Posted on 01/23/2008 3:47:38 PM PST by Aglooka
A city councilman and the cops don't want you to have that Geiger counter without their permission.
But Richard Falkenrath, the NYPD's deputy commissioner for counterterrorism, knows that it's just a matter of time. That's why he and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have asked the City Council to pass a law requiring anyone who wants to own such detectors to get a permit from the police first. And it's not just devices to detect weaponized anthrax that they want the power to control, but those that detect everything from industrial pollutants to asbestos in shoddy apartments. Want to test for pollution in low-income neighborhoods with high rates of childhood asthma?
...
And if people use these detectors without a permit, Vallone asked, do we really have to put them in jail? Afraid so, Falkenrath answered.
...
But don't think Vallone has given up or anything. He and his colleagues will try to accommodate all the concerns when they redraft the bill, he said, but one way or another, the cops are going to have this new power. "No one's going to be completely happy in the end," Vallone said, "but I think the police department gave some very impressive testimony on the stand, and also expressed a willingness to listen to concerns." After all, if you let research scientists and community groups do their jobs, the terrorists will have already won.
(Excerpt) Read more at villagevoice.com ...
I believe that the Eloi were the sheep.
The Morlocks were the wolves.
Either way, you are right. Those in power crave more.
I don't care who you are, that's hilarious! Blackbird.
pingz
Bump
I almost thought this is unbelievable, but then I Thought SF was going to have govt control of thermostats.
One step closer...........
Any suggestions on good ones?
So, those of us in the Environmental, Health and Safety fields got your panties in a wad eh? You're going to require people who are meeting all the regulatory requirements set out by the EPA, OSHA, WC, at both city, state, and federal levels...to now need a permit to own and operate the equipment to do their jobs?! There was only one piece of equipment I ever needed to get a permit for and that permit was required by the NRC for a lead detector because it contains a uranium source. This is going to be a real nightmare at all levels. On one job alone I several dozens of different detectors and everyone of them had to be tracked and calibrated per EPA/OSHA standards. Now they want to add on "permit requirements." to the already required permit requirements....insanity...
Yes.
You want one of the refurbished civil defense models. Victoreen is one of the common models. Be careful not purchase a “survey” detector, as they are fairly useless, in the sense they only detect massive amounts of radiation as, after a “nuclear exchange”. “Honey, is it safe to go outside yet??” The 700 series is along the lines of what you are talking about.
For all that, modern units are probably more accurate. There are also different types of radiation - beta, gamma, etc. The surplus units likely need calibration, and possible capacitor replacement on the circuit board. They are pretty simple devices overall.
Replacing the capcitor is no problem in fact just another excuse to spend time with my nephews on the work bench !
I bought one a while ago, they are interesting devices.
Since our elected officials don’t seem to be willing or, capable of doing much other than suck up massive amounts of taxpayers dollars for dubious purposes, obviously you won’t find any useful advice on saving your ass as far as I know.
You’ll have to go back 40 years, to when they at least paid lip service to protecting the public.
See http://www.civildefensemuseum.com
My how times change.
Ping for later.
“There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced nor objectively interpreted and you create a nation of law-breakers.”
Quote by: Ayn Rand
(1905-1982) Author
Source: “Atlas Shrugged”, Part II, Chapter 3
WHAT!
btt
Translation: "Oh crap, these pesky citizens are actually watching what we're doing."
It's a scary mindset that thought, and probably hoped, something like this could be railroaded through unnoticed.
bookmark
My "favorite" part:
"There are currently no guidelines regulating the private acquisition of biological, chemical, and radiological detectors," warned Falkenrath, adding that this law was suggested by officials within the Department of Homeland Security.
[emphasis added]
Or, tinfoil, string, and a mason jar. Google "kearney detector" -- of course, THAT will be "criminal" too under this abomination -- even though the government originally advocated people learning how to build them!
(Granted, it's not a GC -- it's an electrometer/dosimeter -- but, the main thing is that it's an illegal device, and will put you in prison.)
See my previous post (#37) -- NYC is doing this at the instigation of DHS. They want to do it to you, wherever you live.
WRT to This sort of ban does no one "good". Being in possession of information that can keep you healthy is always good -- I will simply point out that "doing good" is not the goal. Putting people in prison is the goal, and for that, it will be quite handy.
The "ubergoal" of course is to keep people depending on The State for as much as possible.
I expect that next, there'll be a crackdown on KI sales and possession. Maybe they'll make it a "Schedule" drug. Imagine that, doing hard time for "possession of the dangerous narcotic drug 'potassium iodide'"...
Welcome to the future, where "privacy" means "abortion" and "rights" are something that are reserved for illegal aliens -- "law-abiding illegals," to use a phrase I wish was a joke.
(When you hear Blessed Rulers emoting crap like "law-abiding illegal aliens" you KNOW you're clean through the looking glass.)
When I was a kid in gradeschool -- government school -- my teachers used to tell me that one thing that made us different from other countries was that we never had to meekly obey "Papers, please?" demands, and we had true freedom and liberty.
Now, I'm thinking back to the other things they taught me -- like, about how in "those other countries" people would go to prison for having a radio, or a typewriter, or copy machine (mimeograph back then).
So I'm thinking, "geiger counter, CO tester, radio... what's the difference?"
What's the REAL difference?
If you like gun control, you'll LOVE "electronic test equipment control."
Going to prison for owning a geiger counter. The mind boggles... (Especially when you consider that MOST of the "civilian-owned" geiger counters -- and dosimeters -- are "surplus", put on the market when the government CLOSED the fallout shelters that used to be found all across the country. They closed the shelters, and disposed of all the equipment and supplies that were stored in them -- and now, they want to PROHIBIT us from taking up the slack on our own.
I guess we'd better shut up and be happy with our duct tape and plastic tarps.
Trust and obey, for there's no better way... to stay out of prison!
To those who haven't seen it yet, PLEASE read post 37 -- this is NOT "a New York City thing" -- it is being done because DHS is pushing it through -- it's only NYC where it's "surfaced" -- but DHS is a national (federal) agency.
You are NOT "don't worry" material just because you don't live in the Bad Apple!
They can pry my Geiger counter from my cold, dead, slightly glowing hands...
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