Ok, this is the second news post that I have been amazed at the "side" that the author has taken.

You walk into a airport or on a plane with a button saying "Suspected Terrorist" you *ARE* going to get kicked off of the plane and probably should be arrested.

You walk into an airport putting a label on your luggage telling the TSA to stay out of the luggage and use the word bomb, you had better expect to be detained and/or arrested.

Now, before you all start saying that this is all because of 9/11, this has been going on for years...

You walk into a bank before 9/11, give the teller a note telling her to give you your [expletive] money, you better have expected to be arrested then too. Or talking about hijacking in an airport...

These are things that have always been and will never change.

It wasn't that long ago, I was outside my home with a camera around my neck when a police car drove up. He stopped, and asked me if I lived around here. At first, I was a little miffed that he asked me. What business of his was it. I told him that I lived in the house I was in front of, and he was happy and drove off. I later realized that it was good that he asked because he was making sure the neighborhood was safe. Something that I really appretiate since I do own a house in the area. It's nice to know the police are on the case as it were.

So to those who think that they should be allowed to wear "Suspected Terrorist" pins and put nasty notes to the TSA on their luggage and not have something happen to them. All I can say is: I am glad that these people are on the case and taking care of business.

I can see now that this blog is not for me and I'll not be visiting it anymore. So you won't have to put up with my bad English and grammar. I suspect that if I were to stick around, that I would be seeing posts of that sort here too.

Enjoy your fantasy life and stay away from airports.

You criticize the SS and you *ARE* going to get shot.

etc.

Thanks, Dave!

--sean

dave, you are a boob.

Edited by author 08-03-2003 01:29 AM
Dave Metzener:You walk into an airport putting a label on your luggage telling the TSA to stay out of the luggage and use the word bomb, you had better expect to be detained and/or arrested.

Okay, but the article says the note "was placed on top of clothes in a black gym bag" and not on the luggage. Does that make a difference to you? What if it was on the first page of a diary in the bag? Stored in a file on a floppy in the bag? In Latin?

This is not irritating to me, because it was a private exchange between the kid and the screener. He can make whatever point he wants, so long as he doesn't attempt to turn it into a circus performance. For that reason alone, I see this as a completely different situation than the John Gilmore case.

I am actually even more outraged by this. What we have here is a kid who knew his bag was going to be searched for no reason, and didn't like it. I've never checked any luggage on a plane for that reason, but now I know that people will be digging through all the bags.

My concern is that they may find something -- completely legal -- which causes suspicion or incites prejudice. A Communist pamphlet, ladies underwear, or anything that might appear to be out of the ordinary. I would definitely leave a note if I ever checked a bag.

Won't get into it here, but I have personal experience with this kind of thing. You don't mess with insane children, especially when they're over 30 and have legal authority. So, no mention of the word "bomb."

What really outrages me, though, is that this is a FELONY charge. Felony means it carries at least a one year sentence. Something which they admit didn't even cause them to bat an eyelash deserves a year behind bars? They're basically threatening him with jail time for a bad joke. They know for a fact that it was not a bomb threat, and it could not possibly be interpreted as a bomb threat, but the TSA is now acting as a comedy critic.

I put a little something about my experince with losing something after a TSA search here-> http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/news03c.shtml#1

Also there's a scan of the card TSA leaves behind and a link to the Post article about TSA being under pressure to stop theft by its inspectors.

What sort of outrageous bahaviour is this from any human? Let's put the legalities aside for a moment and check in with reality, he's far from being a kid. He's an adolescent smart-ass that is completely well aware of the sensitivities of the situation the world faces, yet chooses to use this as a platform gain a back slapping from his mates.

As opposed to the overly bureaucratic and grandstanding position the TSA may have taken over this case, I'm absolutely sick and tired of the complete lack of respect youth have for an authority. They use it as a playground for their social climbing, whilst the community and the legal system generally rollover meekly to the beat of political correctness.

This is a blatant combination of direspect and stupidity that deserves no sympathy.

Some of you people are nuts. The note did not claim to have a bomb. It merely *mentioned* a bomb, in the context of denying one. A note hidden in one's luggage is NOT comparable to shouting fire in a crowded theater.

Stop quaking with fear and come back to reality, my friends.

My wife pointed out that our local news paper (referencing the Associated Press quoted Ann Davis, who presented a different version of the wording of the note

> The note said, "Have you found the bomb yet?" and then "Nope, just clothes," according to Davis.

The critical difference is the use of a definite article: "the bomb" rather than "a bomb". It makes the hysteria seem almost justifiable. It just underlines my decision not to fly again until the War on Terror is over.

Can I just point out that TSA not only rummages through your bag, they TAKE STUFF? According to widespread media reports, TSA has *settled* close to 500 thefts, for a total of near $40,000. They *admit* to hiring 85 convicted felons to do the rummaging!

Thank goodness for teen smart-asses that help the rest of us remember that we are prone to cower in deference to any random bunch of thugs that claim authority.

Oh, I guess I forgot that "having respect for law enforcement" was a requirement to travel, "dubiousalibi." How silly of me!

--sean

The kid was being a sarcastic brat, no one's denying that. He was looking to provoke the bag searchers, and he clearly did which makes them look like bigger assholes than the kid.

Here's a good idea that I'm going to try out next time I fly. I'll put a copy of the 4th amendment in my possessions:

IV - Right of search and seizure regulated

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.


I'd love to see someone pulled aside for that one.

--sean

Edited by author 08-03-2003 10:51 AM
Even if you quote the constitution,your a terrorist:


http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/FBIsuspect.html

Look, wiseanduncanny, I couldn't agree with you more. The TSA have completely overplayed this and it's quite obvious they have a complex and an image problem.

My issue is that kind of behaviour for a 17-year old kid is utterly unacceptable in this current climate and certainly doesn't warrant slap on the wrist and bed without supper. We're all quick to jump on the TSA's back when there's been a security breach, but as soon as they ramp up a 'zero tolerance' policy, we're on them again.

I must admit my anger is solely directed at the 'sarcastic brat' in complete disbelief that someone would write that with the intention of someone else reading it. What sort of a person seriously writes a foul-mouthed agitation note like that that doesn't expect consequences??

Certainly someone that has got away with far too much in their life so far and thinks they can extend this egotistical holiday.

Riiiiiiiight, so it's appropriate to bring legal charges and claim that the kid made a threat when it is clearly not a threat, because it was "disrespectful" and we live in a troublesome "current climate"?

Bullshit, ya idiot. Utter bullshit.

If he claimed he DID have a bomb and the article misquoted what he wrote, then yes, you have a point. But the statement expressed disgust at the bag searchers and pride in NOT HAVING A BOMB. If the use of the term "fuck" (presumably the modal expletive at use in that note) is what turns disgust into being a threat, then you clearly live in a different reality than most people.

I'm unwilling to overreact to this kid's behavior just cuz it's disrespectful. I'm willing to APPLAUD the kid's behavior because it's disrespectful to a group of people who have repeatedly stolen items from bags, stomped on political speech represented in bags, and gleefully violate the 4th amendment every time they do their jobs. They deserve no respect from me.

So, here's some more "foul-mouthed agitation for you": You're a fucking idiot.

--sean

Hell, I've felt like doing this a lot - particularly after I flew from Reno to Chicago Midway and, upon looking in my bags, realized all my underwear (ALL of it!) was gone.

I guess if you were an underwear fetishist, that'd be the best job in the world. But I'm definitely leaving a note next time - though not with the word "bomb."