When They Come for You: How Police and Government Are Trampling Our Liberties - and How to Take Them Back

by David Kirby

A revealing book about how government, law enforcement, and bureaucratic interests are seizing our property, our children, our savings, and our fundamental American rights—and how to fight back.

Liberty and justice for all is the bedrock of American democracy, but has America betrayed our founders’ vision for the nation? In When They Come For You, New York Times bestselling author David Kirby exposes federal, state, and local violations of basic constitutional rights that should trouble every American, whether liberal, conservative, or libertarian. Free speech, privacy, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, due process, and equal protection under the law are rights that belong to every American citizen, but are being shredded at an alarming rate all across the country.

Police and prosecutorial misconduct, overzealous bureaucrats with virtually unchecked power, unwarranted searches, SWAT-style raids on the homes of innocent Americans, crackdowns on a free press and the right to protest, removing children from their parents without cause, “debtors prisons," restricting freedom of health choice, seizing private assets for government profit, and much more demonstrate how deeply our rights and our national values are eroding. When They Come For You uses true stories of everyday citizens to reveal how our federal, state, and municipal governments, police, lawmakers, judges, revenue agents, unelected power brokers, and even government social workers are eviscerating our most fundamental liberties. And, it shows how people are fighting back—and winning.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Political Science, Sociology

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 2019

Reviews

[Jeanette]

No rating, it's a DNF and quite earlier than most. His definitions are both realistically and pragmatically faulty. I couldn't begin to give this hodge podge more than 2 stars regardless. Because he doesn't seem to understand either law or the Constitution as it is, has been and within laws of each century -how that is applied. And not only to just citizens vs non-citizens either.

And worst of all posits from the get-go he states repeatedly that he is a Leftist who is anti-government "powers". I've lived 72 years in the crux of his onus and there is no such animal. Every progressive in economics or in any social avenues consistently has and will give more powers to all governments, not only the central government. Something the Founders and every Republic ever formed has little hope of "keeping" within that strength of all powerful and larger all the time government dictate and direction. In fact, our own USA Bill of Rights (first 10 Amendments) are not at all guaranteed by Kirby's definition of "adequate" government. The "eyes" here are so slanted, not only to definitions, but to government optimal "size" and power- that I don't think it is worth reading his conclusions from those held suppositions. 1 and 1 does not equal "smaller" less powerful central government of 3. It's not reality, nor is it holding any logical sense to describe such an impossibility.

This was written for those who know next to nothing about the Constitution, the law of the land (USA) presently, or who even understand what a government of individual freedoms secured IS and necessitates. (Like accepting the results of elections and process, for one.) What a Republic needs to consist of as its base foundation is misrepresented here. When that is gone, the whole house falls.

I'm sure the result of humongous, derelict, and corrupt powers in the center Federal levels, especially in those branches that are NOT of the first 3 tier, ARE trampling (as in the title) but it's not from the bilge conglomeration of criteria he has posited here. It's mainly partisan and patronizing cabals of long tenured elites who have made very cozy places and exemptions of themselves from the citizens' "musts". And will trample to the death any liberties to keep themselves in those cozy and powerful situations.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU is a terrifying, yet hopeful look at what is going on currently in the United States.

Initially, readers may think the author is a Conspiracy Theorist, but will quickly discover that author David Kirby has definitely done his homework for this book.

WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU is incredibly well researched and every American needs to read it. If you thought you knew what the government and other large corporations are up to, you would be Dead-Wrong.

Although the discoveries he made are very scary, David Kirby does not just point out the issues/problems, he also offers up hope in the form of suggestions on how to live an informed and proactive life.

I have no idea who it was that originally said, "If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem," but he/she/they were very much correct. However, it is very difficult to help fix an issue if you aren't aware that the problem exists. Read this book and begin to be proactive rather than reactive.

I rate this book as 4 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book.

To read more of my reviews visit my website at http://Amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com

Also, follow me here on Goodreads and/or send me a friend request.

I am also on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/Amiesbookrev...

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't your crazy uncle's conspiracy theory book. Incredibly well researched, written, and horrifying, this book rips the lid off any amount of rose colored glasses you might have been wearing re: our government and the cops in this country, among many other interesting topics, including civil forfeiture, vaccines, and researched backed data. It gets a bit dry in places and I think it could have been substantially edited to reduce the length of it, make it more palatable for every day readers. With that said, I think this should be required reading. You aren't paranoid, they really are coming for you, and while, obviously oppressed communities are far more often the target, if you think your privilege will save you when their sights are set, you need this book more than anyone.

[John Devlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author’s on solid ground when he lists problems with govt forfeiture, excessive bail, and surveillance, but after that the work becomes a litany of anecdotes intended to evoke outrage and astonishment.

Listing everything from lemonade stand interdiction to non pasteurized milk seizures aren’t really evidence of much. Additionally, the author mischaracterizes or simply omits facts in the civil rights area, and displays a rather perplexing contradiction when he argues against govt power in areas like bail but trumpets the use of big govt to protect certain groups he favors...and he says he a libertarian.

That’s fine but one can’t have big govt only when it’s convenient.

[David Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

STARRED REVIEW - "Booklist" is the review publication of the American Library Association. It is one of the three big book review journals, and librarians at 117,000 US libraries rely on it when ordering titles. They gave "When They Come For You" a starred review, which “recognizes books of outstanding quality, and is one of the most prestigious designations in the book industry.” @ALA_Booklist

I can’t share the whole thing until the review is published on 9/15, but here are some highlights:

In this rage-inducing, impeccably researched, and timely title, journalist Kirby provides a litany of examples of government disregard for civil liberties… Kirby is relentless in his research (copious end notes are provided) and readers will reel from one story after another… Kirby names names, brings receipts, and delivers a remarkably apolitical work of stirring power. An absolute must-read.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

The assumptions this author makes are faulty at best, and outright lies at worst. He demonizes anyone he doesn’t agree with politically and his conclusions are tidy and unrealistic, Painting with a broad brush, he leaves us feeling duped.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Written. Flawed in Spots. Didn't Live Up To Potential. This book was solid in a journalistic sense - it has quite a bibliography at the end, though it went a bit editorial at times. Does a good job of showing some of the numerous ways the US government at every level works to deny the rights of its citizens, and mostly does a good job of balancing criticism between "both" "major" US political parties. Cites the dramatically undercounted Washington Post numbers when making claims of how many people police have killed - that number counts for several years less than the number of people that are actually killed in any given year. Similarly misinformed regarding vaccines, but that one in particular shouldn't be shocking given the author's prior work. Overall a good primer for those who aren't yet aware of the full breadth of the US government's abuses, though independent research should be done after reading this book. Recommended.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are not stories of conspiracies or ones that are far fetched, but ones that are real and taken from everyday life and court cases. For people to believe that none of these could happen to them or their children would be a shame. I really would have liked the author to have looked at the Patriot Act more, for I don’t think people really know how all of our rights can be taken away because of that Act. He did show one case about the government looking at someone’s library account but when doing so they also get other peoples as well. It also gives them access to record phone conversations enter your home without a warrant all because of the attacks from 9-11 and now this act to protect against terrorism is actually being used by local, state, federal law enforcement agencies. Just something to think about. Overall a very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Ousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me laugh and cry, made me angry as hell and scared me shitless. Most of all, it made me think. I’m still thinking about ways to apply what I’ve learned to my own life.
If you’re interested in learning more about law, gaining a deeper insight regarding the risk to our liberties, give this compelling work a read.
I only hope Mr. Kirby will continue to share some of the many untold stories via a blog or podcast.

[Shannan Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although little scary that things like this happens, I felt this was a very informative and well read book.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Monica Willyard Moen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is a skilled storyteller, and for that, he should receive five stars. The reason I rated this book with three stars is that it is unbalanced in that it tells the side of the victim but not the side of the police that allegedly committed miss deeds. I have found that when it comes to a dispute between two people, there is his side, her side, and the truth which is usually somewhere in the middle. For example, in the first story in the book, a couple is rated and accused of providing alcohol to minors. They did in fact do this by not checking on the ages of the people attending their sons birthday party and by not having a conversation with him about inviting younger people to his birthday party with alcohol being present. On the other hand, the police in this situation seemed to use excessive force and over reacted to what was going on at the party. If I were on a jury, I would be expecting to find some fault on both sides and that both sides have done some things that were not a good idea. As a parent, I made it my business to know who was attending my child’s parties with her hosted in my own home or parties she attended at the home of other people. I also know that I am on the more cautious end of parenting and took a very hands-on approach when my daughter was growing up. I can’t expect others to parent the way I did. This book has a powerful message, and I really don’t want to detract from it. I’m uncomfortable with excepting it though because there is no balance so I don’t understand the thoughts or concerns of the law enforcement officers accused of doing something wrong. Without that, I don’t think I know the truth about the situations described in the book. By the way, if you read this in audiobook form, the narrator is very good.

[Hana Correa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely falls into the elite category of must read/ need to know information. This is a terrifying look at the role of government overreach and the infringement of our constitutional rights. What many of us take for granted, corrupt government officials work studiously to take away. Both comprehensive and exhaustively researched, this fact based novel brings forward both well documented instances of civil rights infringements, as well as, less known cases. Regardless if they are well publicized or not, each case is no less shocking. It is abundantly clear that democracy and our rights will die in the dark, and that we can only hope to maintain these rights by being vigilant and forcing accountability on our public officials. A must read regardless of which end of the political spectrum that you lean. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When They Come For You - How Police and Government Are Trampling our Liberties - And How to Take Them Back // by David Kirby

"Harrowing. This detailed and often shocking book...is investigative reporting at its most effective." -- Publishers Weekly

When They Come For You by David Kirby is an interesting look at the many ways US citizens can express themselves and live their lives as is allowed by the Constitution and other documents that build the foundation of the US legal system - but how they are mistreated, arrested, and sometimes prosecuted or even killed by their own government despite the laws set in place protecting them. In this book, Kirby shows us many examples of abuse on the local, state and federal level in many different parts of life, such as education, home, and transportation. He also showcases how different organizations throughout the US fight for the rights of citizens and how sometimes this leads to better laws and regulations.

This book is... eye-opening, to say the least. It is also somewhat terrifying. Many people are proud of their country and how much freedom is afforded to them, but here we see so many examples of how these freedoms are trampled on by the very people that are supposed to uphold them. The stories that are showcased in this book are well- researched and he lists his sources in the back of the book for anybody who wants to do their own research as well. I also like that he criticized both Democrats ad Republicans, showing the abuse that has happened under Obama as well as under Trump. What also makes this book feel so relevant is that he includes events from recent years with trials that have not happened yet, showing the readers that this is not just something abstract happening to certain people or in year past, but that this can happen to anyone and that we ourselves can influence the happenings in this country.

Thank you to the author, @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this informative book in exchange for an honest review.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From homes that were seized because the children of unsuspecting parents were selling drugs under their roof, to people who have gotten in trouble with the law for what they have said, I found many of these stories to be startling. I did not have any idea of the lack of protection offered to ordinary citizens. One of the most surprising things was that someone driving on a road could be pulled over and their money taken from them while being accused of having drug money when in fact the cash they carried could have very well been earned in a legal fashion, and how difficult it would be to get it back.

Some of the stories left me with very mixed emotions. In the first story, the police did act inappropriately in how they responded to a call about a keg party in a family home, but the issue remains there were many underage people there. (The parents bought the beer and were upstairs, away from the party.) Even though there was a pizza delivery guy who tipped the police off, the police were not supposed to enter any part of the premises that could not be seen from the street without a warrant, so because they looked into an enclosed backyard area, the charges were dropped against these parents, who purchased beer for minors.

Moreover, I noticed that this book really hits hard at organizations whose soul purpose is to help people, especially the police department. While there seems to be so much bad press about police officers in particular, and in some cases there is an element in this country that feels it is open season against them, I honestly think they are, for the most part, dedicated professionals trying to do the best job they can. So much focus is on the bad these days. I wonder how often when police get a call to go somewhere they think of those who have been lured to a nonexistent scene only to be shot. I’m sure their families are nervous for their safety. I believe in law and order. I don’t want to live in a country where lawlessness has taken over because no one wants to be a police officer anymore. Will it come to that?

I’d also like to note that there is some mention of things during the Obama administration that caught the authors attention, such as the media being targeted, that people think has only happened during the current Trump years.

A lot of change is needed, and this book certainly points that out. But it works both ways, doesn’t it? Citizens and authority figures alike need to work together in a respectful fashion to accomplish change. Not all these cases seem to be innocent people who did not deserve to get in trouble.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this book ! This is NOT a conspiracy theory book.. This is real court cases and real situations that have happened to real Americans. The author did extensive research over a period of time enough to gather evidence that the police and government are taking away all our rights. If you think this does not apply to you you are sadly mistaken. Read this book it will open your eyes to what is really happening in this country. Truly thankful to the author for this find body of work and for alerting the general public of what liberties and rights are disappearing under the boots of corrupt police and corrupt government officials. Please read this book it is a critical body of work. Very well done to the author and thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. This is a book to carefully read over and over and consider what steps you need to take to protect yourself, your family and your money from our government.

[Du · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. There are aspects that are interesting and certainly there are thought provoking issues raised, but overall I felt that this book was too emotional and didn't offer enough rationality. There also feels like a level of not seeing the whole story to these incidents that are noted. It is a downfall because you end up buying into the message and then stepping back and saying hey, what about this part or that notion, and the whole story suffers.

[Daniel DeLappe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book written on the most important issue today that falls short at times. Still an important book on the subject. I will give great credit that race is not the only problem with this system. Would have liked to have seen some other solution to ACABs let’s start with them providing their own insurance to work.

[Brenda Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enlightening reality of today's governmental overreach and the detrimental results to many Americans. Could have done without the Trump hate speech. The book would still have been worth reading but author was clearly anti-government regardless of which party is at the helm.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why is the state of civil liberties in this country so dismal? (Don't think it is? Well read the book jackass). This is what happens when a State hates its people so much it turns its police into an army to occupy itself.

[Thomas Mackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to stop halfway through. The depressing state of America's legal system and political dysfunction is too hard to work through when also dealing with cancer. One disaster at a time. I will read something lighter, like a murder mystery.

[Mlserna]

Really interesting to read what has happened to people.
Pretty horrifying to learn.

[Erica Drum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good read and book. I reccomended it to some of my friends. When is the government overreaching? All the time. What are our constitutional rights? Very little. I'm a Libratarian and belive in very little government. There are some views in this book I don't agree with but, overall a very good read. Some wonderful true accounts of government overreach. 1 in 6 famlies have to deal with CPS over a decade just one example in this book.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a fascinating, well researched read. If you are at all worried about your civil liberties and what can happen as they are slowly stripped away by big government, then read this book.

[Nunya · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read this year. Checked it out from the library. It is now on my "to buy" list.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a slight liberal bent to it but otherwise is chock full of good examples across the entire Law spectrum of how our rights are being trampled upon.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope lots of people read this.