Posted on 10/19/2005 11:39:57 AM PDT by JZelle
A wheelchair-bound teenaged fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is upset new security measures will require her seat cushion to be examined by security staff. Melanie Schuknecht, 17, received a written notice from the Tampa Sports Authority informing of her of the new measure. She was requested to provide information on her disability and a letter from a doctor confirming medical items needed. The teen's mother, Kim, told the Tampa Tribune her daughter would endure the embarrassment of having to be lifted from her chair, as well as undergo more intensive scrutiny than other fans. Mickey Farrell, the stadium's operations director said the fans with medical needs must justify their special items because they are normally banned at games. "We're bending over backwards to accommodate them," Farrell said. "There's nothing sinister." He said one potential remedy could be to use bomb-detecting dogs to inspect her cushion.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Heck I got searched going to heavy metal concerts LONG before 9-11. Of course that was during the era when Guns and Roses were averaging one riot per tour so facilities all over were justifiably paranoid about keep as many implements of destruction out of the venue as possible. I'm with you, some places want to search you for whatever reason, anybody who doesn't like it doesn't need to go.
Too bad, she's just going to have to deal with it. And yes, I also require the use of a wheelchair. The only issue I have with this whole article is the term, "wheelchair bound." I'm a complete para, and I'm not "bound" by my chair. I can transfer on and off of it very easily.
Nice post. Well said.
Lets add roadblocks, papers/permission to travel, and random searches while we are at it.
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Exactly. I was first searched before boarding an Air India flight out of New York back in 1985. Patted down and wanded numerous times. All of the passengers for that flight were isolated for at least an hour before the flight. The same thing happened on the way back. It was due to a bomb threat.
When I go to rock concerts, I no longer carry any kind of handbag, because it will be searched. If I don't need to wear a jacket, I don't. Here in MA, we are usually asked to hold our arms out to our sides. If you do it right, it only takes seconds, and you're on your way to a wonderful evening.
Life is too short.
A couple weeks ago, I would have agreed, but refreshed yourselves with the content contained within this link below to find out WHY this is not only necessary, but CRITICAL.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=oubombing
AND let's remember that this stadium is about 5 miles away from USCENTCOM Headquarters ok?
I went to a Browns game in 1999 where this group of about 30 people snuck nearly 2 5ths of Wild Turkey into the game by filling up hallow dog bones since we were in the Dawg Pound :)
It was great. I don't even remember what happened at the end of the game either :)
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We were stopped on our way back from fish camp in Maine a couple of days before 9/11. Yes. It was a roadblock. The police were looking for a group who had come over the border from Canada.
Should I have been outraged? I wasn't.
Ok. Guess its the sign of the times.
Duke football fans need to drink a lot of beer BEFORE the game starts.
I'm too old now for those shenanigans. And such fun has gotten alot more difficult in the post 911 world.
Note to self:
Land of the free should be changed to land of the scared.
You cannot be serious with this.
It really needs to be within the top 5 of each and every thread where something bad happens to someone.
Too bulky. My sister found a great way to get liquor into these events that don't allow bottles. She would fill a ziploc with an inch or so, several of these in the bottom of the purse of each gal in the group. When you got to the event, Security just stuck a hand into a purse, groped around for the odd somethingorother, the plastic bags felt just like the makeup bags and such that you find in a woman's purse. Never failed, and never got caught.
they didn't have bottles.
They filled up plastic dog bones....it was hilarious....
These were the guys who wear the rubber dog masks at the games....
I understood the plastic bones, but still!! It is funny though, a good choice since they were in the Dawg Pound. I just liked my sister's getting loads of liquor, not just a couple of beers, but the real, good stuff, in to some concert where it was really needed!!! LOL!
oh yeah...
man it was great, but I can't say I really remember much after the 2nd quarter....except there were fights breaking out in the stadium, but I don't remember the game much...
So?
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