NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) The NYPD is stepping up their war against illegal guns, with a new tool that could detect weapons on someone as they walk down the street. But is it violating your right to privacy?
Police, along with the U.S. Department of Defense, are researching new technology in a scanner placed on police vehicles that can detect concealed weapons.
You could use it at a specific event. You could use it at a shooting-prone location, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly told CBS 2′s Hazel Sanchez on Tuesday.
Its called Terahertz Imaging Detection. It measures the energy radiating from a body up to 16 feet away, and can detect anything blocking it, like a gun.
I think its good. People will be safer and it will be a safer environment, Jessica Ramos said.
I think its all about invading peoples lives more and more and more, Antonio Gabriel added.
Police Commissioner Kelly said the scanner would only be used in reasonably suspicious circumstances and could cut down on the number of stop-and-frisks on the street.
But the New York Civil Liberties Union is raising a red flag.
Its worrisome. It implicates privacy, the right to walk down the street without being subjected to a virtual pat-down by the Police Department when youre doing nothing wrong, the NYCLUs Donna Lieberman said.
We have involved our attorneys as we go forward with this issue. We think its a very positive development, Kelly said.
People on the street have differing opinions on the price theyd be willing to pay for safety.
If they search you, youre not giving consent, so they can do what they want, meaning they can use that as an excuse to search you for other means. I dont think thats constitutional at all, Devan Thomas said.
I think its good. I think if someone has something to hide and theyre going to worry about it, who cares? Robert McDougall added.
Do you think this is an invasion of privacy? Or are you in favor of relinquishing some freedoms to keep the streets safe? Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below.