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Comment by georgeplusplus | Hacker News Reader

This is why I will never understand my Europeans peers views on government.

How you are ok with the action, but not the result is I think what separates us and The end do not justify the means come to mind here.

Personally I think if youre stealing someone's property regardless if it goes into distributed tax coffers that benefit the public doesn't make it ok.

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So, what, if you make a bunch of money selling stolen goods you should be able to keep the proceeds? Surely there are plenty of cases where assets directly involved in the commission of a convicted crime may be justifiably confiscated? Seems like you’re assuming the same flimsy conditions defined in the US’s backwards civil forfeiture laws apply elsewhere in the world.

I think you misunderstand my point and unfortunately come off as not civil in your reaponse, I'm not for civil forfeiture at all. Don't steal. I was surprised you support civil forfeiture and even have an air of mightier then thou since you believe the things stolen to go to a good cause.

You're also conflating criminal forfeiture with civil in your example.

I think question really is in what part of process the forfeiture happens.

In Europe it is after the judgement as part of it. So the tools used in crime might be taken away. A gun in armed robbery. Maybe getaway vehicle if it is used multiple times. Special tools used for breaking in.

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