Begin forwarded message:
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: July 7, 2008 7:54:00 PM PDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED],
[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: DHS Wants All Airline Passengers to Wear Device That Can Be
Used to STUN Them
Want some torture with your peanuts?
P. JEFFREY BLACK & JEFFREY DENNING
http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/aviation-security/2008/Jul/01/want-some-torture-with-your-peanuts/#again
By Jeffrey Denning
Just when you thought you’ve heard it all...
A senior government official with the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) has expressed great interest in a so-called 'safety'
bracelet that would serve as a stun device, similar to that of a
police Taser®.
According to this promotional video found at the Lamperd Less Lethal
website, the bracelet would [have to] be worn by all airline
passengers.
This bracelet would:
• take the place of an airline boarding pass
• contain personal information about the traveler
• be able to monitor the whereabouts of each passenger and his/her
luggage
• shock the wearer on command, completely immobilizing him/her for
several minutes
The Electronic ID Bracelet, as it’s referred to as, would be worn by
every traveler “until they disembark the flight at their
destination.” Yes, you read that correctly. Every airline passenger
would be tracked by a government-funded GPS, containing personal,
private and confidential information, and it would shock the
customer worse than an electronic dog collar if he/she got out of line
Clearly the Electronic ID Bracelet is an euphuism for the EMD Safety
Bracelet, or at least it has a nefarious hidden ability, thus the
term ID Bracelet is ambiguous at best. EMD stands for Electro-
Musclar Disruption. Again, according to the promotional video the
bracelet can completely immobilize the wearer for several minutes.
So is the government really that interested in this bracelet? Yes!
According to a letter from DHS official, Paul S. Ruwaldt of the
Science and Technology Directorate, office of Research and
Development, to the inventor whom he had previously met with, he
wrote, “To make it clear, we [the federal government] are interested
in…the immobilizing security bracelet, and look forward to receiving
a written proposal.” The letterhead, in case you were wondering,
came from the DHS office at the William J. Hughes Technical Center
at the Atlantic City International Airport, or the Federal Aviation
Administration headquarters.
In another part of the letter, Mr. Ruwaldt confirmed, “It is
conceivable to envision a use to improve air security, on passenger
planes.”
Would every paying airline passenger flying on a commercial airplane
be mandated to wear one of these devices? I cringe at the thought.
Not only could it be used as a physical restraining device, but also
as a method of interrogation, according to the same aforementioned
letter from Mr. Ruwaldt.
Would you let them put one of those on your wrist? Would you allow
the airline employees, which would be mandated by the government, to
place such a bracelet on any member of your family?
Why are tax dollars being spent on something like this? Is this a
police state or is it America?
As we approach July 4th, Independence Day, I can’t help but think of
the blessing we have of living in America and being free from
hostile government forces. It calls to mind on of my favorite
speeches given by an American Founding Forefather, Patrick Henry,
who said,
“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price
of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what
course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me
death!”
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used cars.