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Not sure if you've heard about this, but perhaps you'll look into it and write up a column. I'm sure all of us would like to hear about the latest TSA indignity/horror in the offing:
From Blaque's Blog of Horrors (http://jblaque.livejournal.com/):
A senior government official with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expressed great interest in a so-called "safety bracelet" (http://www.boingboing.net/2008/03/20/air-safety-proposal.html) that would serve as a stun device, similar to that of a police Taser®.
According to this promotional video at the Lamperd Less Lethal website (http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/video_gallery.asp?video=http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/video/EMDsafetybracelet.flv&title=), the bracelet would be worn by all airline passengers, and 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, 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 could be used to shock the wearer worse than an electronic dog collar if he/she got out of line, completely immobilizing him/her if they get "out of line."
So.. is the U.S. government really that interested in this device?
Yes. According to a letter from DHS official, Paul S. Ruwaldt of the Science and Technology Directorate (http://www.lamperdlesslethal.com/news/upload/pg2HomelandSecurity7_06.pdf), 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.
Any thoughts, Patrick?
