Thread: Black Helicopters?

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Live with it,all this paranoia is killing all the fun in life,you are not being singled out and watched by anyone,the Helicopters and drones and Sats are not targeting your house.
Live within the law of the land such as it is,we all have it pretty darn good,the zimmermans of the world are not going to shoot you,the feds are not going to come take your guns away,just chill.

The biggest problem I have with PD's using drones is air space issues. A drone weighing but a few pounds can wreak havoc on a real airplane in the event of a collision. The next problem I have with them is why? I see a great potential for misuse. Personally, I have nothing to hide but I see an increasing paranoia of those that have the "power" ( authority types ) against the so called common citizen. There are several ex LEO's in my family. I always noticed during times that we'd meet for family gatherings that the discussions usually ended up with an "us" versus "them". THE "us" was the LEO types and the "them" was EVERYBODY else that was not an LEO.

My job requires a lot of contact with LEO types. I've noticed a lot of the younger lads have a DEFINITE "us vs THEM" (THEM being non LEO types). Most interesting part about my relation with the LEO's is that my word is final as to my highway. I have on many occasions ordered them to open lanes that they'd closed for no reason. A couple of times it took a phone call to their sergeant or captain to get it done. Had one threaten me with arrest one afternoon. He was informed that interference with a state officer in the performance of his duties was a pretty stout charge that HE was going to be facing and to go ahead see where it got him.

Now tie this back into the types that are running the drones and the drone's show and I see the potential for all types of abuse. Add to the fact that Joe taxpayer is footing the bill in these less than stellar economic times and I think we can get more bang for the buck elsewhere.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

No,the drones cannot see the porn sites you are watching But god knows what you are doing)))

So does google, the NSA, and the Chinese. I say the Chinese because I administer a small website for my wife's employer. I check the stats on visits every week and send the owner a report. More often than not, "unique visits" from China exceed those from the US. Go figure.

There is no real privacy as far as the inter-web is concerned.

You just need to learn to communicate & get your mind right, Wullie.........

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

No,the drones cannot see the porn sites you are watching But god knows what you are doing)))

So does Google.

Originally Posted by Crotalus

I don't believe that any of us got to vote on aerial surveillance, manned or not. The government is just doing it.

I will take care of the security of my property, thank you.

I think you voted for the one who implemented it.
The people making the decisions are there are voted in by you.
And as I said, the reason they are flying over is not because of the terrorist boogey man or your security. They are there to deal with a multitude of things.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I think you voted for the one who implemented it.
The people making the decisions are there are voted in by you.
And as I said, the reason they are flying over is not because of the terrorist boogey man or your security. They are there to deal with a multitude of things.

Since the US hasn't had a real terroristic attack since 2001 ( and I wonder about how that actually went down), and the infamous underwear bomber was a complete sham from the start it has turned out, foreign terrorism per se doesn't seem to me to be the real threat that the new drone air force is aimed at.

I do find your statement intriguing. I hope I assume correctly that you are making that statement from a Belgian viewpoint. I perceive that the European community has had and does have FAR fewer personal liberties than those of here in the US. Relatively unrestricted firearms ownership comes to mind foremost.

We have seen and are seeing a very large roll out of an assault on our personal liberties. The TSA comes to my mind foremost here. To date, I am unaware of any of the TSA apprehending a foreign terrorist. They have however apprehended scores of colostomy bags and several ounces of mother's milk. As far as I've read TSA employees have been guilty of more crimes, rapes, murders, and injuries than those they are "protecting".

It probably doesn't make the international news but our beloved TSA has purchased in excess of 450 MILLION rounds of .40 cal pistol ammo and about the same of 5.56 Nato ammo. They are purchasing multiple portable armored checkpoint stations and thousands of portable body scanners. ALL of this by an organization that has no police powers. They do have "force majeur" but that is the extent of their power.

I went to a local US Mint last week to take the tour with some relatives that were visiting from out of state and wanted to see paper made into money. I removed all of my "prohibited items" that being a pocket knife and left it in my vehicle. Upon entry, I was instructed to remove my belt because it had a metal buckle. I did and went through the scanner and was pulled aside because it went off. I told the US MINT POLICE MAN that I had steel toed boots on. He instructed me to remove them. I informed him that I would be damned and I would wait on the rest of them in the car. The cop didn't like my response one bit. I liked his even less. I waited outside anyway. My mother in law has a steel knee joint. They used the wand on her knee. Funny part is that I help build that place. I've been through it on tours in the past and it would take a much larger device than could be concealed in a boot to make a dent in any of it that can be viewed from the gallery.

You guys take all that type of BS for granted as they've been doing it to you since WWII. I'm not ready to play that game.

Funny you should say that. On paper, we have fewer liberties.

However... in practice, we come out way ahead of you.
For starters, my government does not pick up people because someone in some bureau thinks that person has had dealing with someone who might be a terrorist. My government cannot freeze my assets without a very good proven reason either, and not without granting me a court case. And if we do get arrested, it is not indefinitely without the right to an attorney, or the right to know what I am accused of or what evidence I am being held on.

We don't have 'no fly' lists. I can request to review all information that the government has on me, and make them correct it if it is inaccurate (try that in the US ). MY government also does not kidnap people or assassinate them. We do not have illegal wiretapping or surveillance. We DO have privacy. We still have due process and habeas corpus.

Hey I just thought of another one: asset forteiture! You know, when cops seize your stuff, and then keep it or sell it for money without reimbursing you when the DA drops the case or even if your are found innocent. You have it. We don't. Asset forteiture is a big source of income, to the point where it is included in spending budgets. We don't have that either.

Oh and I almost forgot: the US has the highest incarceration rate in the world. It is a whopping 7 times higher than the european average. 7.

So with all those things, between you and me, which one of us has more freedom?

Funny,,, how many people are literally dying to get to this "horrible" oppressive Country.

Now,, can we get back to having fun with the drones, Please ?

OK, you win and your beer is far better than most of what is produced here in the US.

I'll remember that the next time I go to a Wal-Mart and buy a box of 7.62 Nato ammo or a box of 9MM Parabellum ammo to shoot in my Belgian made Browning P-35. Nor will I remove my boots to watch my tax dollars at work.

Originally Posted by Bruno

They are there to deal with a multitude of things.

Would you care to enlighten me about what multitudinous things you are referring to?

Ok I cannot speak for the US, but from documentaries here I know that helicopters are used quite a lot for the following purpose in Belgium as well as in the UK and France (and presumably other european countries):

- observation of areas around fires to observe whether is is going to spread or not.
- observation of car chases. this is a lot safer and more effective than car chases. IF the chase cars stay back, the one being chased drives less recklessly, and the cops can just pick him up when he reaches whichever destination he is going for.
- helping in finding missing persons, primarily people with mental problems who have walked away from their home.
- finding escapees.
- helping reroute traffic after large accidents or road construction works.
- rescue of people from inconvenient places.

and a couple of things more, all related or similar to the above.
helicopters are in the air throughout the days for these things.
for a good number of things, drones would be able to fulfill the same role. With the lower weight and lighter construction, they'd use a lot less fuel and be cheaper to operate (no pilots).

While drones can also be used for other, privacy invading purposes, the fact that drones are in the air does not have to be a plot from and evil government.

Belgium made some beautiful 9mm Hi-Powers, always wanted one.