Posted on 06/22/2004 8:30:42 PM PDT by libertynews
The Constitution is simply the highest law of the land. To disregard it, is, in and of itself, an act of war against the American people.
Yes. I'm not afraid of other Americans, especially when I'm armed.
As would multiple car bombs detonated under interstate bridges, or multiple mall shooting, etc....
Is your solution to "prevent" each of these scenarios to federalize security at malls, and conduct random stops on interstates?
The same people complaining about vehicle searches on ferries would likely be the first to criticize the lack of them if a terrorist attack succeeded.
I can't speak for others, but I wouldn't be complaining about it. I *would* be complaining about the fact that the gov't hasn't secured the borders yet, and didn't follow up on legitimate leads concerning terrorism (both of which contributed to 9/11, and will likely contribute to any future terrorist attacks).
There is no way to keep ferries secure without searching passenger vehicles, just as you can't keep aircraft secure without searching passenger baggage.
I value Freedom more than security. Anyway, the same arguement could be made for providing hardened checkpoints on interstates, or metal detectors at grocery stores, etc....
Unless you are a crewman, it's not your bedroom, searching vehicles aboard them during a time when terrorists are known to be operating in our country is not an unreasonable search, and complaining about keeping ferries safe is the wrong side of the argument to be on.
Tell you what. When the gov't declares that it's not "unreasonable" for Americans to carry guns everywhere for self-defense, since "terrorists are known to be operating in our country", maybe I'll give that arguement a little more weight.
So you support Americans carrying guns on planes, so long as passengers are searched for explosives first?
Sounds like that might be a reasonable compromise....
And what law is that? The Bill of Rights isn't suspended during time of war.
In fact, the primary purpose of the gov't is to protect our Rights (some of which are mentioned in the BOR; others are not).
Furthermore, if any regime announced that the Constitution or any part of it, was suspended tomorrow, that regime would be in breach of contract with the American people, and no citizen would either be legally nor morally bound to recognize their authority.
Does anyone know for sure if firearms are restricted on ferries? Or is a lot of smoke being blown?
I have searched the Washington State Dept. of Transportation website and seen nothing on the restriction of properly transported firearms (usually unloaded cased and locked up, if no CPL).
I have seen nothing that says firearms are restricted or that you will be forbidden to board with properly transported firearms.
I have just sent an email to the ferry system asking them starting July 1st what the rules are regarding the transportation of firearms on board a ferry.
I don't know, and it really doesn't change things in my mind. A 4th amendment violation is still a 4th amendment violation.
If they aren't prohibiting guns now, that is something that could be changed simply with a 'stoke of the pen'
The article and my post address the topic of vehicle searches on ferries.
They do not, and I will not in this thread, digress into other topics such as shopping malls, border security, interstates, grocery stores or the right to keep and bear arms.
They are all interesting topics, some of them vital and quite possibly related to this one, but they are different topics, and I'll leave them to their appropriate threads.
My view on this topic remains unchanged.
The best source of information (which is next to nothing) is at the following website.
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