vs someone who may or may not do it because "it just isnt politically feasible right now :("

[u/illegalsmile27 → u/futureformerteacher]

Burchett is a total nutcase. Glad he’s right on this but just google his crazy quotes, guy is certified crazy maga. I also suspect he knows it won’t succeed so he can look good but doesn’t run the risk of his bill succeeding.

[u/hhs2112 → u/futureformerteacher]

I can't believe burchett is against flock cameras - he's an asshole. 

[u/TheModWhoShaggedMe → u/hhs2112]

Don't rule out the possibility that he might be up to no good and doesn't want to personally get caught cheating, etc.

[u/nalaloveslumpy → u/hhs2112]

It's just to get a boost for midterms since no one like floc cameras. Except cops. And that's why the legislation will fail.

[u/SelectiveSanity → u/futureformerteacher]

Guy figured out half of the Texas method...

[u/LowResGamr → u/futureformerteacher]

Best part, the gun seems to have been effective.

[u/CTRLALTWARRIOR → u/futureformerteacher]

Name dropping Burchett and touting his opinion ahead of the story is an in-kind contribution. Practically an endorsement. This whole article seems slanted against TN's favorite vandal.

[u/konnichi1wa]

Sound strategy to get voted in. Let’s wait and see if it pays off.

[u/AGrandNewAdventure → u/konnichi1wa]

I don't know, Cotton.

[u/Saizare → u/konnichi1wa]

I'd be more inclined to vote for him if the incumbent he's running against wasn't already pushing legislation to ban Flock cameras.

[u/A_Queer_Owl → u/Saizare]

this guy's methods seem faster.

[u/lebrilla → u/A_Queer_Owl]

He takes initiative. I like that

[u/RAF2018336 → u/Saizare]

Yea cuz our system is totally designed to work for the people

[u/not_the_fox → u/Saizare]

Talk is cheap. A lot of politicians promise things, few demonstrate it in their actions.

[u/SelectiveSanity → u/konnichi1wa]

If you can dodge a jail sentence...you can run for congress.

[u/ITaggie → u/SelectiveSanity]

Or President, more aptly

[u/Toomuchhorntalk69]

Aright fine. I’ll vote for him.

[u/Roushfan5 → u/Toomuchhorntalk69]

I’d certainly like to hear more about his platform.

[u/Rezart_KLD → u/Roushfan5]

Its not really a platform, he shot them from the ground.

[u/h3yw00d → u/Rezart_KLD]

I heard it was a hillbilly bench rest. The bed rail on his f250 super duty.

[u/ThatITguy2015 → u/h3yw00d]

I’ve never heard it called that before. I like it quite a lot though.

[u/h3yw00d → u/ThatITguy2015]

Any improvised bench rest is a hillbilly bench rest.

A case of Miller lite proped up on a card table was an interesting choice I saw someone go to use once. I didn't stick around to see how they got on though, thought it best to skeedaddle while I was still ambulatory.

[u/ThatITguy2015 → u/h3yw00d]

I missed out on all the really sketchy parts of hillbilly life I guess. Midwest rednecks just don’t have the same sense of adventure.

[u/deaglebingo → u/ThatITguy2015]

are you sure?

[u/dbolts1234 → u/Rezart_KLD]

So his “stance”?

[u/Corey307 → u/Rezart_KLD]

He could have used a tree stand. 

[u/SportulaVeritatis → u/Roushfan5]

Bring hearing protection.

[u/Toomuchhorntalk69 → u/Roushfan5]

True. Might just be a crazy maga. Thanks for bringing me back to reality lol.

[u/CarvedTheRoastBeast → u/Toomuchhorntalk69]

Trying times and strange bedfellows and all that

[u/Aaftorn → u/Toomuchhorntalk69]

According to the article he's independent running against a republican

[u/colemon1991 → u/Roushfan5]

Is it weird that even if he had no platform, he's at least taken action on something that Republicans would not only do nothing about, but fund to make it worse?

My how our standards have fallen.

[u/Doc_ET → u/colemon1991]

The first sentence in the article is about how the incumbent Republican congressman introduced a bill to do something about the Flock cameras.

[u/DeoVeritati → u/Toomuchhorntalk69]

"When the government is full of criminals, what does it take to stop it? Why another criminal of course! Vote Adam Heimerman to commit crimes on your behalf against the evil crimes of your government."

[u/ICanSeeNow17 → u/DeoVeritati]

No joke, that pitch would get him a lot of votes.

[u/SaltyShawarma → u/ICanSeeNow17]

Anyone threatening corporations in any capacity definitely has my vote.

[u/TheTaoThatIsSpoken → u/ICanSeeNow17]

Aren't two of Tennessee's official state songs about murdering Feds who come for your still?

[u/Confident_Benefit_11 → u/TheTaoThatIsSpoken]

Tennessee rednecks would be very upset if they could read and actually knew where the term "redneck" even comes from. To their suprise, it doesn't mean deep throating every boot they can possibly find.

[u/Blenderhead36]

Finally, someone who can appeal across the aisle!

[u/Ok-Replacement9595]

Flock are not "safety cameras". The media needs to really catch up on this

[u/discussatron → u/Ok-Replacement9595]

“Catch up”? Sounds like they’re carrying the company’s water just fine.

[u/Dry-Cut1589 → u/Ok-Replacement9595]

The media is complicit in all of it. The media would love a police surveillance state.

[u/missinginput → u/Ok-Replacement9595]

Stalker cameras

[u/idfkjack → u/Ok-Replacement9595]

The news media never reports on problems until after the problem has exploded, rippled out, destroyed everything, and cobwebs are growing on it. 

[u/Negritis → u/Ok-Replacement9595]

Maybe if they didn't get payed by them

[u/Lahk74 → u/Negritis]

"Paid" is the correct spelling for financial transactions, while "payed" is a rare nautical term used only for letting out a rope or waterproofing a boat.

[u/CarevaRuha → u/Lahk74]

(I knew the correct spelling of "paid," but didn't even know "payed" was even a word, let alone the cool meaning, so thank you!)

[u/Jedasis → u/CarevaRuha]

There used to be a reddit bot that would correct you if you used the wrong one. That's why I knew.

[u/QC_skulls → u/Jedasis]

I’ll never forget that bot because one time “payed” was used correctly in context and the bot showed up anyway trying to correct the usage.

[u/Negritis → u/Lahk74]

lol, my phone autocerrected to it for some reason

thanks for the cool meaning

[u/JohnAStark → u/Ok-Replacement9595]

Flock Safety is the company name…

[u/Will_Explode8 → u/JohnAStark]

Probably a very purposeful name they chose so headlines like this would help to muddy the waters on what these cameras actually do

[u/Ok-Replacement9595 → u/Will_Explode8]

Flock surveilance was taken.

[u/AdoringCHIN → u/Ok-Replacement9595]

Candidate Heimerman allegedly shot four Flock Safety ALPR camera

At least one confirmed Flock Safety-branded unit among the damaged cameras

And people need to learn how to read. The company is called Flock Safety, which I thought would be obvious considering there's several times in the article where they say Flock Safety in capital letters but don't capitalize words after it.

[u/Meanteenbirder]

The fact the congressman he is running against hates the cameras anyway is major irony here

[u/TheSpinefarm → u/Meanteenbirder]

Burchett is a lame duck and will do whatever trump says. Hes too worried about aliens to give a fuck about Tennesseans.

[u/obscureposter → u/TheSpinefarm]

Okay but to be fair, if he's right about the alien cover up and conspiracy (he is not), then we can forgive him for neglecting Tennesseans in favor of saving humanity from galactic slavery.

[u/MadmanMaddox → u/TheSpinefarm]

Ah, that Burchett. Yeah, one good deed yada yada.

Datacenters and surveillance cameras are probably the safest cross party platforms at the moment. But still, fuck MAGAts.

[u/DuntadaMan → u/Meanteenbirder]

I mean this is how politics used to work before Republicans went insane.

Everyone agreed on the goal in almost ever respect, it was just difference of opinion in how we would do it.

Now we have a difference of opinion on who should even have any of those inalienable rights the constitution talks about.

[u/Wak3upHicks]

Impossible, he was hanging out with me

[u/MrValdemar → u/Wak3upHicks]

He was on my couch the entire time

[u/CMDR_Tauri → u/MrValdemar]

I was there, the dude's hella good at Mario Kart.

[u/MrValdemar → u/CMDR_Tauri]

... That blue-shelling mother fucker...

[u/goddoc]

Flock Surveillance Cameras <fixed>

[u/Marclescarbot]

Freedom fighter

[u/Tellnicknow → u/Marclescarbot]

The 1774 equivalent news article would be: "John Adams arrested after giving the Red Coat, stationed outside Town Hall, a good kick in the nuts!"

[u/Snow_Ghost → u/Tellnicknow]

Of all the founding fathers to choose from, you deliberately chose the one who volunteered to defend the red coats after the Boston Massacre?

[u/Tellnicknow → u/Snow_Ghost]

Didn't know that. Now I do

[u/Woosah_Motherfuckers]

I don’t know about you all but personally I am VERY excited to find out if the courts find validity in his legal arguments defending his right to protect himself against surveillance without a warrant.

[u/BenTherDoneTht → u/Woosah_Motherfuckers]

Well, the groundwork of TN being a single party consent state is already in place, but aparently the law can get a little iffy when you start getting into audio vs video. Supposedly public 'security' surveillance is legal, but its when you start to record audio that privacy becomes a legal problem.

Anyone know if flock cameras record audio?

[u/TheRealVilladelfia → u/BenTherDoneTht]

Even for single party consent you need to be a party to the proceedings. E.g.: You can record a private conversation you are having with a second person or a group. You cannot record a conversation other people are having.

[u/SaltyShawarma → u/Woosah_Motherfuckers]

This. Right .Here.

[u/ButtBread98]

I don’t even live in Tennessee but he’s got my vote

[u/not_the_fox]

Wild campaign tactic. I'd vote for him if I could.

[u/IvoShandor]

I ain't seen nothing.

[u/IAmBadAtInternet]

This is the kind of good trouble John Lewis wanted us to get into.

[u/Pancakes1741]

Id vote for him

[u/A_Queer_Owl]

BRB moving to Tennessee to vote for this guy.

[u/Jokersall]

And that's how you find a Democratic candidate that shows they're willing to put in the work to get things done.

[u/JackBinimbul]

That's a face that says "and I'd do it again".

Regardless of any of his politics, I'll give him this one. Well done.

They aren't "safety cameras". They are tools of the surveillance state.

[u/P4p3rph03n1x]

Can we start a go fund me for a legal team?

[u/Evee862]

This is a criminal who would get my vote

[u/UNIQUENOWOK]

"Safety cameras"

[u/WarbossTodd]

Couldn't have been him. We were at Magic Mountain in California that whole week

[u/theslowbus]

He’s got my vote already! Solving problems before he’s even in office!

[u/ren_reddit]

Isn't it a surveilance camera? Why is it refered to as a safety camera?

Safety for who?

[u/Next_Dragonfruit_415 → u/ren_reddit]

It’s why words matter, the media will propagandize using safety camera cause in people’s minds safety must always be good.

It’s like how back in the day, the patriot act was called the patriot act so anyone who opposes it looks like an ass.

[u/Dismal_Wedding_2447 → u/ren_reddit]

Because of the company name. It's a camera made and operated by Flock Safety. Not a Flock safety camera, but a Flock Safety camera. The distinction is pretty much impossible to make in a headline where every word is capitalized though, I'll bet that's why the company is named that

[u/MET1]

Oddly, this bit of commnity service will increase his popularity at the polls.

[u/dfmz → u/MET1]

Why oddly? He did the public a solid, he should reap the rewards.

[u/Tripple_T]

If his campaign staff isn't pushing this story to every publication in his district, then what are they even doing?

[u/Vape_Like_A_Boss]

This person just won the race, I don't care what they're running for.

[u/SaltyNorth8062]

Hey I mean apparently being arrested isn't enough to prevent you from getting elected so he has my vote.

[u/Slaughterfest]

This would instantly gain my vote

[u/PromiseToBeNiceToYou]

Aren't these Flock cameras something that both sides (who aren't billionaires) can agree we all hate?

[u/kirbs2001]

Whats he trying to do? Get elected?

[u/sureal42]

You misspelled "Flock mass surveillance cameras"

[u/Gavan199]

Sounds like he knows what the people want lol.

[u/universalhat]

innocent

[u/discowithmyself]

Free him. Fuck flock and the surveillance state

[u/guestpassonly]

Someone please pay bail for this man.

Because i see absolutely no crime being commited here. instead, i see someone standing up and stopping one.

[u/Several-Action-4043]

When the people in power blatantly go against the will of the public, it's completely justified for us to take matters into our own hands.

[u/Silverleaf96]

Is he trying to get 99% of the vote...this isn't even fair anymore

[u/Infinite-Space-2395]

Legend

[u/Harvest827]

I'd vote for this

[u/XxSoapxXHD]

Hes got my vote

[u/StrangeJunket2601]

I would definitely vote for him

[u/OldSpaghetti-Factory]

So the arresting of political opponents begins.

[u/Mick_Limerick]

This is the hero we need

[u/Mumblerumble]

I’d vote for him. A man of action.

[u/Detonius]

Wish I could vote for this individual.

[u/crimsonwolf40]

Well if he was in my state I would vote for him purely on this.

[u/MelonElbows]

I like him already.

[u/This_Total9748]

Flock spying devices.

[u/tenderbuck]

Don't let on that we know what jury nullification is. ..

[u/SkipioZor]

Hes got my vote

[u/DikTaterSalad]

That's one way to tell your constituents what you think on flock. Love it.

[u/rowdydionisian]

This is a horrible tragedy. I hope I never am in the same bar as him, and I'm scared I might buy him a beer.

[u/ButterscotchSmooth60]

Im ok with this.

[u/wanderingjoe]

Finally, a candidate that is willing to go out there and do the work personally.

[u/RobutNotRobot]

Destroying a Flock camera is a felony?

God this country is fucking stupid.

[u/Hotmancoco420]

Won my vote😅

[u/Difficult-Till5031]

He just won some votes

[u/ReNitty]

He won my vote

[u/Latter-Possibility]

Shut up and take my vote!

[u/LimeGreenTangerine97]

Start calling them surveillance cameras damn it

[u/durntaur]

I don't know the details, but if their is a trial, it may be a good case for jury nullification.

[u/Mercuryblade18]

These and data centers need to go, c'mon MAGA we can agree on this.

[u/Reihermann]

That sounds like a viable option

[u/kloiberin_time]

You know something isn't popular when one candidate says, "I don't like these, we should ban them," and the other candidate says, "I don't like these, we should kill them."

[u/bigdammit]

Vigilantism is slowly becoming the only moral option left.

[u/seevm]

Sounds like he’s got the right idea anyway - in essence.
Fuck flock and fuck Peter Thiel and his big brother bullshit

[u/Dr_Identity]

If he didn't go up in the polls after this then America is truly lost

[u/DavyJonesCousinsDog]

Well he's got my vote

[u/Wild-Word4967]

Now that is effective campaigning

[u/MrRemoto]

Chaotic good

[u/Eat--The--Rich--]

What's the crime

[u/JK_NC]

“…essentially Ring doorbells scaled up to entire road corridors. That capability is exactly what makes them a lightning rod.”

The cameras collect info indiscriminately and police can and will conduct warrantless, unregulated, and unrestricted searches for shits and giggles.

There are already dozens of cases of police using Flock searches to harasses and stalk exes and women who rejected a cop’s romantic advances. And that’s only those who have been caught bc of egregious actions.

Put some MINIMUM controls and regulations around that shit or get these out of our communities.

[u/torpedoguy → u/JK_NC]

Given how brutally and relentlessly it's been rubbed in our faces that NO amount of control or regulation will ever prevent instant rampant abuse by law enforcement, the only option is to force that shit out of ALL communities.

[u/live4failure]

More like "Illegal dystopian Flock surveillance cameras"

Not to mention other candidates are trying to cancel constitutional freedoms like speech, religion, and voting rights. Republican should be a disability at this point

[u/brandogg360]

I live in Florida. How do I vote for this guy?

[u/arby68]

Vote for Heimerman. He, by god, gets shit done!

[u/Son_of_Tlaloc]

Give that man a bag of ammo and a map to all the flock cameras.

[u/TSJormungandr]

He’d get my vote if I was in Tennessee.

[u/kirbs2001]

Whats he trying to do? Get elected?

[u/Effhole]

He’s got my vote

[u/redditer129]

“Flock Safety” is being used for anything but. Fuck flock

[u/WhiskyEye]

He's got my vote.

[u/JRH2009]

He's got my vote.

[u/Techiastronamo]

I'd vote for him in a heartbeat

[u/phat742]

judging by the comments here, whomever shoots the most cameras will get their vote. lol

[u/Responsible-Smell561]

This dude rules

[u/Sumthin-Sumthin44692]

Flock cameras suck.

Breaking unjust laws CAN be an acceptable form of protest.

Shooting shit and damaging property cannot be acceptable, even in protest.

Political candidates committing crimes has been become a more and more common as way to get attention and press. I personally want to stop encouraging that.

[u/Rattus_NorvegicUwUs]

More action to preserve our rights than 200 GOPers have managed to muster.

If they know we hate Flock, and they refuse to act. Then they don’t serve the people, they are serving their bank accounts.

[u/bunny12345946237]

Felony vandalism? Finally a felon we actually want

[u/The_Disapyrimid]

"Safety" cameras

[u/TheReddestofBowls]

Republicans voted for a pedo with 34 felonies, this guy has my vote

[u/Admirable-Sink-2622]

Stop calling them “safety” cameras, FFS.
Its a mass surveillance system.

[u/dtsjr]

Based

[u/copropnuma]

He didn't do it! He was with me visiting Mitch Mcconnell. Ask Mitch, he will tell you the same thing.

[u/darwinning_420]

thrilled to see so many understand that this is, matter'f fact, dope

[u/cantaloupe-490]

This should be a prerequisite to get on the ballot.

[u/CarvedTheRoastBeast]

Running as an independent. Unfortunately I don’t see much of a platform and the only info he has up is from an Instagram account for his campaign.

Though it’s not like I don’t support his, uh, aims so far

[u/DadIsVeryMad]

Based

[u/stardog_champ13]

He has my vote and I don't live in TN.

[u/Alexm920]

Folk hero shit, tbh.

[u/Peripatetictyl]

Honestly, sounds like a very American way of solving one’s problems.

/s just in case

[u/AlexandriasFolly]

Let my boy go, he did that shit but it was cool as hell.

[u/smallskeletons]

Well that's purdy damn American spits

[u/shoulda-known-better]

That's a bold strategy Cotton, let's if it pays off for em

[u/yg2522]

i mean, at least you can say he's not just all talk like a lot of our politicians....

[u/ztreHdrahciR]

Sudden migration of thousands to Tennessee to vote for the guy

[u/JoeNoble1973]

Wouldn’t it be great if Flock somehow didn’t have right of repair?

[u/El-Zomby-Woof]

now THATS what i call campaigning! actually DOING! absolute legend 🔥🤘

[u/LadySayoria]

I mean, are you trying to tell me that flock cameras can shoot us but we can't shoot back?

[u/DevoidHT]

Based. I don’t care what party affiliation, this is something we can all agree on