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NPR - After Private Pilots Complain, Customs Rethinks Intercept Policy
Federal border security agents have sharply reduced intercepts of general aviation aircraft, following complaints by pilots that excessive police action at small airports is restricting the freedom to fly. (www.npr.org) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Key to all of this illegal activity is "Warrantless" searches and seizures. Anyone has the right to refuse such a search under the law whence the jack booted thugs will no doubt handcuff them or worse and proceed to rip their plane apart. This is symptomatic of a federal government that is totally out of control and far outside the bounds of the constitutional rule of law and doesn't care in the least. And why not? They're attitude seems clearly to be that they are the feds and they can do whatever, whenever they like. Nothing it seems will be done about it. Consider the young woman who was gunned down by these "law enforcement" officers in our nation's capitol with her infant child aboard, and for doing what? Panicking and trying desperately to vacate the area after making a wrong turn and stumbling accidentally into a WH security checkpoint? Has anyone been held accountable for that gross "miscarriage of justice?" Of course not. Members of Congress behaved like clapping seals when the news was first broke to them.
Here are the real problems:
1) "Their explanation: Homeland Security flagged his plane as suspicious." Who has the authority to do this without the proper probable cause???
2) "When we do make a mistake..." - One of those "MISTAKES" may well result in an innocent person getting fatally shot by one of those overzealous "geared up", Schwarzenegger wannabe commandos!!!
3) What happens when/if, during one of those warrantless searches, the LEOs find something ELSE, not drug related, like a personally owned firearm, legal in the owners home and destination states, but NOT in the state where they are refueling? It has happened!!!
WHO IS IN CONTROL??? Obviously not anyone that understands the US Constitution! And, PLEASE do not cite that "we give up some of our rights" when we accepts the "privilege" of being allowed to have a pilots license. We don't give up any rights for the privilege of having a drivers license and driving on surface roads!!! What is next, a "Walking License" for the privilege of walking anywhere? This STILL isn't New York City where you can be stopped and questioned for "suspicious walking", yet!!!
1) "Their explanation: Homeland Security flagged his plane as suspicious." Who has the authority to do this without the proper probable cause???
2) "When we do make a mistake..." - One of those "MISTAKES" may well result in an innocent person getting fatally shot by one of those overzealous "geared up", Schwarzenegger wannabe commandos!!!
3) What happens when/if, during one of those warrantless searches, the LEOs find something ELSE, not drug related, like a personally owned firearm, legal in the owners home and destination states, but NOT in the state where they are refueling? It has happened!!!
WHO IS IN CONTROL??? Obviously not anyone that understands the US Constitution! And, PLEASE do not cite that "we give up some of our rights" when we accepts the "privilege" of being allowed to have a pilots license. We don't give up any rights for the privilege of having a drivers license and driving on surface roads!!! What is next, a "Walking License" for the privilege of walking anywhere? This STILL isn't New York City where you can be stopped and questioned for "suspicious walking", yet!!!
Please keep in mind folks, that I do not necessarily agree with these policies. I am pointing out that I understand why they exist.
Let us keep in mind that operating an aircraft is not a right.
Upon taking to the skies over the US, there are certain terms and conditions under which the privilege to fly is granted. Private pilots upon accepting their license acknowledge those terms and conditions.
Yes, some rights afforded to ordinary citizens are not necessarily available to aircraft operators.
Upon taking to the skies over the US, there are certain terms and conditions under which the privilege to fly is granted. Private pilots upon accepting their license acknowledge those terms and conditions.
Yes, some rights afforded to ordinary citizens are not necessarily available to aircraft operators.
General Aviation pilots ARE "ordinary citizens"!!! NO ONE cedes ANY rights when they are granted a license for a "privilege"!!! People with ordinary drivers licenses are STILL protected by the US Constitution and cannot be randomly stopped and searched without VERIFIABLE probable cause!!!
"A 32-percent success rate is not bad in the law enforcement community". I wish my parents agreed with this philosophy when I was in school...