(Just The News)—Since the advent of DNA testing, law enforcement agencies have been able to prosecute crimes – and exonerate the wrongly convicted – with greater certainty than ever before.
Though not perfect, genetic technology has brought justice to scores of violent crime victims and their families, and with them has come what the American Civil Liberties Union called a “Pandora’s box” of constitutional privacy issues.
In the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court case Maryland v. King, justices narrowly ruled that it was not a violation of a person’s Fourth Amendment rights to collect a DNA sample upon their arrest. In keeping with that ruling, 34 states and the federal government now have laws on the books authorizing DNA collection upon arrest for certain crimes.
Once taken, DNA samples are processed in a laboratory where they are reduced down to a series of numbers which are then linked to a unique identifier within the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS. That identifier contains no additional personal information.
If someone is arrested for one crime and their DNA matches the evidence from another, the justice process begins for the matching crimes, starting with a second DNA swab to confirm.
Sen. Frank Farry, R-Langhorne, would like to see Pennsylvania join other states in collecting samples from a much wider group of people with Senate Bill 912.
The legislation would require the collection of DNA samples from “persons arrested for serious violent or sexual crimes” as well as those convicted of criminal homicide. However, the bill goes well beyond felonies, enumerating a series of misdemeanors including theft and writing bad checks in its list of qualifying offenses.
Despite long odds in the House, the lower chamber’s Judiciary Committee held an informational hearing Wednesday where it heard testimony from both supporters and opponents of the Senate bill and similar legislation.
Among them was Ashley Spence of the DNA Justice Project.
While a sophomore at Arizona State University, Spence was brutally raped and beaten over the course of hours during a home invasion. Years later, a man was arrested for an attempted break-in in California, where a collection law is on the books. His DNA matched that of her attacker.
Spence wasn’t alone. The attacker’s DNA matched crimes in several other states, and police found a collection of women’s underwear and identification cards from around the world at his home.
Since justice was served in her case, Spence has pushed for legislation requiring DNA collection across the country, including the commonwealth.
“Here’s the truth as the law stands in Pennsylvania today,” said Spence. “Had my perpetrator been arrested, you would not have swabbed his cheek, and he would still be free today to rape and harm and terrorize his next victims.”
In other cases, DNA evidence has brought freedom to those wrongfully convicted.
James Tillman served more than 18 years in prison for a rape that occurred in 1988. In 2006, DNA evidence from the victim’s rape kit exonerated Tillman and led to the conviction of a man who was currently serving time for another crime.
“Every time someone is wrongfully accused, a guilty party walks free,” said Tillman. “We owe it to ourselves, to our aunts, cousins, mothers, daughters to not allow a handful of bad actors in our community to make life a living nightmare for others.”
For Tillman, giving a DNA sample is simple.
He told The Center Square, “Take my DNA because if I have nothing to hide and I know that the state is going to look after the DNA.”
That’s where the issue gets thornier for opponents to the law. They say that regardless of how many lives may be saved by DNA collection, it represents a dangerous step toward unlawful search and seizure. They say the bar for obtaining a search warrant should be maintained.
As to the Supreme Court’s ruling to the contrary, Elizabeth Randol, legislative director of the Pennsylvania ACLU, said “Just because the state is permitted to do something doesn’t mean it should,” invoking Justice Antonin Scalia who passionately dissented.
States which have DNA collection on the books have leadership that covers the political spectrum. Opposition does as well. Randol pointed to previous no votes from Republican Sens. Cris Dush of Brookville and Dawn Keefer of Dillsburg. She also asked the committee to put on their “Libertarian hats” to consider the issue.
“Our most personal and private genetic data would be available not just in Pennsylvania to state and local authorities, but also accessible to federal authorities and uploaded into federal databases, regardless of who’s at the helm,” said Randol. “And the rapid pace of technological and scientific advances makes it difficult to imagine all the ways in which the government could gather, analyze, track, categorize, and surveille us.”
Advocates say that people misunderstand the highly secure process. They highlight the security of CODIS, which began in 1990 and went national in 1998. Spence even has her DNA code printed on her business cards to demonstrate the harmlessness of the data housed by the government, distinct from DNA analysis done by medical and genealogical companies.
In fact, it’s so secure that Senior Fellow and Director at the Center on Public Safety and Justice, NORC at the University of Chicago, Dr. John Roman said “Law enforcement and labs all around the country are forever pushing the FBI to loosen their restrictions and regulations on the way evidence is processed in the system because it is so tightly regulated and so restricted.”
That the FBI has fended off those pushes in the past, however, does not influence whether technologies, uses, and policies may change in the future. As an example, Radol pointed to DNA collection by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement on children as young as four.
“It’s absolutely a concern that the Trump administration or future administrations could seek to loosen FBI restrictions, which is why our state legislature must strengthen safeguards around the most potent private information of Pennsylvanians — our genetic information,” Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, told The Center Square.
To that end, attorney and Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Bellevue, pointed to her HB 1179, which would give individuals ownership rights to their DNA, preventing overreach in the private sector. She is among a growing body of legislators showing concern for where new technologies – and the potential to abuse them – may take us.
“I think one person wrongly convicted for a crime is one too many,” said Kinkead. “But we have to balance that with the inherent privacy rights that we are guaranteed under the Fourth Amendment.”
For Tillman, the future is bright and progress inevitable, thanks to DNA collection and technological innovations.
“It’s a tool,” said Tillman. “Times are changing. Technology is changing. AI is here.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.