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Profiling is bad?

Reader comment on item: To Profile or Not to Profile? [The Abdullah al-Kidd Case]

Submitted by Adam Lubin (United States), Sep 23, 2004 at 21:16

I disagree that profiling is bad. For example, if 90% of people convicted of committing 'terrorist' acts in the US are Muslims aged 17-40, then wouldn't it be prudent to focus our resources on people that fit these criteria?

Additionally, don't police use this method all the time? Let's assume robbery suspect is described as a female caucasian with red hair, aged mid-20s, height 5'4" to 5'7", weighing approximately 120 lbs. As a detective trying to solve this case I would not pursue Black men in their late 30s, height 5'11" to 6'2", weighing 220 lbs.; it would be a waste of my time.

So please clarify why it is a bad thing to focus limited resources on the more likely candidates to be plotting an attack on US interests.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (48) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Racial profiling is ok, but has to be matched with a reasonably swift dispension of justice. [285 words]rk683Oct 18, 2010 13:17179388
I wish it would stop/The chickens will come home to roost. [262 words]Wali A. RazzaqDec 14, 2006 21:5469576
racism? [66 words]Rick DonaldsonAug 24, 2006 12:1553904
Racial Profiling is Racism in action. EOM [6 words]Bryan AlawiDec 19, 2005 08:0430179
Because it's Them not You [275 words]TimDec 15, 2004 14:0419012
Read one's history [92 words]SubrataOct 4, 2004 11:3517515
Is Racial Profiling Enough? [82 words]Ian G.Oct 3, 2004 23:0817511
Yes to profiling. [266 words]RPSep 28, 2004 02:1517419
what about America's homegrown terrorists? [97 words]BGApr 18, 2009 12:1917419
Righteous Indignation [51 words]Ron MSep 28, 2004 01:1417418
Dont go too far [214 words]johnSep 26, 2004 17:3817323
Profiling is a constitutional defense of freedom [40 words]Alvin SamuelsSep 26, 2004 03:4017247
Profiling is bad? [129 words]Adam LubinSep 23, 2004 21:1617157
Wake up. Protect ourselves. [31 words]Preston PhillipsSep 23, 2004 02:1517115
Mind Readers? I think not [62 words]David LincolnSep 22, 2004 23:1317111
Racial Profiling [67 words]Jeff MartinSep 22, 2004 22:3117110
Necessity of Profiling [6 words]Norris HaseltonSep 22, 2004 19:0417106
We're stupid if we DON'T profile [1179 words]lukeSep 22, 2004 17:0217103
Spot On [88 words]LouFeb 11, 2009 19:0217103
Terrorists among us [87 words]Kim SegarSep 22, 2004 13:0417101
Err on the side of safety [90 words]James Van ValkenburgSep 22, 2004 09:2517098
Politically incorrect [24 words]Alvin ShamesSep 22, 2004 09:2117097
Phony human rights [91 words]S.C.PandaSep 22, 2004 05:4917093
Profiling [214 words]Michael BurkertSep 22, 2004 02:2617089
Amnesty International [45 words]Jaleh AzadSep 22, 2004 01:1417088
More profiling please [22 words]Tom PensylSep 22, 2004 00:4617087
How right you are [34 words]Ivan MicklinSep 22, 2004 00:2817085
Counter Terrorism and Profiling [231 words]Harold DodsonSep 21, 2004 23:1417083
Absolutely spot-on [32 words]Jeff MagnusonSep 21, 2004 23:1317082
tough choice [212 words]John W McGinleySep 21, 2004 22:5617081
Tough problems call for tough answers [22 words]WalterSep 21, 2004 22:1817080
Life Precedes Rights [88 words]T. B. RobertsSep 21, 2004 21:4417078
To Profile or Not to Profile [195 words]Arlinda DeAngelisSep 21, 2004 20:4117076
The Truth about AI [326 words]Peter J. HerzSep 21, 2004 20:1017074
Approval of your arguments. [280 words]Jim WrightSep 21, 2004 17:0517072
Which has priority in war--civil rights or citizens' safety? [60 words]Anne WhiteSep 21, 2004 14:5017067
Profiling an absolute necessity [95 words]C. CannonSep 21, 2004 13:2617066
Profiling [110 words]Susan KriegerSep 21, 2004 12:5217063
Outrage about profiling! [87 words]Shirley PylantSep 21, 2004 12:2517061
When Profiling is Justified [105 words]Robert SmithSep 21, 2004 12:1017058
I agree! [29 words]NinaSep 21, 2004 11:4717055
Shame on Amnesty International & USA [100 words]JALEH AZADSep 21, 2004 11:3017053
A balance [156 words]John H. RubelSep 21, 2004 11:0917051
Profiling Muslims [60 words]Alan SkorskiSep 21, 2004 10:5117048
Muslim Profiling [79 words]PARAug 16, 2006 20:3517048
Profiling is correct [174 words]Rabindra BhattacharjeeAug 25, 2006 01:5517048
Profiling muslims should be a law, not a debate [51 words]paulJun 21, 2007 00:1517048
change shoes [43 words]abby n.Dec 5, 2007 22:5417048

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