Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

[Ralph 123]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

I think ZodFutMk2 nailed what this was all about - a search for drug smugglers. Talked to a CG guy from the area and he mentioned all the coke and pot people in the area smuggled up from South of the Border in boats. Couple that with the big pot bust ZodFutMk2 mentioned and it's easy to conclude They might have had a tip and that was what they were really after. It also explains why the had the Sheriffs with them and wanted access to hidden compartments like the bilge. <br /><br />Like it or not, you may think of your boat as your house but the laws don't.

 

[QC]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

Ya know Ralph and ZodFutMk2 (how the flyin' flip do you say that?), you may be right. I hope so.

 

[ZodFutMk2]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

ZodFutMk2 = Zodiac Futura Mark 2...da rubba boat<br /><br />This story lacked so much impact that none of the local TV stations picked up on it, but then with Katrina and Rita, they aren't needing anything else to fill the broadcast.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

Yea, and when a bomb goes off in a harbor in San Diego or New York or wherever, you same guys will be beeyatching about why the Coast Guard didn't do more to protect us. I have heard it over and over again and I can tell you from experience- treat the enforcement guys well and they'll treat you well. Act like a **** and they'll give it right back. <br /><br />Granted, 10:30 at night is suspect, but considering the current atmosphere we live in now, it's to be expected. If the owner had given the CG about 5 minutes and been cordial, it would have been a moment of inconvenience. I for one would probably go back to bed with a feeling of security knowing that the guy anchored next to me wasn't going to annihilate me later on. <br /><br />How do you expect a law enforcement agent to do his job if he has to work blindfolded, gagged and bound? <br /><br /><br /> And don't bring up the Patriot Act bit- it has no relevance here. <br /><br />UFM82

 

[ufm82]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

WOW- think I need to fix my avatar? LOL Now that's BIG!!!!<br /><br />Sorry guys,<br /><br />UFM82

 

[dakk1]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

Yeah, doesn't quite feel right anymore. You know that there are super computers out there crunching all these posts even as we write them. Looking for key words, indicators of subterfuge or terrorist cells. Probably half the posts on this thread will draw attention at some level. Monitoring e-mails, cell phone calls, instant messages, forums. Wonder how CHP in Wildbill59's newsclip would have handled that if the camera hadn't been there?<br /><br />Dave..

 

[QC]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

I can't believe how they handled it WITH the camera . . . I'll admit she's waving that thing around a lot, but they didn't HAVE to go inside . . .

 

[wildbill59]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

In addition to trying to ensure the safety of boats on the bay during the holiday weekend, Warren said, the operation was part of an effort to increase the public's awareness of the Coast Guard's role as a law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security. He said the public might have been surprised to see weaponry that is now standard issue to all Homeland Security forces.

Give me a break, doing "saftey" inspections at 10:30 PM, in the dark is neither safe nor prudent for both parties. A verifiable drug raid justifies cover of darkness and outfiting the germandines with heavy weaponary for the unexpected. The guise of using the name "Homeland Security" is pulling us down the slippery slope faster than most realize. Any that object must have something to hide right?<br /><br />When a car my daughter was riding in on the interstate at midnight last Memorial Day weekend was pulled over during a federally funded program to nab unbelted car occupants, the justification for pulling them over? An air freshner hanging from the rear view mirror. <br /><br />Now, one of the most dangerous places to be is on the side of a high speed highway, certainly in the darkness. The driver was pulled out and grilled. Maybe he was "profiled" because as many kids (19 year old) do, he had his hat on backwards. The gestapo had his dog along and threatened to run it around the car.<br /><br />And yes this cops boss did get a phone call from me shortly after I became aware of what happened.<br />Did this stop ensure my daughter and her friends any measure of safety then or in the future? Absoulutely not. <br /><br />Anybody know when the "Drug War" is going to be over? <br /><br />Marinetime law was the standard in times of Blackbeard and Davey Jones and was used in framing our constitutional law. But our forefathers saw the wrong in imposing these laws upon the landlubbers and a different standard was formed. The trouble is when we let our constitutional rights slip in exchange for Monday night football and a cold 6 pack we've slid back towards marinetime law.<br /><br />A 20 something CG boy with a full auto in his hands in the dark can lead to quite a handful pretty quick.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

screw federal LEO's.

 

[glen f]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

I grew up in the bay area and Ill tell you cops agents feds whatever are people too. We all make mistakes. I remeber getn stripped to my boxers coming home from school at 16 cause I looked like I might be graffiti artist. BS! But I also have had good dealings with officers too. I volunteer as a firefighter and I get grief about weird stuff from people when Im trying to save their home. Point is what dont make sense to some is rite to others. Thats why we vote here. Its not perfect but its the best country I could pick to live in! If you dont like what happened be part of changing things. I think what the cg allegedly did is bs and uncalled for. I also think laws protecting our freedom help terrorists so I wish cops like the ones who violated my rights would bend the laws in a more useful way.Thats the problem who decides, so we got things the way they are now so to offend the majority to protect against profiling or whatever a few that might fit a terrorist description. Personally I think the 1030 was stupid and in Cali I wouldnt board anyones boat without a machine gun. They point one of those guns at my loved ones and they better be ready for an Irish American butt whoopin!! Point is you cant satisfy all but look how much these 911 @#$holes changed our country. Its sickening!!

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

We here on Cape Ann had a simular pre-dawn boat search and inspection by the coast guard with guns and all this summer!!! Keep in mind that we are a working harbor, with commercial fishing and lobstering!!! There was some squaking going on but mostly by those breaking the law!!!! 15 or so illegal immigrants (no green cards)were escorted off a few boats by immigration officers!!!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

when will the war on drugs end? about the same time the wear on terror ends.<br /> in the mean time any neighbor thats mad at you can "tip" off the authorities that your a Meth cooker or a terrorist and the jackboots can kick in your door at 3 am, all under homeland bungling. we are way less safer now than before 9/11.<br /> problem with doing it under cover of dark is the dark provides cover for all. if you come up on a real threat odds are they wont be that suprised, can you imagine a full on fully automatic firefight in a cxrowded harbour? what with all the fuel onboard behind all that armor plated fiberglass hulls and bulkheads on several thousand boats bobbing about? man thats a scary thought. for those that have never seen a large boat involved in a slip fire fed by gasoline and burning fiberglass its scary. once hot enough fiberglass burns with an intense heat, usually hot enough to light up the hull in the next slip.<br /> but yes I can see a pleasure harbor full of mostly empty boats being a very high priority terror target. imagine tha al geezy headlines, we took out a bunch of rich wite honky boats.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

Originally posted by Robby6950:<br /> Us bikers have put up with that crap for years, and now, don't say we didn't warn you. All kinds of crap will soon be on your list of BS. It started with helmets.........pretty soon you will be wearing them in cars. Think not? Did you wear a helmet as a kid? Of course not. But your kids are, and the nerdy ones will make the future rules, and, well, do the proverbial math

I agree with that.<br />But i am disturbed by some of the reactiuons to our obvious loss of freedom. Sure, you all are as angry as i am. But some of you are directing your anger towards what you see as an invasion of privacy by your law enforcement. Yet, not one word mentioned as to why you have seemingly lost so many of your "freedoms"!<br /><br />I submit, that until we win this war on terror the chief target of the enemy IS EXACTLY THAT---our freedoms.<br />And individually, just how do you propose we do battle with, without aggressively looking for them and their potential "weapons".<br />For instance, does the article mention anything about the OTHER vessels in the port? Not much, huh?<br />How about the tankers, cargo vessels, other traffic ,or structures that these seached vessels loaded with C-4 could do to a Navy destroyer...For example USS Cole?<br /><br />OK, so zodiaks make lousey bombs, but tell that to those who died aboard this proud warship!<br />And how much more destructive to a ship's hull, is a Contender31 loaded-down with C-4 and a whacked-out mutant pilot, than a rubber raft with a screw loose behind the helm?!<br /><br /><br />So, instead of protesting these "invasions to your privacy", how about a little vigilance while in port?! How about protecting what little freedom is left for our children? America is one of the last nations where they still have it.<br />It's your vessel. Don't let the enemy steal it and make a bomb out of it....stuff like that.<br /><br />btw, nice avitar, UF

 

[wildbill59]

Re: Boat owners fearful during Coast Guard search

Ok, I'll admit it. I've got a potential meth lab at my house. I gots drain cleaner, starting fluid and pseodophed tabs in my medicine cabinet.<br /><br />I suppose in my garage the fertilizer and diesel fuel wouldn't make points either.<br /><br />IMHO the terror to coming to the sheeple of this country is economic terror. A superpower leader in the 1930's installed fear in his populace and we're repeating this slowly but surely.<br /><br />I have no door bell on the front door, guess when they come they'll just have to kick the door in instead.