Not the America I grew up in. PATCO (commuter train) riders undergo search

[Zebo]

This discussion is starting to remind me of discussion I get in with my CCW carry fanatic buddies. I've killed more animals than they ever dream of. I can shoot better, run faster, and still dunk at almost 40. But guess what I don't carry because if someone want to drop lead in me they will wait outside my door and unload both barrels into me. Nothing I can do about it so no use worrying about it.

 

[Pulsar]

It's pretty simple.

Classy supports increased government interference in our lives. He truly believes, contrary to every last bit of evidence and rational thought, that random searches that have an infinitesimal chance of catching anyone will somehow prove an effective deterrent.

The scarier part is this. He understands full well that this is just one more small step (in a number of already taken small steps) that removes a bit of our freedom, and he endorses it because of the "for the children" argument. (In this case, call it "for the people" - it's the same over-the-top insanity).

Indeed, not once has he tried to rebut any of the counter-arguments:
1. This removes more of American citizen's freedom
2. Statistically speaking, the chances of it actually catching someone are miniscule
3. The government has never, and I mean NEVER, run an efficient, effective operation of any sort.
4. Once given away, the government has NEVER returned a freedom to us. Can they still hold people indefinitely on suspicion of terrorism without charging them? Survey says YES!

It goes on and on. So far, he has not presented a single, rational, logical argument for his viewpoint. He simply huddles down and whimpers about it somehow making him safer.

I propose he make his next argument about the total removal of all guns from people in the US. After all, it will drastically reduce gun accidents and make him just that little be safer.

 

[Jadow]

The America I grew up in, was totally different, the boys would all bring their .22's to school and line them up against the back wall of the classroom, then on the walk home through the various forests and fields, we'd plink at old cans lying on the ground, do a little squirrel hunting, have a great time.

Nowadays, we can't bring guns to school any more.

 

[Zebo]

That is fucking cool J, I was in my sophomore year 1986 when they banned guns from parking lot....We used to go dove hunting right after school in the fall...

 

[dawp]

Yes to both questions maybe not so much for the first but more so for the second. After 9/11 everyone said we needed to do things to help protect ourselves from possible terrorism. So what did people think was going to happen. If the only reason against this is fear of some government state is just plain outright paranoid stupidity. Thats just dumb, uber dumb.

so you think someone wearing a bomb vest isn't going to set it off when the searchers get to him and allow himself to be captured? I hate to point this out, but it will just cause him to act sooner than he would otherwise. if someone has gone through the trouble of planning and executing said plan, some folks in uniforn isn't going to stop it.

 

[Trell]

These people are idiots. I ride the train you dummies. I ride the bleeping train. I know what the hell I am talking about. Its an excellent idea. I have often thought about someone exploding a bomb on one those trains especially when its crossing the bridge. In this instance anyone criticizing this idea, please sthu, because you have idea what you are talking about. Its a clear and for once smart idea.

Classy,
I have lived in this part of South jersey all my life and rode the high speed line to and from Lindenwold many times. I think that based on the setup of the trains it does not make sense to do random searches in just one station. If there is truely a security threat that needs to be addressed then they need to setup security checks to enter any of the stations, Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Collingswood, Westmont, etc. etc. Otherwise if someone wants to blow something up they will just enter another station just minutes down the road...

 

[classy]

Classy,
I have lived in this part of South jersey all my life and rode the high speed line to and from Lindenwold many times. I think that based on the setup of the trains it does not make sense to do random searches in just one station. If there is truely a security threat that needs to be addressed then they need to setup security checks to enter any of the stations, Lindenwold, Woodcrest, Collingswood, Westmont, etc. etc. Otherwise if someone wants to blow something up they will just enter another station just minutes down the road...

I can't argue with this. But I still think its a good idea because I believe it will serve as a good deterent more so than an actual seizure of a person looking to set off a bomb.

 

[classy]

so you think someone wearing a bomb vest isn't going to set it off when the searchers get to him and allow himself to be captured? I hate to point this out, but it will just cause him to act sooner than he would otherwise. if someone has gone through the trouble of planning and executing said plan, some folks in uniforn isn't going to stop it.

Well why go to war? Why have checkpoints anywhere on any type of mass transit? Your analogy is nothing can deter an attack. Everything is a failure.

 

[Fear No Evil]

This discussion is starting to remind me of discussion I get in with my CCW carry fanatic buddies. I've killed more animals than they ever dream of. I can shoot better, run faster, and still dunk at almost 40. But guess what I don't carry because if someone want to drop lead in me they will wait outside my door and unload both barrels into me. Nothing I can do about it so no use worrying about it.

Too bad you are dumber than a box of rocks. :biggrin:

 

[nonlnear]

This discussion is starting to remind me of discussion I get in with my CCW carry fanatic buddies. I've killed more animals than they ever dream of. I can shoot better, run faster, and still dunk at almost 40. But guess what I don't carry because if someone want to drop lead in me they will wait outside my door and unload both barrels into me. Nothing I can do about it so no use worrying about it.

Only an idiot would think that a CCW is an effective defense against a (competently) premeditated murder. It can afford useful protection in other life threatening circumstances though. If you choose not to carry I don't think any reasonable person would mock you for it, but if you mock CCW carriers because you imagine the only way a person's life might be threatened on the street is because somebody is camping out in a blind with a scope trained on you, that's just plain silly.

 

[mwtgg]

I am 100% against these random searches. That being said, if I were a terrorist, I wouldn't waste my time with PATCO. For what, the 100 people who ride it? I guess if you time it right you could damage part of the Ben Franklin Bridge, but you could do that easier ways.

 

[classy]

I am 100% against these random searches. That being said, if I were a terrorist, I wouldn't waste my time with PATCO. For what, the 100 people who ride it? I guess if you time it right you could damage part of the Ben Franklin Bridge, but you could do that easier ways.

100 people? LOL

Sometimes in the mornings those trains have standing room only.

 

[mwtgg]

100 people? LOL

Sometimes in the mornings those trains have standing room only.

It was a rather obvious exaggeration to underscore the fact that there are better targets, in the area even. For instance, the MFL and BSL SEPTA lines average over 100k riders each daily. PATCO does what, 30k daily?

 

[Fear No Evil]

100 people? LOL

Sometimes in the mornings those trains have standing room only.

120 then?

 

[dawp]

Well why go to war? Why have checkpoints anywhere on any type of mass transit? Your analogy is nothing can deter an attack. Everything is a failure.

It's all theater, designed to make people like you feel safer while not really doing anything that will.

 

[epidemis]

The inevitable conclusion of an expanding government - more control, more intrusion. Constitution be damned.

THe constitution won't be damned, it will just be "reinterpreted"