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Activists sue to stop random MBTA bag searches
Boston.com ^ | 7/27/04 | AP

Posted on 07/27/2004 5:50:12 PM PDT by wagglebee

BOSTON (AP) A federal judge took under advisement a lawsuit filed by two civil rights groups hoping to stop the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority from inspecting passengers' bags.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: boston; dnc; dncconvention; homelandsecurity; lawsuit; ratconvention
It sounds like the 'Rats in charge of bringing the marijauna to the party are getting a little paranoid.
1 posted on 07/27/2004 5:50:12 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: wagglebee

Islamic terror cells are following this.


2 posted on 07/27/2004 5:52:17 PM PDT by Semper Paratus
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To: wagglebee

Lawsuits are a weapon of mass destruction


3 posted on 07/27/2004 5:53:48 PM PDT by Calpernia ("People never like what they don't understand")
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To: wagglebee

I have to agree with the "civil rights groups" on this one. The Fourth Amendment clearly states that this kind of thing is not permitted.


4 posted on 07/27/2004 5:53:50 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium . . . sed ego sum homo indomitus")
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To: Semper Paratus
Islamic terror cells are following this.

Let me voice my support of your comment.

Before we're both savaged by some folks in the forum.

But I've got to admit that the real reason I'd hate to see a mushroom cloud over
Fleet Center in Boston would be...
the loss of a fair number of conervative talk-radio commentators like
Laura Ingraham and Dennis Prager and other folks from The Salem Radio Network.
5 posted on 07/27/2004 5:56:09 PM PDT by VOA
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To: wagglebee
A federal judge took under advisement

If something happens, that judge better have something more to hide under than "advisement!"

He'll be hiding under "shame!"

6 posted on 07/27/2004 5:57:25 PM PDT by lancer (If you are not with us, you are against us!)
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To: wagglebee

These activists (terrorists) are just trying to get the legal precedents in place for the Republican convetion.


7 posted on 07/27/2004 5:58:29 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law.)
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To: wagglebee
If there is a security threat - well, I guess, I can understand the searches. I'm not sure I'd personally like to be searched willy-nilly, but if it's in the genuine interests of safety and security, well, I'd succumb to it. Same way as I allow myself to be searched at airports, or going into concerts...etc.
8 posted on 07/27/2004 6:00:53 PM PDT by Happygal (Kerry has a chin that could chop cabbage in a glass!)
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To: Paleo Conservative
These activists (terrorists) are just trying to get the legal precedents in place for the Republican convention.

I don't think it would make a bit of difference, Boston and NYC are not in the same federal circuit, so any ruling in Boston wouldn't matter. In any event, in the interest of security, I think the authorities should continue regardless of the courts and deal with any consequences later.

9 posted on 07/27/2004 6:02:50 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: Happygal; All

If some terrorist attack happened at the DNC, the 'Rats would be all over the place saying that Bush knew about it and didn't do anything to prevent it.


10 posted on 07/27/2004 6:05:04 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: wagglebee
We can search your bags now...or your dental records later. Because if the followers of the ROPieces has it's way the only thing left of you may be your teeth.
11 posted on 07/27/2004 6:06:00 PM PDT by JediForce (Never underestimate the power of the Dark side of the Force....keep the blasters' fully charged.)
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To: wagglebee
Boston and NYC are not in the same federal circuit, so any ruling in Boston wouldn't matter

But in the absence of Supreme Court ruling, one circuit will often cite another circuit's ruling in a similar case.

12 posted on 07/27/2004 6:07:35 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law.)
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To: Happygal; All
What's usually overlooked in cases like this is one very basic, irrefutable fact: The Fourth Amendment is not open for negotiation.

This is not like an airport, in which people are screened for security purposes when they enter the terminal. The random inspection of handbags doesn't just apply to convention attendees in Boston -- it's being done to anyone who takes an MBTA train to the vicinity of the convention site.

If there is a legitimate reason to believe that there are major security concerns at a large gathering like this, the solution is not a large-scale abrogation of the Fourth Amendment . . . instead, they should just cancel the event, or hold it someplace where the general public will not be bothered.

13 posted on 07/27/2004 6:13:34 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Ego numquam pronunciare mendacium . . . sed ego sum homo indomitus")
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To: Alberta's Child
Yeah, okay. Fair point.

It is an infringement of civil liberties alright, if your purpose is not to attend the convention.

14 posted on 07/27/2004 6:20:43 PM PDT by Happygal (Kerry has a chin that could chop cabbage in a glass!)
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To: wagglebee
So, some left-wing nut job is going to get a MA nut job left-wing judge to concur that the "inspections" are illegal and have them stopped. Guess who will be first in line complaining "you didn't do enough to protect us!" if (God forbid) there is a bombing on a train or bus...
15 posted on 07/27/2004 6:24:19 PM PDT by Conservative Infidel
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To: Conservative Infidel

I'm tempted to go down and ride the T just so I can politely and steadfastly refuse any requests to search my person, papers, and effects.


16 posted on 07/27/2004 6:40:33 PM PDT by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: wagglebee

I believe whichever court is over New York has ALREADY RULED that cops can't search backpacks, etc, of poeple going into, around and about the RNC


17 posted on 07/27/2004 6:42:37 PM PDT by SendShaqtoIraq
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To: mvpel
They are NOT searching "persons, papers, and effects." They are rubbing swabs on the OUTSIDE of bags and testing the swabs for the evidence (fumes) of explosives. They aren't even requiring that bags be x-rayed or anything else.
I understand that you feel strongly that this is some sort of illegal search. How would you feel if you were riding a bus with a homicide bomber??
18 posted on 07/28/2004 4:32:50 AM PDT by Conservative Infidel
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