[EggsAckley]

*ping*

[Icthus]

I remember a couple of years ago, my wife and I were driving a Ryder truck from Texas to Florida during a move. My father-in-law is Hispanic and was driving my car behind the van (with our sleeping kids in the backseat). While on IH-10 just outside of Biloxi, Mississippi, several unmarked cars and a K9 unit descended upon us like we were terrorists. I climbed down out of the truck and as soon as they noticed I was white, their aggressive posture changed. They walked up to my car, looked in and saw the sleeping kids, then turned and apologized for the pull-over. They stated that Ryder type trucks with Texas plates and a trailing car is one of the tell-tale signs of drug runners. I offered to let them inspect the inside of the truck and they declined and went on their merry way.

Were we victims of profiling? Nahhh....we were helping out in the war on drugs. ;o)

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

When I went to the airport to pick up my girlfriend, I parked in short term parking. They screened every car going in to the lot. It didn't bother me -- I was way, way early for her flight, and I didn't feel singled out. Even random checks wouldn't have bothered me -- they are a deterrent to those who would try to sneak a bomb in.

What it comes down to, really, is this: if you match a profile of someone who has killed or likely will kill, it is in your own interests that profiling be allowed. After all, it could be YOUR daughter that dies in the next terrorist attack.

However, I do believe that profiling ought to have some sort of justification, like a warrant of some sort. Maybe an affidavit signed by an FBI profiler, or something like that. I'm just trying to head off the civil rights objections, which are certainly reasonable.

I haven't thought through this issue completely, so I'm open to ideas. I of all people do not want to grant the Federal government undue power. I think profiling, done properly, can help stop terrorism without making the U.S. a police state. Am I being optimistic?

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

When I went to the airport to pick up my girlfriend, I parked in short term parking. They screened every car going in to the lot. It didn't bother me -- I was way, way early for her flight, and I didn't feel singled out. Even random checks wouldn't have bothered me -- they are a deterrent to those who would try to sneak a bomb in.

What it comes down to, really, is this: if you match a profile of someone who has killed or likely will kill, it is in your own interests that profiling be allowed. After all, it could be YOUR daughter that dies in the next terrorist attack.

However, I do believe that profiling ought to have some sort of justification, like a warrant of some sort. Maybe an affidavit signed by an FBI profiler, or something like that. I'm just trying to head off the civil rights objections, which are certainly reasonable.

I haven't thought through this issue completely, so I'm open to ideas. I of all people do not want to grant the Federal government undue power. I think profiling, done properly, can help stop terrorism without making the U.S. a police state. Am I being optimistic?

[geaux]

A few years ago, I was profiled going into England (red head; they thought I was Irish). I came in from Calais, France, and when I got to England, they took my passport away (which scared me) and searched me and my bags. Interestingly, the very first thing they did was check my shoes for plastics.

That said, it didn't bother me too much. Although, I was a bit frightened when they took my passport away.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Well, I certainly did NOT contact my lawyer and whine about my civil rights.

There may still be time!!!! Call one now and whine - you're entitled to some money!!!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I met a woman the other day who is of Puerto Rican descent...... she and her daughter had traveled to England and she said they were singled out 5 times on the trip and searched, plus all bags searched...... she kept complaining about it and I told her I was under the impression that our airports were NOT profiling, even though 100% of the airline hijackings have been committed by young, Middle Eastern men, but instead the airport workers were searching 70 year old white women......

She continued to argue the point stating that it was obvious she was singled out because of her dark skin......finally, after quite a few comments by each of us, I asked her where she was detained.......it was in Europe!!!! Not in the US.......... I wanted to hit up upside the head......lol.........she still didn't get that the US had nothing to do with her being searched.........

[Sungirl]

Last week a friend of mine who is half puerto rican and was BORN here....was approached by a old man in the parking lot of her mothers apt bldg and was asked if she spoke english.....She said 'of course' and he accused her of being a 'foreignor' and then he told her to go back where she came from and said people like her are the downfall of America. She doesn't even look Peurto Rican to me...and has no accent. (we're talking Palm Beach County here)

Some people are really going a bit overboard....now if she looked arab...hahah

[brat]

"How did I react to this case of "profiling?" Well, I certainly did NOT contact my lawyer and whine about my civil rights."

BRAVO EggsAckley! Its so good to hear that sensibility is alive and well, even if it was 30 yrs. ago.

[Slip18]

Rings a bell with me.

At about the same time as this happened to you, my younger sister and her husband were stopped by law enforcement. My sis was eight months pregnant. Their van matched the same van that had robbed a bank earlier that day. They had my niece, a one-year-old child at that time. My sis was ordered to lay flat with her hands behind her. My brother-in-law laid upon their child when the peace officers' guns were upon them.

Of course, it was a wrong identification.

Do you think this would be allowed now?