Holiday Memories You'll Cherish Forever

steynonline.com ^ | 7-25-2014 | Mark Steyn

[servo1969]

This is the evil of a dying republic - waving through gangbangers at the southern border, but at the northern border detaining boy scouts for four hours. No novelist or movie director would attempt that contrast - it's too pat, too neat. But it's somehow become American reality in the 21st century.

Just to be clear: that boy scout did nothing wrong. When the CBP officer demanded he hand over the camera, Mr Fox should have refused and asked to see the agent's supervisor.

But it gets better:

Another of the Scouts was taking luggage from the top of a van to be searched when something startling happened.

"He hears a snap of a holster, turns around, and here's this agent, both hands on a loaded pistol, pointing at the young man's head," Fox explained.

Fox said that had them all in fear.

Ultimately no one was hurt or arrested, and after about four hours they were allowed to continue their trip into Alaska.

"No one was hurt or arrested": Two and a third centuries after a great revolution for the right to live in liberty, law-abiding Americans are apparently now grateful not to be shot or incarcerated after interactions with their government. If you're wondering what the short-trousered national-security threat did wrong, he apparently reached for his suitcase "without authorization".

Oh, my. As I always say round about this point in the story, if you need to level a gun at a boy scout's head, you're doing it wrong.

[spodefly]

BTTT

[Kirkwood]

That’s an interesting story. Why haven’t I heard that before? To have a congressman get involved in a TSA theft ring should be big news. What congressman was this?

[rmh47]

I was born (in 1947) in the Roman Empire. Now I live in Italy.

In one lifetime.

Sigh.

[OneWingedShark]

Brochure complete.
Here's the link.
(Direct Link)

[null and void]

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[GeronL]

Sodomy Scouts of America

“Hey we’re PC now, you can’t do that!”

[Slings and Arrows]

Steyn ping.

[FBD]

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[bamahead]

Two and a third centuries after a great revolution for the right to live in liberty, law-abiding Americans are apparently now grateful not to be shot or incarcerated after interactions with their government.



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[Lady Jag]

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[Still Thinking]

Scary and stupid, a dangerous combination. preconditions for employment in Obama's State Circus

Edited for relevance and clarity. ;)

[Still Thinking]

Is it really a federal crime to take a picture of a federal officer? If so, please give a link, I can’t find one googling it.

Who cares? Even if it is, it's totally invalid. They work for us, not the perverse.