"The national security state has an annual budget of around $1 trillion."

Stories via NYOccupy and PFailBlog.

Meet the Contractors Turning America's Police Into a Paramilitary Force

January 30, 2013  |  

The national security state has an annual budget of around $1 trillion. Of that huge pile of money, large amounts go to private companies the federal government awards contracts to. Some, like Lockheed Martin or Boeing, are household names, but many of the contractors fly just under the public's radar. What follows are three companies you should know about (because some of them can learn a lot about you with their spy technologies).

http://www.alternet.org/meet-contractors-turning-americas-police-paramilitary-force?paging=off

Gun Shoots Criminals With DNA Tags, Marking Them For Later Arrest 

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/new-dna-gun-shoots-criminals-genetic-tags-marking-them-later-arrest

Riots are a tough nut for law enforcement in part because of the sheer number of people involved--it’s impossible to stop and arrest every person involved in a skirmish. That’s why cops have some pretty high-tech methods for catching suspects, from facial recognition software to debilitating sonic cannons. But none is as bizarre as this new DNA gun from a UK security firm.

Petition to Repeal the USA Patriot Act in its entirety.

http://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/repeal-usa-patriot-act-its-entirety/QysS2RXg

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
Repeal the USA Patriot Act in its entirety.
The USA Patriot Act is in direct violation of the 4th, 5th, 6th & 14th Amendments to the Constitution, contained in the Bill of Rights. The powers included in the USA Patriot Act are explained in detail here: http://secure.downsizedc.org/etp/repeal-the-patriot-act/ .
The USA Patriot Act should therefore be repealed. (If deemed necessary, the Act may then be replaced in its entirety with an Act that conforms the Constitutional rights of US Citizens, whether natural born or naturalized, within or outside the borders of the USA.)
Upon repeal, all measures and activities of or by agencies in support of the USA Patriot Act should therefore be suspended immediately until such time as a fully Constitutional Bill be authorized and enacted by Congress and the President of the US.
Created: Jan 08, 2013
Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Defense
Learn about Petition Thresholds
SIGNATURES NEEDED BY FEBRUARY 07, 2013 TO REACH GOAL OF 25,000 23,727
TOTAL SIGNATURES ON THIS PETITION 1,273