Mutiny on Flight 613

[FN FAL]

...but I have no problem with regulating guns.

Regulate guns? You can regulate possession of guns and you can regulate importation of guns, but gun regulation is done though various buffer assemblies, fire control mechanisms, bolt and bolt carrier weight, bolt locking mechanisms and gas port settings.

Gun possession is already regulated under various state and federal laws, most of the federal ones can be found under the Gun Control Act of 1968, the National Firearms Act of 1934 and the Firearms Owner Protection Act of 1986.

 

[Freight Dog]

FAA Considering Passenger Ban

WASHINGTON, DC—Seeking to address "the number-one threat to airline security," the Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it will consider banning passengers on all domestic and international commercial flights.

"In every single breach of security in recent years, whether it was an act of terrorism or some other form of crime, it was a passenger who subverted the safety systems on board the aircraft or in the terminal," FAA administrator Marion Blakey said. "Even threats that came in the form of explosives inside baggage were eventually traced back to a ticketed individual. As great a revenue source as they have been, passengers simply represent too great a risk to the airline industry."

Under the proposed reforms, the FAA would institute a strict ban on adult passengers, passengers 18 and under, international travelers, and domestic customers. A battery of questions and ID checks will be used to determine whether an individual is a pilot, flight attendant, or federal security officer—the only humans who will be allowed to board an aircraft flying within or headed for the U.S.

In addition, security sensors installed at all gates will sound an alarm if they detect the presence of a 98.6-degree body temperature, and airport-security workers will be trained to spot and positively identify humans in the boarding area.
"Frankly, we've tried everything else," Blakey said. "We've put up more metal detectors, searched carry-on luggage, and prohibited passengers from traveling with sharp objects. Yet passengers still somehow continue to find ways to breach security. Clearly, the passengers have to go."

If approved, the new restrictions would go into effect sometime around Thanksgiving, before the busy holiday travel season. Customers who have already purchased tickets for flights scheduled to take place after the ban's enactment will receive a voucher good for travel to their final destination by bus or train. Should such transportation prove unavailable or inadequate, passengers on most major airlines will receive either a portion of their airfare refunded or a coupon redeemable for a future flight, from which they will also be banned.

"We realize that these new regulations would, for many air travelers, be a major inconvenience," Blakey said. "But we feel strongly that it's a small price to pay to ensure the safety of our skies."

While the ban's primary purpose would be to improve security, FAA spokesman John Gemberling said it would help the airlines' economic future, as well. As evidence, he pointed to the $7.7 billion losses posted by major airlines in 2001—much of which came in the wake of Sept. 11—and the $6 billion increase in passenger-screening costs since the tragedy.

"We've been stretched as thin as we can go," Gemberling said. "New bag-tracking measures ensure that a passenger is on the same flight as his or her luggage, but do little to eliminate the threat of said passenger placing an explosive in the luggage. All bags are currently being screened with bomb-detection machines, but even these $1 million devices are only equipped to detect a limited range of the most conventional explosives."

Added Gemberling: "They're certainly not going to be much help stopping the next guy who wants to blow up a plane with something like a shoe."
Even the stiff measures included in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which President Bush recently signed into law, have proven inadequate.
"Improved explosive-detection systems, fortified cockpit doors, more plainclothes sky marshals aboard planes, and mandatory anti-hijacking training for flight crews—none of it could eliminate the possibility of another Sept. 11 with 100 percent certainty," Gemberling said. "This will."
"We've tried every possible alternative, but nothing has worked," Gemberling continued. "For all our efforts, we keep coming back to the same central problem: humans."


Courtesy of The Onion

 

[pkober]

While the NSA was found to have broken the FISA laws, our country still needs an organization dedicated to electronic surveillance of potential threats. However, I do believe that these operations should be conducted within the confines of the law. If the government wants to survey citizens without warrants, the citizens should be the ones who get to decide whether to allow that sort of thing or not. And the tracking money thing, everyone knew we were tracking the financial details of terrorists, it's nothing new. Back before 9/11 an article was written about how SWIFT worked with the CIA tracking finances of Bin Laden. Even the administration talked about how they track terrorist finances. If someone doesn't want information leaked, they need to tighten the leash on their employees, because the government knows by now that the media loves to get the big scoop first.

If you google the NYT article from late June you can see that the Bush administration asked the NYT not to publish the article , but they did anyway. The media does love big scoops, however some also love to damage our country given the chance. They have chosen sides on the war and will take every chance to harm this administration. Not all media but the NYT does.

CLAMBAKE

 

[Icelandair]

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

The numbers don't lie folks.

I love how people love to dig up stuff from 1066 and say, "look at what the Christians did in the middle ages! See they are evil too." Islam was spread by the sword, often by small groups undermining the trust of others before turning on them. Read the history of how muhammed conquered mecca.

 

[brainhurts]

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

The numbers don't lie folks.

I love how people love to dig up stuff from 1066 and say, "look at what the Christians did in the middle ages! See they are evil too." Islam was spread by the sword, often by small groups undermining the trust of others before turning on them. Read the history of how muhammed conquered mecca.

This is where the peaceniks above are missing the boat. Its about the suitcase bomb in your towns, stupids.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Profiling is a terrible idea, not only because its blatant racism, but because it simply tells potential terrorists what exactly screeners are looking for.

Would you be happy if you could be kicked off an airplane because of your skin color? And not by someone with law enforcement authority, but by a bunch of panicking passengers that "thought" the language they couldn't even understand sounded threatening.

We didn't give a $hit about racism during WWII. In 1942, if you saw a German wandering around the docks, you called the cops, screw his little feelings. We are in a war PRIMARILY with fundamentalist ARAB MEN!! (yes, yes some women too)

The day an airliner is taken out by a bald white guy with a southern drawl is the day we start profiling me. If my religion glorified the killing of non-believers then NO I wouldn't be happy, but I'd understand. Especially if my religion condoned killing non-believers.

The only thing more shocking than the ridiculous level of violence coming out of the Islamic world is the genuine indifference shown by most of those Muslims who are not directly involved. I donate to the NRA. If the NRA plotted to blow up a plane I would stop the donations. Not so for many of the islamic type.

I don't claim to be an expert on the bible, but where exactly does it instruct Christians to kill non-believers? O.K. lets say it does somewhere. Do we have legions of radical followers getting in line to carry out the will of god? NO!!

I don't think profiling alone is the answer. I think it is an absolutely necessary component of a overall screening process. We are going to "feel good" this country to it's ruin.

flame away ACLU

 

[Jonny Sacko]

I'll second that!! Flame away piss ant ACLU's. Hopefully a plane load of ACLU's will be the next target, now that would make happiness!, exept I'd be the idiot upfront just shaking my head as the bomb explodes.

 

[FN FAL]

Do we have legions of radical followers getting in line to carry out the will of god? NO!!

Yea you do, the pro-death penalty crowd is trying to get the death penalty in Wisconsin and there will be premliminary voting on it this state election.

 

[Deuce130]

Yea you do, the pro-death penalty crowd is trying to get the death penalty in Wisconsin and there will be premliminary voting on it this state election.

What does that have to do with Christians? Absolutely nothing. I'd wage the pro-death penalty crowd is pretty diverse. And do you see who is always protesting outside prisons? Yep, Catholic priests and nuns. Another thing you point out is the fact that there will be VOTING on the issue. Islamic terrorists skip right over the ballot box and go straight to kidnapping, videotaping, chanting, then beheading. To even make a comparison between the islamic radicals in the world to the christian radicals in the US is really stretching it. Your bias is showing, FN FAL. Better put it away before you say something really stupid.

I've read enough of your posts to know that you won't rebut my argument, you'll only attack my spelling or grammar. In order to help you with your reply, I've intentionally misspelled words in this email and/or used poor grammar. Fire away.

 

[AirBadger]

I'll second that!! Flame away piss ant ACLU's. Hopefully a plane load of ACLU's will be the next target, now that would make happiness!, exept I'd be the idiot upfront just shaking my head as the bomb explodes.

Boy those four letters "ACLU" really get you guys going. All I said was that they have a right to do what they do. I'm not pro/anti ACLU. But I'd rather have them on my side protecting me than not, even if they are extreme in a few cases.

Profiling just doesn't work. Period. End of story. Security experts, El Al, even guys from MIT know it doesn't work. And by the way, I really hope you don't seriously wish that a plane full of Americans are blown up because they have a different political view than your own. I'm sure you're exaggerating and don't wish that on your fellow citizens, but really, you shouldn't make statements like that.