Boston's a Ghost Town: Is That a Smart Move?

Newser ^ | 04/19/2013 | By John Johnson

[Responsibility2nd]

As the manhunt for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev continues, one of the questions getting tossed around is whether the powers-that-be overreacted by shutting down the city of Boston. (Business Insider rounds up some of the remarkable photos being tweeted of the "ghost town.") Some samples:

• Nate Silver of the New York Times, via tweet: "Can't wait til they catch the bastard, but it's valid to inquire about the tangible and intangible costs of shutting a whole city down."
• Allahpundit, Hot Air: "You don’t want people milling about in a park when there’s a guy with a suicide vest, guns, and ammo on the loose. But then, murder suspects are on the loose all the time in big cities and nothing shuts down for them, even though in theory they’re just as likely to go out in a blaze of nutty glory among a crowd. If you’re an aspiring terrorist, knowing that you can shut down a city for a day must be encouraging."
• Andrew Sullivan, the Dish: "I take Allahpundit’s point. If we discover this is a function of two twenty-something loser religious fanatics, what kind of precedent are we setting?"
• First line in Bloomberg report: "An American hub of finance and technology was immobilized Friday by a terrorist manhunt that idled or distracted more than 1.5 million workers."
• Quartz reports that "shut-it-down" has evolved into the go-to response for cities in any kind of emergency. It quotes a security analyst calling today's decision smart: "The priority is to get everyone off the streets," he says. "You have a person who has shown the ability to use explosives and has firearms. That puts the public at risk, and we have learned that we have a responsibility to prevent further injury to the public."

[Responsibility2nd]

 

Well at least the Dunkin' Donuts are busy.

[ConservativeStatement]

“Free ‘Em All Deval” takes on new meaning.

[pgkdan]

I think this response is just ridiculous. How long do they plan to keep people locked up in their houses? The nanny state triumphs.

[Responsibility2nd]

 

Los Angeles didn't shut down when a crazy mad cop killer was on the loose. But of course LA citizens had nothing to worry about from Chris Dorner. They did however - have PLENTY to worry about from crazy mad citizen shooting cops.

[Responsibility2nd]

I wonder if the cops catch you out driving about - will they arrest you?

[unixfox]

I can see closing down a section they think he may be, but the whole city? Seriously?

Just sayin.

[sodpoodle]

Sheltering in place doesn’t seem very American does it? Soon the general public will want to get out and about their business.

Looks like one of those Weather Channel’s Armageddon: “It Could Happen Tomorrow”

These are the times that call for a ‘well regulated militia’

[nascarnation]

I’m not very familiar with Deval Patrick, but I sure get a Baraq Obama vibe every time I see him on tv. Another Harvard Halfrican from Chicago.

I’m sure we’ll see him in the POTUS race one of these years.

[FlJoePa]

Makes the U.S. look like a bunch of sissies.

[what's up]

These are the times that call for a ‘well regulated militia’

True.

Neighborhood Watches of law-abiding gun-toting citizens would bring a lot of reassurance to the city right now.

When it's just the police who have guns there just aren't enough to cover the city.

[MNDude]

Our country has become pathetic! Hyper-drama and fear for every single incident.

Yes, the guy is a dangerous murdered, but he’s a single 19 year old. Does the entire town really need to be on lockdown?

Is this really the country that beat the Nazi’s and the Japanese in WWII?

[Cyber Liberty]

I think it’s a stupid move that’s going to cost a lot more lives in the long run when the rest of the jihadists see what can happen. This is sure to happen again in another city now. A fine day’s work, Governor.

[Responsibility2nd]

Two dumb (bleep) punks are doing this. A Billion Dollar Shut-Down

Don’t think for a moment that real terrorist aren’t paying attention.

[DJ MacWoW]

Endless FReepathons
Do you Know Why?

There are loyal posters that donate every FReepathon. Some donate several times during every 'thon. But others never donate. Why?

1 My enemies haven't been zotted.
2 The owner doesn't support my candidate.
3 FR won't "upgrade" to "Like" buttons and blinky crap.
4 Someone else will donate.
5 My friend was zotted.
6 I lost my job and have no income.

Only one of those is a legitimate reason.

Support It Or Lose It

[Georgia Girl 2]

I find this de facto martial law disturbing. They are looking for one 19 year old thug. So everytime they have a manhunt from now on is there going to be martial law? Its a bad precedent. But I predict they will try to make it standard operating procedure.

[Bratch]

Practicing for when TPTB declare martial law?

[ObozoMustGo2012]

Did I miss something?? I thought i read a thread from earlier today that they had him surrounded in a house??

[montag813]

It reeks of impotence...the typical liberal response to terror and crime. Just as their answer to mass shooters is to disarm the public.

[jimfree]

I get a sense of Boston being populated by Eloi. The response just seems to me rather creepy.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

Everybody’s hunkered down. Question: would people prefer protection of their home with a gun in their hand or MSNBC on their television?