Sharper Point: Arizona, where DNA stands for ‘Distrust Nearly All’
Feb 20, 2019, 12:00 PM
(Pexels photo)
(Pexels photo)
Arizona state Sen. David Livingston of Peoria might consider a different title than senator. I’m thinking “Big Brother.”
Livingston introduced Senate Bill 1475 at the state Legislature that would require anyone who has to get fingerprint clearance from the state of Arizona to also provide their DNA — and pay $250 to do so.
According to Arizona Department of Public Safety, more than 730,000 people possessed fingerprint clearance cards in Arizona as of Jan. 1, 2018. People like dental hygienists, real estate agents, certain financial advisers, teachers and foster parents.
This bill also would require some volunteers to provide a DNA sample to the state as well. I’m sure the $250 fee would encourage a lot of people to step up and give of their time freely.
The DNA database would been maintained by the Department of Public Safety (which sounds secure), but this bill allowed DPS to share your DNA with other government agencies around the country and also give your most personal information to people who are conducting “legitimate research.”
This bill is the kind of knee-jerk reaction we should be used to seeing from some politicians. At times, they seem to be trying to outdo each other finding news headlines that they can apply lame laws to.
Did you figure it out? This bill was “ripped from the headlines” of the Hacienda HealthCare scandal — where an incapacitated woman gave birth late last year after allegedly being sexually assaulted.
Police found their suspect using DNA, so, in Livingston’s mind, almost three-quarters of a million Arizonans need to be investigated.
After a lot of blow-back, the bill has been re-written to apply only to people who care for incapacitated patients (ala Hacienda).
But I think Livingston went in the wrong direction. He should’ve expanded his idea and required every Arizonan to submit their DNA, fingerprint clearance or not.
It would answer some questions for me.
I’d like to know if my neighbor got away with a crime…or if he’s going to need to build a ramp at the front door of his house because (his DNA will show) that he’s in danger of a disease that’ll leave him disabled.
But what I’d really like to know is where are his ancestors from?! I did that 23AndMe thing a few years ago. I need to know if the folks next door are the proper level of white to be in living in my neighborhood.
Actually, the people who should be required to submit their DNA are state legislators. And right after we test their DNA, let’s test their IQ.
Senate Bill 1475 by on Scribd
