In a victory for National Security, and the American citizen not to be blown up, a judge ruled today against the ACLU, and for NYC Subways in their effort to protect their citizens.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal judge ruled on Friday that police had a constitutional right to randomly search passengers' bags on the New York City subway to deter terrorist attacks.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ruled the searches were an effective and appropriate means to fight terrorism, and constituted only a "minimal intrusion" of privacy.
"The risk to public safety of a terrorist bombing of New York City's subway system is substantial and real," Berman wrote in his opinion.
"The need for implementing counter-terrorism measures is indisputable, pressing, ongoing and evolving."
Random bag searches began on July 22 after a second set of bomb attacks on London's transit system.
In a statement, Mayor Michael Bloomberg praised the ruling, calling bag searches a "reasonable precaution" that police would continue to take.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), which had sued to stop the searches, plans to appeal, Executive Director Donna Lieberman said in a statement. She said the "unprecedented" bag search program violated a basic freedom.
Well of course they plan to appeal, they wouldn't want common sense to prevail! I understand the ACLU's concern on this. No one wants to live in a police state. However, I think they are completely overzealous in this. The majority of people do not mind being searched if it means they will live another day. Besides, the ACLU would have another fit if we were to try to implement profiled searches. And they have even proven through their lawsuit in Tampa against Raymond James Stadium that they are against searches across the board. The irony is that on their own building they have a sign that says you may be subject to search upon entering. The ACLU have twisted a legitimate attempt to protect NY's citizens into a scare tactic method completely overexaggerated. Why can't they see what most people can? The threat of being blown up is a greater risk, than the far fetched idea of a police state.
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If only someone were to get a photograph of that sign on their building that says anyone entering would be subject to a search... Someone? Anyone?
Posted by: Ariya at December 02, 2005 09:12 PM (+sjRV)
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Agent Smith says that bag searches are sheep bait while the "wolves" as described by Greyrooster will strike.
Posted by: Agent Smith at December 02, 2005 11:16 PM (Y5zcg)
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Of course this is meaningless, because as soon as the first muslim is busted with a weapon, it'll become a big PC thing and the media will start screaming racial profiling. Every muslim should get a full body cavity search and X-ray every time they go out in public, and have to wear a tracking bracelet.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 02, 2005 11:35 PM (0yYS2)
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Agent Jones nominates Improbulus Maximus to perform all body cavity searches in the New York Subway.
Agent Brown remembers, "the gloves have come off", and that means latex gloves too.
Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 12:42 AM (Y5zcg)
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No need for gloves, when a cattle prod and gaff hook will do nicely.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 03, 2005 09:47 AM (0yYS2)
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"The majority of people do not mind being searched if it means they will live another day. Besides, the ACLU would have another fit if we were to try to implement profiled searches."
Of course. They're both suspicionless searches. Why not just have regular suspicion based searches?
Posted by: actus at December 03, 2005 09:48 AM (tz3LX)
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>>>Why not just have regular suspicion based searches?
Because then we'd be accused of racial profiling. Didn't you know that one single solitary non-muslim bomber ten years ago in Oklahoma City proves that the terrorists aren't arabs and muslims?
We wouldn't want to be accused of racism. If we searched even one arab who turned up clean, imagine the politically correct Leftwing shitstorm we'd hit.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 03, 2005 10:24 AM (8e/V4)
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My friends and I at the armory have a pool going on what are the softest high-value public targets here in NYC.
Oddly enough top on the list is .... college and university campuses!
We spoke with some of their security personnel - they've just about given up on internal preventive security (wonder why?) and are concentrating on response and damage control.
The libs and the left just don't get it!
Posted by: hondo at December 03, 2005 11:00 AM (3aakz)
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Why do they not sue the airlines first, and their search policy? I'm guessing because most of the country isn't a hippy colony like New York, and wouldn't stand for their PC crap.
Posted by: dave at December 03, 2005 11:52 AM (CcXvt)
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It's ironic that NY has one of the highest concentrations of terrorist-loving libtards, while also being at the top of the terrorists' hit list. I also find it grimly humorous that idiots like Michael Moore can't understand why the terrorists would attack a city whose population generally supports them, while out here in red state middle America, despised by liberals as being uncultured hicks, we support those who are trying to stop those who are trying to kill those who despise us. It's a sick and twisted world. I have to honestly say that I have stopped caring if the terrorists do manage to strike in the heart of libtopia again, because they want the terrorists to win, and as always, I'm all for giving people what they want, good and hard. Anyone with any sense should get out of liberal dominated areas, because it's those places that'll get hit first.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 03, 2005 01:22 PM (0yYS2)
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"Because then we'd be accused of racial profiling. "
But race isn't a suspicion.
Posted by: actus at December 03, 2005 04:52 PM (dFCoa)
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>>>"But race isn't a suspicion."
case closed.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 03, 2005 06:07 PM (8e/V4)
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Agent Brown says that Improbulus Maximus is jealous over New York's immense cultural and economic might.
Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 06:12 PM (VDGim)
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Before you respond maxie remember ...
I'm here in NYC and I believe Bluto is just north up the Hudson Valley.
Posted by: hondo at December 03, 2005 06:31 PM (3aakz)
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Agent Jones says that both Hondo and Agent Smith love New York.
Posted by: Agent Smith at December 03, 2005 08:28 PM (VDGim)
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It's fun to visit New York City for a couple days, but I sure wouldn't want to live there. Everything smells bad. Even the grocery stores smell like urine. I live in the south and I've heard more than a couple people who come down to visit from New York remark, "Wow, it's so clean here". So I'm not alone in my assessment.
Posted by: Oyster at December 05, 2005 06:20 AM (YudAC)
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Oyster: Depends on what part of NYC you hang in? The subways smell like urine, true. Because the dregs of society piss in them.
However, there are other parts. The more you can afford, the less in smells like urine. NYC also has a lot of culture that should not be missed. Next trip try the Museum of Natural History. It doesn't smell like urine. Nor does the Tavern of the Green. I lived there for a year. NYC is what you make of it.
Posted by: greyrooster at December 06, 2005 05:25 PM (JHIKU)
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