Monday, July 7, 2008

Does this fall under the PATRIOT ACT?

Oh my. Oh my my my. I am literally in shock (no pun intended).

As you may or may not know (I’ve mentioned it several times on this blog), my undergrad degree is in an aviation discipline. Ergo, I am far more forgiving of the TSA and the seemingly ridiculous security rules that we all love so much. You see, this is a personal thing to me. Yes, I travel often. Yes, it is sometimes a PITA. But, more than that, I have friends who get on those airplanes and navigate the no-longer-friendly skies for you each and every day. Security, no matter how ridiculous it may seem, is a necessary evil. If it saves just one life, I’m ok with it.

However, I have my limits. This may be it.

Today’s Washington Times reports reports that the FAA is investigating whether or not it will require fliers to wear bracelets that double as stun guns! Yep, I’m serious.

Lamperd Less Lethal is promoting the use of a bracelet (which they, of course, manufacture) that will essentially make aviation security digitized. According to the Times, the “Elecronic ID Bracelet” (well, that’s a considerably placid name, all things considered) would:

- take the place of an airline boarding pass
-contain personal information about the traveler
- be able to monitor the whereabouts of each passenger and his/her luggage
- shock the wearer on command, completely immobilizing him/her for several minutes

The Times adds, “Every airline passenger would be tracked by a government-funded GPS, containing personal, private and confidential information, and that it would shock the customer worse than an electronic dog collar if he/she got out of line?”

I know. I know. This sounds like some sort of science fiction headline made up to grab attention, right? How does the Times know this anyway? “According to a
letter from DHS official, Paul S. Ruwaldt of the Science and Technology Directorate, office of Research and Development, to the inventor whom he had previously met with, he wrote, “To make it clear, we [the federal government] are interested in…the immobilizing security bracelet, and look forward to receiving a written proposal.” The letterhead, in case you were wondering, came from the DHS office at the William J. Hughes Technical Center at the Atlantic City International Airport, or the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters.”

Go ahead. Leave your comments. I’m dying to hear what you think.

2 comments:

Christy said...

omg seriously?! that sounds exactly like it came from a sci fi movie. i'm all for the safety of every person, but this is effing ridiculous!

RACHEL said...

Wow. I hope I'm not one of the thousands of people (because there will be thousands) for whom this thing malfunctions, shocking and immobilizing an innocent person for no reason whatsoever. Good plan, Big Brother. This sounds like a blast!