TMF

I don't disagree that we should be cautious, but the law is always going to stop just shy of violating our Constitutional rights. This is why those parameters are set in the first place. The second that they step over the line I'm all about there being some accountability. I don't think this is going to go anywhere. You may see this in a few states before VIPR fizzles out, but I doubt it will be a common practice since it won't produce anything. The gist I'm getting is this was done in order to foster cooperation between federal/state/local agencies and raise awareness amongst the commercial trucking industry; mainly getting truckers to report if they see anything suspicious, like 2 Arab men with a tanker truck wearing "D.C. or Bust" shirts who stopped for an overnight at a truck stop.

True. With that, I just don't see this becoming anything more than what it is. It sounds to me like the "good idea fairy" came out at a TSA meeting and developed this plan in order to justify their existance/budget. There are a lot of reasons why I don't see this taking hold, money being a big one. We already have law enforcement agencies to deal with commercial traffic along with investigative agencies to provide intelligence. It sounds to me like the TSA is trying to get in the business of doing both. Since they are inept, they won't produce anything to show for all the money they're wasting and there isn't enough public interest to support such an effort. If someone named Muhammed blows up a Greyhound bus on our highways then we need to worry about the TSA being able to take it too far. Now, let's say that the same effort (show of force at bus stations and weigh stations) was being carried out by TDOT and TBI? Would it be better? I'm serious with the question; would it elicit the same response from those who think this is an assault on personal freedoms?

Did that happen?

Aw, c'mon. He wouldn't do that; would he?

There's a surplus store in my garage that's pretty cheap. I got so much gear left over I have no place to put my dewalt.

I read the article, watched the video, and this seems to just be an operation to practice cross-organizational cooperation. Kind of in the same way that our Navy does exercises with Japan. Don't expect this to be something that occurs often. I do agree with the statement that this was an event to justify the existance/budget of the TSA. I'm sure that's where this idea got it's Genesis; the TSA being the driving force behind this.

I have a similar story involving a snake, spider and firearms. So I'm on a range at my grandparents' ranch in Florida with my wife. I'm instructing her on pistol shooting and was between iterations. I was at the truck getting something when I hear her scream and start calling for me (she's from up north by the way). Now, having grown up in that part of Florida and spending my summers working that ranch, I'm aware of the problem with Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes. They get huge (up to 7 or 8 feet) and are pretty aggressive when they feel they can't get away. So immediately I assume that's why she's freaking out so I holler to her "do I need a gun?" to which she responds "YES!!!". I grab the 12 ga out of the truck and run to the shooting awning where she is pointing to a support beam. Now, she's pointing up which puzzles me since rattlers don't climb so well. I look around the other side of the beam and see a grove spider (like a really small tauranchula). Needless to say I laughed at her for being a yankee and didn't put buckshot into the beam. It's one thing to kill one on your ranch or out in the boonies. In a subdivision (especially a nice one), best leave it be or cut it up w/ the mower.

Wow. I've always seen their magazine sitting around the office but I didn't know there was such a negative reputation. I haven't bought anything from them so I can't contribute one way or the other, but now I'm curious to hear about people's dealings with them.

I feel bad for the animals... not so bad for the owner though. Sounds like he got what was coming to him.

Hehe... boobies.

When you win the lotto let me introduce you to my neighbor.

In my opinion, success is measured with the amount of happiness and satisfaction you have in your life. Whether you live in single wide trailer or a mansion, this is the secret. I'm going to work hard to teach this to my kids as they get older.

That's awesome. I saw one during the Terry Shivo (sp?) case where one of the protesters had a sign that said "We are all crazy" with arrows pointing down toward the protesters around him.

I can't believe that wasn't my first answer! I'm getting slow as I get older.

Gotcha, but the wording was meant to suggest that these pro-anarchy hippies would not last because they would be culled by people like me for their resources once they get their wish. It's not a matter of saying they should die for their political opinion, it's more a statement poetic irony that if they got their wish they would be the ones to suffer most from it. It's not a matter of agreeing or disagreeing with their point of view, I just find it ironic they support a society in which people like me would survive and they wouldn't.

Read it again. At any time did I say that I'm going to kill people because I disagree with their political opinions? Did I? Pull the quote where I said those words. And yes, in the event of anarchy there are no such things as "natural rights". Go anywhere in the world where there is anarchy and tell me where you see people freely able to exercise natural rights. In theory I think such a place would be great, however, for every person that fantasizes about a utopia where we all get along and are good to one another there is another person wishing to exploit such a place; guess who wins. If you need examples I can start rattling off countries where this is self evident. Now, I agree in dire times we should come together as friends, families and neighbors to protect and look after one another. In the event of anarchy this doesn't happen. It's nothing more than the strongest individuals willing to do the most violence in order to procure what they need to survive. I'm simply saying that these people would be the first to go because there are people like me who understand what really happens in total anarchy. Now, I'm not trying to hijack this thread into a internet slap-fight, but I will defend my comments and not have words put in my mouth. It's pretty bold for you to assume you know the intentions of my words better than I do. I know exactly what I mean when I say it and it's been said. You are simply jumping to conclusions to support your own theories.

It was two sentences so I don't think it was to hard to understand, but I'll restate it for you differently. It wasn't meant to be a joke. These people want anarchy. In the event of anarchy these are the first people to get killed off. In the event of anarchy there is no government and therefore no Constitution and no 2nd amendment rights to protect. People like me have nothing to worry about because I know what to expect in the absence of a government. I've seen it myself. These weak sheep haven't and wouldn't be prepared to handle the chaos they seek. I think it would be ironic for them to get their wish.

Well you can buy them in the can at the store already boiled, so I guess those ones aren't hot yet... just boiled.

Curious as well. I saw a video on their website of a .22 upper firing with the kit but I'm not sold on that alone. Neat toy.

1. Finish off the gun collection. 2. Trade the wife in for a newer model. 3. Purchase an entire barrel from Jack Daniel's (one selected for "single barrel"). 4. Wait. 5. Die.

Yeah gotcha, I was merely pointing out that in an anarchist society the weak are the first to go and the strong control everything. If you need an example look at Somalia. Not to many hippie protests of the dominant powers there, huh? It's not a statement of killing someone with different views, its a statement of the natural order of things once society devolves into total anarchy. Lighten up.

What these people want is total anarchy. In some ways I want them to get their wish because they would be the first to go, because people like me would kill them for their resources.

Hahaha, well that just wraps it up, don't it?

hahaha, no problem!