An incident in Mississippi provides a window into a dystopian future where USPS workers and local cops can block people from accessing reproductive care.
Interfering with the US mail is a federal crime. Further, even in states that have banned medicated abortions; both medications have perfectly valid uses outside of abortion (including things not related specifically to women’s health altogether.) Neither the USPS nor the cop can know if the drugs are for illegal purposes without filing subpoenas and warrants for that medical information; and probable cause is going to be difficult to get, considering.
It’s also a federal crime to interfere with interstate commerce, which is solely the province of the federal government to regulate. Additionally, USPS screen for illegal substances anyway; maybe not every package, but enough to suggest that there shouldn’t be local bastards screening them too.
Edit to add:
Screwdrivers are commonly used tools for breaking in, they’re way more useful than lockpick sets, for example, and they can be used as a weapon, too.
Possessing a screwdriver, or even carrying one, is not suspicious or illegal. It wouldn’t give a cop probable cause. For that they need other things; this is similar. Having a medication is not sufficient for suspicion. Even having been pregnant is not suspicious; since they’re also used to manage a pregnancy that has failed for other reasons.
In short these asshats need to stop being asshats.
Well that’s a federal crime, assuming they’re being shipped by the USPS.
Lock them up.
Do you mean that mailing abortion pills is a federal crime, or that interfering with the mail is a federal crime?
Interfering with the US mail is a federal crime. Further, even in states that have banned medicated abortions; both medications have perfectly valid uses outside of abortion (including things not related specifically to women’s health altogether.) Neither the USPS nor the cop can know if the drugs are for illegal purposes without filing subpoenas and warrants for that medical information; and probable cause is going to be difficult to get, considering.
It’s also a federal crime to interfere with interstate commerce, which is solely the province of the federal government to regulate. Additionally, USPS screen for illegal substances anyway; maybe not every package, but enough to suggest that there shouldn’t be local bastards screening them too.
Edit to add: Screwdrivers are commonly used tools for breaking in, they’re way more useful than lockpick sets, for example, and they can be used as a weapon, too.
Possessing a screwdriver, or even carrying one, is not suspicious or illegal. It wouldn’t give a cop probable cause. For that they need other things; this is similar. Having a medication is not sufficient for suspicion. Even having been pregnant is not suspicious; since they’re also used to manage a pregnancy that has failed for other reasons.
In short these asshats need to stop being asshats.
Ironically, I always carry lockpicks on me.
Lock who up?
The dogs, duh.
Or someone can let the dogs out. And we can ask “who?”