Ron Paul wants guns on airplanes, racial profiling for freedom

[Mechaman]

Meh don't care.

I don't go on those damned airplanes anyway.

[Lief 🗽]

Only when every American is carrying 3-4 guns at all times in all places will we truly be free. Anyone who disagrees is a statist who hates liberty, obviously.

[Simfan34]

Why the hate on us statists?

[Vosem]

In the Soviet Union, all pilots were armed. I don't think plane hijackings happened very often.

For everyone to be armed is inviting terrorism. Keeping pilots and stewardesses armed so that defense is possible in the event of terrorism is a lot simpler, and probably more effective, than present airport security procedure.

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

In the Soviet Union, all pilots were armed. I don't think plane hijackings happened very often.

For everyone to be armed is inviting terrorism. Keeping pilots and stewardesses armed so that defense is possible in the event of terrorism is a lot simpler, and probably more effective, than present airport security procedure.

If the private sector  took over airport security, it would be free to allow only pilots, stewardesses, etc to have guns on the plane (I find it absurd that the TSA checks pilots for weaponry too, like they need a gun to hijack their own plane). There might be a higher chance of a terrorist having a gun too because of less intrusive checks, but that terrorist would be less effective with an armed crew. Furthermore, no groping, radiation, etc would be needed.

Don't misinterpret him here; he isn't saying that every airport must allow everyone to stroll onto the plane like a walking armory. He is saying that each individual airport should deal with its own security as opposed to having the TSA grope everyone and fail to catch bombers regardless. It would, if nothing else, be far better than the current system.

[t_host1]

I'd go with Ron Paul on this issue. and many others
memo to WH/US House budget talks; 90 day phaseout of TSA, that wasn't so hard.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Who is more likely to blow a plane? The Omani exchange student, or the 95 year old grandma from Indiana? Even if the Muslim in question is a loyal American, and even a military vetran, I rather see him be questioned then the Old White lady. Even though he will found perfectly innocent, we must remember Malik Nadal Hassan. It just makes more sense to do it this way.

I agree completely.

We're also profiling young white males, right?  They're much more likely to be domestic terrorists than Muslims are.

[King]

Who is more likely to blow a plane? The Omani exchange student, or the 95 year old grandma from Indiana? Even if the Muslim in question is a loyal American, and even a military vetran, I rather see him be questioned then the Old White lady. Even though he will found perfectly innocent, we must remember Malik Nadal Hassan. It just makes more sense to do it this way.

I agree completely.

We're also profiling young white males, right?  They're much more likely to be domestic terrorists than Muslims are.

No, Don.  They might believe in Jesus and profiling them would be insensitive.

[Simfan34]

I'm black and Catholic. Suppose I should prepare to be profiled.

[Ⓐnarchy in the ☭☭☭P!]

I'm black and Catholic. Suppose I should prepare to be profiled.

When it comes to profiling, it would be less "who has a higher chance of having a bomb" and more "who is not going to have a bomb". That precludes mentally sound veterans, little old ladies, infants, the disabled, etc.

[Sbane]

If there needs to be profiling, it needs to be done in a rational fashion. So a Muslim dude who has lived here for less than 10 years and has managed to visit Yemen and Pakistan 7 times during that period even though he is from Egypt should obviously get pulled over for extra screening. Even if he is wearing a t-shirt with an American flag and shorts he should be screened. On the other hand a Bangladeshi or Indonesian couple, who are Muslims and dressed like it, but have lived in America for more than 30 years and only go back to the country of their origin, perhaps should not be.

Is this really possible though? Do you guys seriously think this can be implemented by either the TSA or the airlines? Are you sure we won't end up with a situation where Indian techies get held up for screening a gazillion times while the Chechnyan terrorist skates by?

An exception for olds is probably the way to go. I wouldn't give an exception for the young mainly because their parents could be terrorists who use their kids to get by security. They are f'ed up people, let's not forget.

[Simfan34]

If there needs to be profiling, it needs to be done in a rational fashion. So a Muslim dude who has lived here for less than 10 years and has managed to visit Yemen and Pakistan 7 times during that period even though he is from Egypt should obviously get pulled over for extra screening. Even if he is wearing a t-shirt with an American flag and shorts he should be screened. On the other hand a Bangladeshi or Indonesian couple, who are Muslims and dressed like it, but have lived in America for more than 30 years and only go back to the country of their origin, perhaps should not be.

Is this really possible though? Do you guys seriously think this can be implemented by either the TSA or the airlines? Are you sure we won't end up with a situation where Indian techies get held up for screening a gazillion times while the Chechnyan terrorist skates by?

An exception for olds is probably the way to go. I wouldn't give an exception for the young mainly because their parents could be terrorists who use their kids to get by security. They are f'ed up people, let's not forget.

How can we tell who is who?

[King]

I'm black and Catholic. Suppose I should prepare to be profiled.

A black Catholic Republican from New Jersey.  You're worth more than diamonds.

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Who is more likely to blow a plane? The Omani exchange student, or the 95 year old grandma from Indiana? Even if the Muslim in question is a loyal American, and even a military vetran, I rather see him be questioned then the Old White lady. Even though he will found perfectly innocent, we must remember Malik Nadal Hassan. It just makes more sense to do it this way.

I agree completely.

We're also profiling young white males, right?  They're much more likely to be domestic terrorists than Muslims are.

Given the proportion of Muslims to total population I'd doubt that. not that whether someone is Muslim has anything to do with race or appearance.

[Sbane]

If there needs to be profiling, it needs to be done in a rational fashion. So a Muslim dude who has lived here for less than 10 years and has managed to visit Yemen and Pakistan 7 times during that period even though he is from Egypt should obviously get pulled over for extra screening. Even if he is wearing a t-shirt with an American flag and shorts he should be screened. On the other hand a Bangladeshi or Indonesian couple, who are Muslims and dressed like it, but have lived in America for more than 30 years and only go back to the country of their origin, perhaps should not be.

Is this really possible though? Do you guys seriously think this can be implemented by either the TSA or the airlines? Are you sure we won't end up with a situation where Indian techies get held up for screening a gazillion times while the Chechnyan terrorist skates by?

An exception for olds is probably the way to go. I wouldn't give an exception for the young mainly because their parents could be terrorists who use their kids to get by security. They are f'ed up people, let's not forget.

How can we tell who is who?

It's quite easy to know a person's foreign travel patterns.

As for Indian techie vs Chechnyan terrorist. There is no way to tell who is dangerous and who is not just by looking at them. I don't get why Americans have this fascination with racial profiling. I don't have a problem with profiling the right way, but racial profiling is just another way of placating the masses with no real gains.

[Simfan34]

I'm black and Catholic. Suppose I should prepare to be profiled.

A black Catholic Republican from New Jersey.  You're worth more than diamonds.

Whose parents are professors at NYU.

I'm fond of your positions.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Who is more likely to blow a plane? The Omani exchange student, or the 95 year old grandma from Indiana? Even if the Muslim in question is a loyal American, and even a military vetran, I rather see him be questioned then the Old White lady. Even though he will found perfectly innocent, we must remember Malik Nadal Hassan. It just makes more sense to do it this way.

Naturally, every damn Moslem must be automatically under suspicion. Guilty until proven innocent. Long live the freedom!

[Simfan34]

Who is more likely to blow a plane? The Omani exchange student, or the 95 year old grandma from Indiana? Even if the Muslim in question is a loyal American, and even a military vetran, I rather see him be questioned then the Old White lady. Even though he will found perfectly innocent, we must remember Malik Nadal Hassan. It just makes more sense to do it this way.

Naturally, every damn Moslem must be automatically under suspicion. Guilty until proven innocent. Long live the freedom!

PROVEN INNOCENT? Don't try to humanize the Mohametans, they're automatically guilty!

Why racial profiling doesn't work.

[Badger]

The next time nineteen old ladies or cripples in wheelchairs hijack planes and kill 3000+ people, let me know, K?  Thx.

Stop including them in random screening and wait a month.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

The next time nineteen old ladies or cripples in wheelchairs hijack planes and kill 3000+ people, let me know, K?  Thx.

Stop including them in random screening and wait a month.

Don't you know Badger there are absolutely no old lady or wheelchair-bound Islamic fundamentalists. None whatsoever.

The best part is there actually HAS been a rather notable wheelchair bound Islamist (a Hamas leader, who was killed by an Israeli missile attack).

[Badger]

Oh, and the idea of bullets flying in a compressed tube is such a good idea.[/font]

But bombs blowing up hidden in a terrorist bum is alot better right? Anyway, I think it would be best to let the airline companies decide what is allowed on flight. Giving pilots guns, at least, should be allowed. Same with pepper spray and tasers.

Pilots, sure, but the rest, no.

Aren't air marshall's already strapped? No one's debating this point. What Paul's arguing for is this.

[Mercenary]

I oppose racial profiling.
As for guns on a plane, that should be the airline's choice.

But I don't think I'd go on a plane that allowed them...

[TheGlobalizer]

I have an idea, how about we not piss off everyone around the world in the first place?

Guns on planes is a non-issue if you don't have a bunch of religious nutjobs trying to kill a few thousand innocents just to make a point.

Well, less nutjobs, anyway.