Feds fight threat of small-boat terror strikes (want a federal boat license_

CNN ^ | AP

[GreaterSwiss]

Safety is a tyrant's tool.

That is why the strategy is intended to create a layered defense that would create a national federal standard to operate a boat, Allen says.

[doc1019]

Government control and yet more government control. ;-(

[DBrow]

Another brick in the wall.

Federal boat registration/licensing will be as effective against terrorism as gun control is effective in stopping murder in Chicago.

But they’ll have a nifty database of citizens and their boats, should there be a need for a new federal tax or class of citizens who can’t own boats.

Hey, maybe putting metal detectors at Boston airports would stop hijackers from flying into buildings!

[TXnMA]

So... my '73 Skeeter Hawk bass boat with '74 Evinrude is now a terrorist threat?

How about my canoe, then...?

[an amused spectator]

Cool. Maybe it will eventually be yet anther federal felony to be caught in a small boat without your PAPERS.

[clee1]

Ve vant to zee your papers!

[live+let_live]

Why do we bother with States anymore? I mean what’s the point?

[groanup]

Terrorist threat:

[groanup]

Domestic enemies:

[steve86]

Bin Laden’s had his eye on my ‘63 Sears runabout for some time.

[Nailbiter]

Another of the thousand cuts to freedom

[cva66snipe]

How dare anyone question what beloved leaders want to do for own on good in the name of the W.O.T. The W.O.T. excuse is wearing very, very, thin. Bush and his all to eager puppet lackeys use it as their reason for virtually everything now. Of course if you are against boat registration or licensing of boat operators you are obviously for the terrorist /sarcasm But wait there's hope! No there isn't. Three Big Goverment shills just as bad as he are trying to win his office this November. The three will soon be two. But the two will still be big goverment rights and freedoms shreading liberals.

The Coast Guard has domain over all navivgational waterways. That means rivers that have dams with locks etc. Most states if not all have a boat registration requirement on all motor driven boats. What next a U.S. license plate on our cars? Der all seeing Orfice of Homeland Insecurity will keep the records no doubt. G.W. Bush has given the DEMs more power and tools to use against us than Al Gore could have ever hoped for in a 16 year term. He has been the worse GOP POTUS second to none on goverment expansion including his own father who is second and Ford third.

[JoeSixPack1]

The only proposal I see is for a new bureaucracy with which checks & credit cards will be the preferred payment.

[Roklok]

Do these federal idiots really think some terrorist is going to comply with this paperwork. Where do they find these people?

[citizenK]

This federal boat license proposal is just stupid. Not only a waste of time and money, but just a distraction from the real issues of security that threaten this country.

I speak from firsthand knowledge and experience when I say that this ship has already sailed - American pleasure boaters have no freedom from government harassment on US waterways.

The coast guard already has carte blanche to board any vessel in US waters - and for any reason. Oh - no good reason? Then how about a “safety inspection” - which is the preferred rationale for this burgeoning arm of our manifest tyranny.

[nitzy]

How about instead we mandate an Islam license? Islam is more dangerous than boating.

[Clint Williams]

America is dead. Hope you all like the country you got because you weren't willing work against it, on election campaigns and otherwise.

A whole lot of Germans learned, and died learning, that lesson.

[Nailbiter]

They do not care about terrorist or criminals.
They are about denying freedom to citizens.
Put another way, they are trying to make all citizens criminals.
Easier to control.
Look at gun control.
I would go on, but would take more time and energy than I have at this point.
If you have not read “Unintended Consequences” by John Ross, I suggest you do.

[marktwain]

“The Coast Guard has domain over all navivgational waterways. That means rivers that have dams with locks etc.”

---

Navigable waters is now defined as any waterway that is connected to the ocean and which can float a canoe during the highest regular water mark during a normal year.

This is by court precedent for the EPA, I believe, so Coast Guard jurisdiction may not go so far.

Its been a long time since I was taught that, but I believe that it is essentially correct.