I have little confidence in anything gov't. does, which is the main reason I don't fear their accidentally picking up my phone calls and then erroneously arresting me on terrorism charges when I was calling to place an order with Pelican. I am far more worried by their incompetence with respect to immigration matters, as I am about to navigate that labyrinth with my new bride and a mistake there can cost thousands and legal mightmares. That's a real fear and a well-founded one with thousands of horror stories real people can tell you that actually happened to them. I'm not aware of anyone being prosecuted or even harassed by the feds for something the NSA picked up that wasn't related to terrorism.

that is just it...you would NOT hear of people being taken away:eek:

You have TOTALLY missed the point, and I'm sorry. The above statement is false as is most of the drivel that followed. When my constitutional rights are violated, I will NOT roll over passively like some will suggest. I didn't mention the unconstitutional search that one LEO attempted to pull on me (leaving the grounds at 7 am on a Sun. morning) and a whole bunch of other stuff that happened that is indicitive of our government agencies overstepping their bounds. This is NOT about DRUGS...GET IT!!! It's about our government agencies encroaching upon our personal freedoms. And how is all of this tied to homeland security you ask? Because one only has to "follow the money" to know that without the Homeland Security BUDGET (handing out "night vision goggle/camera" grants to LE agencies in the foothills of NC - a notorious hotbed for Islamic terrorists, I might add), and the "Patriot Act", these events over the past few years would not have occurred. Panties in a bunch you say...you betcha! Some things are worth it, and freedom from a "big brother government" is a good place to start imo.

Well, then it must have been happening for years now. Surely, Bush isn't the first president to disappear people. I mean, he engineered 9/11 too and all those planes and people disappeared. What a genius. How many people has he managed to disappear whose families just never missed them? Yeah, if you don't know about it, then it must have been going on all along and it's just more proof of a grand conspiracy.:rolleyes:

I would be happy to know that our local law enforcement got new tools for catching law breakers (unless of course it was speeding related equipment ;):D). I could care less what govt agency gave it to them. I don't mind getting searched if a cop sees me hanging with a bunch of suspected crooks, but that is just me. Sorry KC, but it sounds like these "music" festivals have enough drugs floating around at them that surveilance by law enforcement sounds reasonable. I can understand you getting a bit ticked off (like me about speeding tickets), but in a society with laws that are supposed to be obeyed, I can't honestly take offense to enforcement.

and surveillance was obvious to people ?


thx for info

I don't think anyone has a reasonable expectation of privacy when at a concert or sporting event. And the back of the ticket may spell out for you what rights you're surrendering when you enter the premises. I would never ever let a cop search my car. But if I drive onto a gov't. facility or walk into an airport, doing just that constitutes waiving certain rights. I don't even think you can do a u-turn and leave if you decide you don't want them to look. I accidentally drove onto Ft. Bliss last year while carrying concealed, which is legal in TX, but not on mil. bases. Luckily, they let me go without searching. There's a guy in our local Porsche gang whose kid was busted by vice in full tactical gear for underage drinking at a pool party. I doubt they just happened upon it while dressed like that. They had the place under surveillance.

Not probably to most. I've been involved with putting on Blues Festivals, etc. for years, and I know folks in the organization and on the medical crew, so I had inside information and watched it all go down. I'm sorry I brought up "music festival", as I think that sent many of you into the mind set of "the druggies deserved it" based upon your previous experiences, and imo, you are all way off base. Again...this is/was not about drugs, etc. but the thread was asking what freedoms we've lost recently, and I mentioned one...sorry I brought it up.

ps: I think the cops netted less than a dozen or so arrests (out of 3-4 thousand attendees) for their 4 day effort...a real SMOKE OUT I'd say :)

and that by itself constitues what we are talking about. Was" full tatical gear " needed for underage drinking? honestly that is ridiculus

Totally concur. Fairfax Co. SWAT serves all arrest warrnts here, even for non-violent suspects. Militarization of police forces drives me nuts. If they want to wear buzzcuts and tac. gear and carry automatica rifles, that fine. Join the military. I think Posse-Comitadus needs some updating.

Can't argue with any of this.