Just a short diary about this news article I came upon yesterday.
The unnamed pilot took some video of the dangerous security flaws he saw at the airport he works at and posted them on YouTube.
Now the main thrust of the whole article was about the billions we've spend on "national security" with the creation of the TSA and HHS. Now this news article is from 2010 but what I found extremely disconcerting was the fact the TSA ordered his State Issued Concealed Carry Permit revoked AND the local Sheriff complied.
Since when does any Federal Agency, without due process of law, have the arbitrary authority to abrogate the rights of any American?
I'd rather not get into the kabuki theater we've been conditioned into accepting as "national security". Having worked at the Buffalo Airport for the past 3 years, it's all pageantry and show, nothing even close to actual security. All I'll say is that "security" only occurs from 9 to 5 and I was forced through an impromptu "check point" while on my way into work and I never knew that I had to check my rights at the entrance.
Instead, I find it truly unacceptable that any federal agent can make a phone call to a local Sheriff's department and order them to do whatever they desire, without a warrant, charges, judge, jury or even a conviction.
This is truly dangerous for all Americans and our rights we hold so dear.
The anonymous pilot finally came out less than a week later and identified himself and his reasons for posting the YouTube video.
He created a website called, Patriot Pilot and his story is linked here:
My name is Chris Liu and I am an airline pilot.
In a somewhat spontaneous moment, while I was waiting for a flight at the San Francisco (SFO) airport, I decided to document the stunning lack of security involving ground crew access at the airport. I took my cell phone and recorded the YouTube videos and then later posted them online.
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At approximately 12:45 p.m., and not at the agreed upon 1:00 p.m. meeting time, Mr. Lackey arrived, along with another Federal Air Marshal, two (2) anti-terrorism task force officers and two (2) local Sheriff's Deputys', making a total of six (6) law enforcement personnel, just to pick up my sidearm, which could have been returned for $20.00 via Federal Express!
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Once the Air Marshal's received my badge and gun, the local Sheriff's Deputy then asked for my California State Concealed Weapons Permit. I asked why it was being confiscated and the Deputy politely told me that he had no clue but that he was told to confiscate it by his superiors. Apparently, his superior had been contacted by the TSA / Federal Air Marshals, who not only asked for their assistance, as four Federal Air Marshals were not enough to perform the administrative task of retrieving my gun, but also to punish me even further by interfering with my state rights (CCW) as well.
His home video surveillance system recorded the entire event, it starts after about the 1:25 minute mark:
Upon cursory review of the law creating these positions, I'm still left with the question where does it grant any Federal Agency, acting under color of law, the right or the authority to contact and order a citizens rights be abrogated, more specifically his CC Permit issued by a State or Local Authority?
Is this not the epitome of our New American Police State?
What sickens me is that the local Sheriff's Department complied. Does this mean the TSA, HHS or any other alphabet agency can summarily deny us our rights? I recall the federal coordination that occurred with OWS protesters.
Say I apply for "a permit to protest" against Monsanto and am granted one by my local Sheriff's department, the FDA finds out about my plans and someone, like Michael Taylor, our "Food Safety Czar", calls the Erie County Sheriff's Department and on his word and orders, my "permit to protest" is revoked.
Am I now one of those "homegrown terrorists" we've heard about?
“But you need to make sure that when you make water quality complaints you have a basis, because federally, if there’s no water quality issues, that can be considered under Homeland Security an act of terrorism.”
It really doesn't matter where you stand on the 2nd Amendment, does it? You're against
Fracking because it contaminates our water tables? You're a terrorist,
and your rights must be surrendered at "the request" of this new federalism.
Our founders understood that all politics MUST be local, if we are to continue to be free. When you get unnamed, anonymous "officials" from federal agencies "requesting" your rights be abrogated, for whatever petty reason they decide, without charge, judge, jury or conviction, then we have become subjects of our created government and are no longer citizens.
A fundamental distinction between subjects and citizens can be made:
subjects — individuals upon whom government forces are allowed to act, but who are not allowed to react upon governmental forces;
citizens — individuals upon whom government forces are allowed to act, and who are allowed to react upon governmental forces.