I’ll give you Timothy McVey and raise you a Paul Watson (alleged Eco-terrorist), Eric Rudolf (abortion clinic bomber), Richard Reid (shoe-bomber) and Jose Padilla (plotted to aide Al-Qaeda in a dirty bomb attack). All of these fine gentlemen were born in the United Sttates except Reid who was British as I recall. And that’s just a few off the top of my head. While I totally agree with lynnmcd about losing our freedoms, unfortunately that’s the world we currently live in. There is simply no way to look at a bubba (and I fit that category myself), or annyone else in a center-console boat and know who he is and what his intentions are. And PeaPod the unfortunate truth to your question is more than you think. The majority of criminals are out for a quick buck. If that quick-buck is made aiding someone remove some cargo from a ship un-detected, what do they care what’s in the boxes/crates? That, unfortunately, is reality.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
If Homeland Security forces could actually enforce the restricted areas full time, the rules would make sense. But since they can’t, it would be smarter to treat the rest of us like Civil Defense and let locals fish near these critical spots. More friendly eyes means less danger of a bunch of terrorists being able to ride up next to them in a johnboat full of C4. We would be much safer if they put up signs with phone numbers that said to report any suspicion activity. That would be a force multiplier. Instead, they treat us all like suspects.
Tried to get under one particular pier the other day, pier was marked as no trespassing (I was going under it not on it) so I started to go under it and when I did security came running out and told me I had to get away. So I ask this fellow how far away, to which he replied “a good ways” so I say, whats a good ways? he says about a ship length. So… is the security guard ignorant of the rules he is paid to enforce or is it his bosses fault? I know it cant be my fault, I wasnt trespassing. Nor would I have been if I was under it.
With all the laws being shoved down our throats and our freedoms being removed, you might just start seeing some “Bubba’s” take matters into their own hands…God forbid!! After all, McVey was pissed off enough to do what he did…Right?
Also, people who want to inflict harm on this country study very hard before they will act on it. So, what is to keep someone who would from buying an older center console, a rain suit, heavy coat, some fishing rods, etc. and attacking us again? NOTHING!
The deed would be done before anyone could react…we need to keep that mind. We aren’t some podunk, Pop. 1,500 waterfront community with a dozen dope-smoking sailboat liveaboards and some Mom & Pop restaurants/specialty shops trying to earn a living…there’s some serious stuff going on around here.
I know these folks (LEO and HS) have a job to do and it pisses me off too that we can’t just cruise up to the docks and start fishing for Sheeps and casting for bait, but I also understand their situation and is why, if I ever move, it won’t be to another port city (among other reasons).
Palmetto you make a real good point. Using local fishermen as “Force Multipliers” is a great idea. How would you propose to make it easy to identify/differenciate the honest local fishermen from the rest? A sticker on his boat? No, those could be easily counterfeited. A shirt or jacket? No, that could be easily counterfeited. How about vetting these locals? Should they have to pass the same background check that I do? No criminal history, good credit, good moral character etc? How could LEOs spot the good guys from the bad guys? Hence the ban everyone concept. You and I both know that because of PC, you can’t ban only people that look middle eastern. Besides, what does a radical muslim look like? They have many faces. And the current trend is to use women and children as suicide bombers.
Americans, as a whole, can’t wrap thier heads around the concept, because we value life. I watch an interview once of a man in Gaza. He had 7 sons, of which 6 had already died as suicide/homocide bombers in Israel. When asked, he readily admitted that his ONLY regret was that he did not have more sons that could be a martyr for Allah. I have kids. Sons to be exact. I cannot imagine the mindset that would allow a parent to willingly sacrifice a child in that manner. And even worse to only regret not having more that could die for the cause. We as Americans value our lives and the lives of our children too much to be able to understand this thought process. And God help us if we ever do.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
TR I understand the concept of “keep them all back”, but like Palmetto and loosewire have pointed out, the “rule” doesnt do anything except punish those willing to obey the rule, and by nature of the situation, those people obviously arent a threat.
In my opinion this stuff is all done so the government can “appear” to be making us safe. kind of like not being able to taking fingernail clippers on an airplane.
They son and I came out of clouter creek wednesday and was heading back to the landing at Virginia ave when a coast guard boat wanted to challenge us. There was one of those car haulers cruiseing up the river to the dock just past remount road at the lower patr of the weapons station. He was close to the spa terminal and we were in the middle of the river angling across to the creek. The cg boat was by the ship and turned out and headed out to cut us off. At the rate we were movin and the rate they were movin the distance between us would never have gotten less than 200 yds bt they came out anyway. We kept our heading and speed and they followed us almost back yo the 526 bridge. Never got within 200 yards of the ship or 100 yds of ports pier but they were watchin.
What’s 150 feet of buffer going to help with a weapon of mass destruction…close enough for horseshoes and nuclear bombs? We should all be under house arrest to keep us safe from the terr…uh make that the “manmade disasterists” or whatever we are supposed to call them these days…
Saturday November 18th 1995, the Federal Govornment had been shutdown since the fourteenth. Had a trout tournament that Saturday and we planned to fish the tidal pond on Bulls Island. Too rough to beach the boat out front so we planned to tie up at the dock and walk the walk. Got to the dock early, 6am or so. There was yellow police tape all over the dock. We decided to just find another place to fish…NOT. Tied the boat up, ignored the yellow tape and went fishing. Had a good day (fishing) if I recall. We had just started to make the 3 mile walk back to the dock when a Federal Agent pulled up in a truck. He was not a happy man. Come to find out he was home with his family when he got the call. Had to get the boat ready. Drive to Moores landing and run to bulls island. He detained us for an hour. My buddy was an attorney and he did all the talking. I was just “yes sir” “no sir”. The last thing he told us was “see you in Federal Court”. We never did get a ticket or a summons. Don’t know why. Maybe he calmed down after awhile. He could have given us a lift back to the dock but didn’t. 3 miles later there he was making sure we got the heck off of bulls island.
