Posted on 06/03/2005 4:33:39 AM PDT by ActionNewsBill
On one occasion I was relieved of my very intimidating nail scissors.
On another, a plastic cork screw was confiscated.
I guess I'm lucky to be walkin' around a free 69 year old Irish-American "terrorist".
Double sign....
If this was an isolated incident, then I would agree with your question.
Are you new to Free Republic? Do you know how to search the archives?
Sadly, this is all too common and is repeated almost daily in our nation.
Heck, I could give you even more examples from my own personal experiences of flying. Thankfully, I am a private pilot and rarely use the national airlines today.
Like I said before, I am now prohibited from flying on commercial airlines because I carry a BIC cigarette lighter.
"Armed American citizens that will sacrifice their own lives to protect others."
There are any number of issues with this solution.
First, you're fighting the last terrorist attack. There is absolutely nothing that an armed passenger can do against a remotely detonated bomb or one that is time fused. Your call to eliminate all security check points would only lead to any number of them being placed on board an aircraft.
Second, why do you want to place American citizens into a situation where they might have to sacrifice their lives to prevent a terrorist bombing when there are far more effective methods such as security check points to prevent the introduction of bombs onto commercial aircraft that are available?
Third, exactly which passengers do you propose being allowed to carry a fire arm onto an aircraft? Oh, yeah, American citizens. Well, do you propose citizenship checks along with metal detectors to screen out non-citizens? Exactly how will this prevent the formation of long lines at the check-in? I suppose you'd allow terrorists who happen to be American citizens to carry as well?
And, your next solution is....?
"Did you really think we want those laws observed?" said Dr. Ferris. "We want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it...
There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals.
Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone?
But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt."
"First thing on my agenda if asked the same question is firing any bozo with your attitude."
Really? You believe any one who believes that keeping armed terrorists off of commercial airlines is a 'bozo' and should be 'fired'? Well, that's certainly worth considering.
Poor Hunble, you are such a victim.
Oh wait, you aren't banned from flying, just from bringing along a lighter.
Oh the horror. Nevermind that matches are still okay or that he could guy a cheap lighter off the plane.
Still the victim.
You seem to believe that by going after grannies with butter knives, TSA is keeping flights safe from terrorists.
You could look at my Profile Page and see for yourself.
Why are you deranged, psychotic, perhaps? Because you see your fellow Americans as terrorists, and not as Americans.
1. Profile passengers based on their ethnicity and religious preference.
No profiling is required.
2. Arm the pilots.
Everyone on the aircraft may, or may not be armed. Nobody will ever know.
3. Allow concealed weapons license holders to carry on board flights.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Why should only licensed concealed weapon holders have the right to protect their own life?
Everyone on an American airliner may or may not be armed at any time. Now, as a terrorist, are you willing to take that risk?
Our founding fathers had the correct answers, if we only stop and listen.
This poor 57 year old woman had just spent what, a week?, two weeks?, living out of a suitcase with thirty seven middle school kids!
That TSA-hole was lucky she didn't rip that butter knife from his hand and stab him until she couldn't find another clean spot.
Where is the constitutional right to ride an airplane? What rights of hers were violated? You sympathize with her. I don't. I find her actions very, very suspicious. I despise the left's tactics to disrupt and this school official has all the markings of Exhibit A.
1. Profile passengers based on their ethnicity and religious preference.
2. Arm the pilots.
3. Allow concealed weapons license holders to carry on board flights.
Problem solved.
Until the terrorists are not ethnic (John Walker Lindh) or dupes (medicated elderly/disabled)
My point was that just because 80% of them are jerks doesn't mean that she isn't one of the 20%. You're doing guilt by association.
There are any number of issues with this solution.
First, you're fighting the last terrorist attack. There is absolutely nothing that an armed passenger can do against a remotely detonated bomb or one that is time fused. Eliminating all security check points would only lead to any number of them being placed on board an aircraft.
Exactly which passengers do you propose being allowed to carry a fire arm onto an aircraft? Oh, yeah, American citizens. Well, do you propose citizenship checks along with metal detectors to screen out non-citizens? I suppose you'd allow terrorists who happen to be American citizens to carry as well?
BTW, my CCP is a paper form very much like a hunting license and easily forged. My state is a 'shall-issue' state where any resident of more than 180 days without a criminal background 'shall' be issued a permit. Are you suggesting that any citizen should be denied such a permit based upon their relgious and ethnic backgrounds? Do you have any other groups or reasons in mind to prevent otherwise lawfully qualified persons from being granted a CCP?
"Currently, in Iraq, they are paying men to drive cars from one location to another. The driver does not know the car is packed with explosives and is detonated remotely."
Good point. This is happening via car repair shops in Baghdad according to CBS yesterday. The drivers leave without realizing that they have a bomb on their car. The terrorists then follow them with a remote control and detonate the car at the appropriate time.
Anybody can be used by a terrorist.
Wrong. There are scores of stories of people who weren't breaking the rules and still had to endure bizarre and perverse TSA behavior.
TSA doesn't work. If the terrorists had tried another attack, they would have a 50/50 chance of success if TSA were the only obstacle they faced.
Air Marshalls, armed pilots, and the fact that the passengers are alert to the new realities of hijacking (it's no longer a "wait out the idiot" situation) have a much better chance of thwarting hijackers than confiscating butter knives and feeling up grade schoolers.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Sir, are you a Conservative, or is the Constitution something totally new to you?
"You seem to believe that by going after grannies with butter knives, TSA is keeping flights safe from terrorists."
Please quit distoring the facts for rhetorical purposes. This 'grannie' was carrying a butter knife with a serrated edge that was over five inches in length. I would remind you that the terrorists on 9/11 used weapons of much less lethality.
I would also remind you that 'grannie' could have been carrying a weapon on board the aircraft to give to a terrorist. You are aware that terrorists have used unwitting passengers in the past to ferry their bombs aboard aircraft?
Point taken.
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