Posted on 07/09/2008 2:28:37 AM PDT by Man50D
A columnist at the Washington Times has issued a warning that the U.S. government actually has considered having airline passengers wear electronic bracelets that could be triggered like Tasers to stun the victim into immobility.
The alert comes from columnist Jeffrey Downing, who wrote that not only has a Canadian company proposed such a product and is advertising it, the U.S. government has put its interest in writing.
"It is conceivable to envision a use to improve air security, on passenger planes," said the letter posted on the company's website. It was purported to come from Paul S. Ruwaldt, of the Department of Homeland Security.
"Just when you thought you've heard it all," wrote Denning.
According to a company video on the website for Lamperd Less Lethal, the bracelets would be a help to the pilots and crew members on commercial air carriers, the "last line of defense" against terror attacks.
The video says passengers could be fitted with such "electronic ID bracelets" that they would wear until they disembark their flights. It is promoted as being able to replace a ticket, carry passenger information, track passengers through terminals, and track carryon luggage.
But the best part is that the bracelets could be discharged, as a gun, and leave the wearer "immobile for several minutes" although without causing "permanent injury."
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
Does Amtrack have stock?
Well, then, EFF the government and the airlines it flew in on.
Wouldn’t hijackers love the thought of themselves being able to incapacitate every passenger on the plane?
.
Mark
Just because some idiotic bureaucrat might have wrote down this dumb idea, does not mean it was really considered.
“Don’t shock me, stewardess.”
I have no problem with this idea at all, provided that the things will dischage aautomatically if they are tampered with or any attempt is made to remove them.
I’d also like to have the switch located at my seat.
Never happen. They would get soooooo sued. But it’s chilling this is even conceived. Emperor Palpatine airlines?
I have also thought that airplanes could be fitted out as are these Japanese style “hotel” rooms measuring about three feet square and about 8 feet long. You could stack these things up and lock the passengers in individually for the duration.
Sedation could be optional.
BUT-— the bracelet MUST stay on. And I still want control of the switch.
The saddest thing is not that politicians would ask for it.
The saddest thing is that most “Americans” would wear them willingly.
Oh, come on.
These are not explosive neck bracelets we’re talking about here. These are just high-voltage shock wrist or ankle bracelets that would only knock you out long enough to seach you and remove any weapons in your posession, and to put you into handcuffs and leg braces.
No biggie.
Unless of course, you have cardiac issues. I don't know- but big nasty electric shocks can't be good for that.
Wasn't there a Simpsons episode featuring the random punitive use of shock collars?
In Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, by the end the pigs and the farmers became indistinguishable. The same thing is happening to airline passengers and cattle. This proposal would represent the ultimate cattlelization of passengers.
I would not be shocked anymore at what govt may want to do at some point in the future, but could someone look at the letter (link from Wash Times article): http://media.washingtontimes.com/media/img/blogs/entry_img/2008/Jul/08/Homeland_Security_Letter_1_-_JUL2006.pdf to see if it actually suggests using it on all passenegers? I wonder if the point of the FAA letter writer was about criminals or aliens being deported?
I seriously doubt that this was nothing more than some person in an agency just asking for a brochure to see if this is for real. The company picked up on the e-mail address and publicized the “interest”. I have vendors and manufacturers try to do that all the time with me because of the name of where I work.
Lets see...
Malfunction - zap...
Flaky battery - zap...
Interference from some electronic gizmo - zap...
Terrorist gets control of the button - zap...
Stupid person gets control of the button - zap...
No thank you.
What a buzzkill.
Shocking
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