Shock Bracelet Considered For Airline Passengers, Border Control

Information Week ^ | 7/08/2008 | Thomas Claburn

[Oyarsa]

The Department of Homeland Security has solicited a proposal from a Canadian security company to develop a stun bracelet.

In order to enhance the security of air travel and to help manage illegal immigration, the Department of Homeland Security has solicited a proposal from a Canadian security company to develop a passenger stun bracelet.

[DonaldC]

This is crap and it stinkith with a mighty stink.

[DonaldC]

And homeland security has outlived its usefulness.

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

"Anticipating questions about passenger willingness to don a shock bracelet, Hahne was quick to defend the idea. "When people say they're not going to wear one, they need to be made aware that the bracelets are totally inert until the flight is airborne and the flight crew determines an attack is underway," he said."

What if a perp get his hands on a control device for these bracelets?...

[MindBender26]

Idiots.

[Always Right]

What a crock of an article. The ‘proof’ they cite is a letter that is written concerning prisioner transportation. This article is extremely misleading if not outright lying.

[Ender Wiggin]

Horse spit.

That aside, anyone who can hack the signal protocol can themselves immobilize large numbers of people who were collared.

[TomGuy]

HSD would have to first catch the illegals to get them to wear the bracelet.

Then the Courts would nullify those (leading to additional civil rights lawsuits and settlement payments to the illegals) unless each illegal was given a trial with his/her own attorney — at taxpayer expense.

[Whoever came up with that idea needs to consider retirement.]

[Always Right]

And homeland security has outlived its usefulness.

The proposed use isn't for passengers, it is for transportating prisioners. The article is a crock. Read the 'letter' they cite in the article.

[Political Junkie Too]

Somebody explain to me why I can't use my cell phone on the plane because it might interfere with the navigation, but having 150 radio devices attached to the passengers waiting for a transmitter to activate them is okay with the navigation system?

-PJ

[JamesP81]

Just saw a news report this morning that said the airlines are losing huge amounts of money because people are tired of crappy service and being molested by TSA goons every time they try to get on a plane. This would bankrupt every airline.

[TonyM]

How about these for elected representatives and the judiciary?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

When we fly the illegal enemy combatants out of GITMO we can use these bracelets to help keep them under control.

[DannyTN]

Finally! They are doing something about illegal aliens.

Just wait until those Mexicans try to fly into the U.S.! Our homeland security experts will be there to check immigration status mid-flight and shock them into submission if they don’t pass muster.

[DannyTN]

"What a crock of an article. The ‘proof’ they cite is a letter that is written concerning prisioner transportation. This article is extremely misleading if not outright lying."

That makes sense. I can see where in light of the recent attack on an immigration bus, that such a device for "prisoners" could be useful.

[Oyarsa]

“The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.”

—attributed to Thomas Jefferson

Personally, I would rather American citizens be alert to a possible danger to their liberty than unaware of it until it is implemented at all.

[indcons]

“In order to enhance the security of air travel and to help manage illegal immigration,...”

These morons led by Chertoff will use illegal immigration as an excuse for considering any measure that can curtail the rights of citizens and legal immigrants. Want to control the criminal invasion? Build the wall first and mine it on both sides.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

My cousin flys to pick up prisoners who are being extradited from another state. Put one of these bracelets on the prisoner as another means of guaranteeing that they are always under control.

[TommyDale]

Yeah, this will gain lots of new passengers...

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Headline?

In lieu of Fairness Doctrine?
To buoy democracy: shock bracelets for radio listeners, blog readers
House Democrats worry about "right wing threat," want diversity

[steve-b]

I want both candidates at the debate wearing them, to be activated every time they tell a lie. The debates would end up looking like a Mexican hat dance.

[yldstrk]

Guess most people won’t be flying.

[willgolfforfood]

This reminds me of a Simpson's episode, where the entire family was wired up, and could take turns shocking each other if they weren't happy with a family member for whatever reason.

About 30 seconds into that scenario they were shocking each other so much and so hard the lights of Springfield began to dim out. I laughed until I fell off the couch.

It wouldn't be funny at 30,000 feet, with 150 people getting shocked silly with these things, though.

[tcostell]

Typical liberal thinking. Punish the innocent but don’t allow anyone to confront or punish the guilty. Why? Because liberals are cowards and the innocent are less likely to require courage to deal with them.

[hometoroost]

I will be doing all of my future meetings by phone or video conference. As much as I like being face-to-face with people I already feel like we’re being treated like cattle. This is just too much.

[madinmadtown]

It seems that every month the airline industry imposes yet another restriction on the passenger. It used to be fun to fly. It feels like the Marquis de Sade is now in charge of airline travel.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Department of Homeland Security.

http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm

Start calling them NOW.

Citizen Line

* Operator Number: 202-282-8000

* Comment Line: 202-282-8495

Mailing Address

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

Immigration Questions

* Immigration questions answered by US Citizenship and Immigration Services National Customer Service Center:
1-800-375-5283

Send a message using our online form about FOIA, Jobs, Security Threats, Website Issues or DHS Press.
http://contact.dhs.gov/

Call, write, phone, email... you get the point.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Additional information:

http://chs-republicans.house.gov/

Peter T. King, NY

Ranking Member

Lamar S. Smith, TX
Christopher Shays, CT
Mark E. Souder, IN
Tom Davis, VA
Dan Lungren, CA
Mike Rogers, AL
Dave G. Reichert, WA
Michael T. McCaul, TX
Charlie Dent, PA
Ginny Brown-Waite, FL
Gus M. Bilirakis, FL
David Davis, TN
Dr. Paul Broun, GA
Candice Miller, MI

http://homeland.house.gov/about/members.asp
Majority Members

Bennie G. Thompson (MS-2)
Chairman of the full Committee on Homeland Security.

Loretta Sanchez (CA-47)
Vice Chair of the full Committee and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism

Ed Markey (MA-7)

Norman D. Dicks (WA-6)

Jane Harman (CA-36)
Chair of the Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment

Peter DeFazio (OR-4)

Nita Lowey (NY-18)

Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)

Zoe Lofgren (CA-16)

Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX-18)
Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection

Donna Christensen (USVI)

Bob Etheridge (NC-2)

James R. Langevin (RI-2)
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology

Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response

Christopher P. Carney (PA-10)
is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight and is serving his first term in Congress...

Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11)

Al Green (TX-9)

Ed Perlmutter (CO-7)

Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-8)

U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20515

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[Eroteme]

Actually, the letter to which you refer does reference potential for use on passenger planes. Yes, it specifically cites interest for the device's potential in prisoner transport. But in the very next sentence it says, In addition, it is conceivable to envision a use to improve air security, on passenger planes... This is clearly meant as a separate possibility.

And that comports with the vision of the device's inventor, too: Anticipating questions about passenger willingness to don a shock bracelet, Hahne was quick to defend the idea. "When people say they're not going to wear one, they need to be made aware that the bracelets are totally inert until the flight is airborne and the flight crew determines an attack is underway," he said.

[Diggler]

What about those with heart problems?

[HereInTheHeartland]

“develop a passenger stun bracelet.”

I think this is fantastic way to use technology to keep us safer. It would definitely make air travel safer. And for those who would question if someone should wear one, well we would certainly have a better idea who the terrorists are then wouldn't we?

But I can see the usefulness of this going far beyond air travel.
There are many other areas that have national security implications. What about our energy security?

We all know that those scofflaws who speed, are a major source of increased energy imports from our enemies. What would be wrong with using the bracelets in an automated way for those who speed? If someone is exceeding the speed limit, they would receive a shock just under the disabling limit

And what about employees who steal their employers time by loafing? Possibly these bracelets could be enabled with some GPS functions to identify where employees are wasting time, deliver and disabling shock if they are away from work too long.

And there could be many other uses.

[Reaganesque]

Well, that should encourage the S&M crowd to fly more.

The rest of us will go somewhere else.

[Reaganesque]

Bogus story alert

This was posted beneath the article in the comments:

DHS-S&Tspokesman
commented on Jul 8, 2008 5:20:24 PM

Shocking, but False

Sometimes it just amazes me how these stories evolve. Let me start off by saying that the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate nor TSA have been pursuing shock bracelets for airline passengers as alleged by the Washington Times Blog.

This allegation stemmed from a misleading video posted on the Lamberd Website which depicts an ID bracelet that would contain identifying information as well as the ability to stun the wearer. The company claims to connect use of such a device to DHS and TSA, but no discussions between these agencies has ever taken place.

This all originated from a meeting held two years ago with a private company representative (not Lamberd) who proposed bracelet technology in response to the TSA's desire to find less-than-lethal means to detain an apprehended suspect.

The bracelet was never intended to replace boarding passes, contain ID information or be worn by all passengers as asserted in the Lamberd video and discussed in the Washington Times Blog.

The hypothetical use of the bracelet would have been for transporting already apprehended prisoners and detainees at prisons and border patrol facilities, and DHS was looking to see if there were potential air travel applications for apprehended suspects.

This concept was never funded or supported by the DHS or TSA and hasn’t even been discussed for two years. The letter circulating throughout the blogosphere from Paul Ruwaldt was not addressed to Lamberd and merely states the DHS was interested in learning more about the technology. Neither side followed up.

DHS/TSA does NOT support the asserted use and has not pursued the development of such technology.

[Oyarsa]

You appear to have missed this sentence in the letter:

"In addition, it is conceivable to envision a use to improve air security, on passenger planes."

Also see the video mentioned in the article.

[TXnMA]

Simple (and far cheaper) solution: Place a large one of these

in each seat-back pocket. Then include "how to apply" instructions along with each "seat belt lecture" -- and end with, "Let's roll!!!"

What's that Mr. Terrorist? The one around your neck is too tight? Let me fix that. Ooops! they only move in one direction -- sorry 'bout that!"

[La Enchiladita]

Bogus Story=BS

If FReepers would do a little research on who posts what articles, they would know this.

[Oyarsa]

Do I understand you to mean that an unidentified spokesperson for the DHS, who does not back up his claims with evidence, is to be believed over an author who supports his claims with evidence?

[Oyarsa]

Thank you, Rick, for gathering this information. :-)

[dhot]

What a crock of an article. The ‘proof’ they cite is a letter that is written concerning prisioner transportation. This article is extremely misleading if not outright lying.

You mean you actually READ the article?

How unusual.

[Rick.Donaldson]

Which is why I posted all the information to contact DHS. A couple of phone calls will net you a lot of information. :)

I’ve learned that ARGUING the “facts” as some people “understand them” is simply a waste of time.

So, I’m trying a different method. Give them some information that will ultimately lead them to the right people, where they can ask the right questions.

[La Enchiladita]

Um, you missed my meaning....

Some of us pay attention to suspect newbies and do a little research into their postings.....

[Rick.Donaldson]

On the contrary, I didn’t miss your meaning at all.

(I ran a forum for over 10 years where people came and went and put whatever they wanted and never researched anything, so I knew what you meant!) haha

[La Enchiladita]

Sorry, Rick. You’re very polite... and smart, too (wink).

It was I who missed that you DIDN’T miss my meaning.
Whew.
:-)

[Rick.Donaldson]

LOL!!!!!!

You’re the first one that accused me of either being polite OR smart!!!!!!!!!!!

[La Enchiladita]

What is this world coming to?!
Haha.

[Rick.Donaldson]

I don’t know. It’s getting confusing though. haha

[Rick.Donaldson]

Ok..

It’s 7:12 MDT and Fox news is about to cover this very subject... “Shock bracelets and the possible future of flying”.

Hmmmm

[Pearls Before Swine]

Somebody explain to me why I can't use my cell phone on the plane because it might interfere with the navigation, but having 150 radio devices attached to the passengers waiting for a transmitter to activate them is okay with the navigation system?

(1)Frequency allocations and transmitter power (2) Confusion of Cell towers on the ground (your cellphone reaches multiple towers, which if done by many simultaneously confuses the system).

And I think the bracelet is a bad idea. Potential device malfunctions or short-fuse sky-hags would make me not want to wear one for the common good. Also, someone else mentioned the possibility of the shock key falling into a potential hijacker's hands.