DHS official expresses interest in shock bracelets for airplane passengers

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>]

Via Slashdot.  This article seems more appropriate for The Onion:

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/aviation-security/2008/Jul/01/want-so
me-torture-with-your-peanuts/

By Jeffrey Denning

Just when you thought you've heard it all...

A senior government official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) has expressed great interest in a so-called safety bracelet that would
serve as a stun device, similar to that of a police TaserR. According to
this promotional video
<http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/video_gallery.asp?video=http://www.lamperd
lesslethal.com/video/EMDsafetybracelet.flv&title=>  found at the Lamperd
Less Lethal website, the bracelet would be worn by all airline passengers.

This bracelet 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 Electronic ID Bracelet, as it's referred to as, would be worn by every
traveler "until they disembark the flight at their destination."  Yes, you
read that correctly. 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?

Clearly the Electronic ID Bracelet is an euphuism for the EMD Safety
Bracelet, or at least it has a nefarious hidden ability, thus the term ID
Bracelet is ambiguous at best. EMD stands for Electro-Musclar Disruption.
Again, according to the promotional video the bracelet can completely
immobilize the wearer for several minutes.

So is the government really that interested in this bracelet? Yes!

According to a letter
<http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/news/upload/pg2HomelandSecurity7_06.pdf>
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
<http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/tc/>  at the
William J. Hughes Technical Center at the Atlantic City International
Airport, or the Federal Aviation Administration headquarters.

In another part of the letter
<http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/news/upload/pg1HomelandSecurity7_06.pdf> ,
Mr. Ruwaldt confirmed, "It is conceivable to envision a use to improve air
security, on passenger planes."

Would every paying airline passenger flying on a commercial airplane be
mandated to wear one of these devices? I cringe at the thought. Not only
could it be used as a physical restraining device, but also as a method of
interrogation, according to the same aforementioned letter from Mr. Ruwaldt.


Would you let them put one of those on your wrist? Would you allow the
airline employees, which would be mandated by the government, to place such
a bracelet on any member of your family?

Why are tax dollars being spent on something like this? Is this a police
state or is it America?

As we approach July 4th, Independence Day, I can't help but think of the
blessing we have of living in America and being free from hostile government
forces. It calls to mind on of my favorite speeches given by an American
Founding Forefather, Patrick Henry, who said,

"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others
may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

 

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