 Consider all of the freedoms you have lost
since the 9/11 attacks by Muslim extremists. Every move you make is monitored by Uncle
Sam via cameras, scanners, cellphone, OnStar, credit card purchases, and your online
activity. You cannot take the pen knife inherited from your grandfather on an airplane
and you must submit yourself to a potentially abusive body search by TSA agents. Armed
law enforcement with automatic weapons are everywhere in big cities. If you dare to criticize
the government's actions, you might be tagged as a potential terrorist. The list is endless.
In typical government overreaction and political correctness, everybody is abused equally
regardless of whether you fit the profile of the people who have committed the majority
of terrorist acts against the U.S.
Well, you as an aircraft modeler have lost another freedom: The freedom to ask questions
at your local hobby shop (LHS) without being assessed regarding your likelihood of being
a potential terrorist. The FBI could soon be tapping your phone and have you on a list
if you don't tread carefully. Don't believe me? Take a look below at this Communities
Against Terrorism flyer published by the FBI titled, "Potential Indicators of Terrorist
Activities Related to Hobby Shops."
Here are some of the indicators that you might be a terrorist (and my suggestions
for avoiding judgment):
- Demonstrating unusual interest in remote-controlled aircraft
(Act like you really don't care)
- Demonstrating interest that does not seem genuine
(Act very interested in R/C aircraft
- uh-oh, see above)
- Inquiring about remote controls and model aircraft payload capacity and maximum range
(Just buy whatever they have and hope
it meets your needs)
- Inquiring about learning to fly expensive giant-scale aircraft without first learning
to fly small-scale aircraft
(Nobody has ever legitimately done that; always buy a park flyer first)
- Possessing little knowledge of activity for which the purchase is intended
(Everyone knows that your local hobby
shop is no place to look for guidance when beginning in the
hobby)
- Exhibiting unusual interest or specific interest in rocket motors or igniters
(Act like you're bored with model rockets)
- Demonstrating no interest or enthusiasm for the hobby or sport
(See the bullets #1 and #2 above - you're
screwed)
- Large quantity of model aircraft fuel
(Just don't own a 1/4- or 1/3 scale model
airplane)
- Several large aircraft, engines, or transmitters
(One per customer, please)
- Model rocket motor igniters without adequate knowledge
(Whatever you do, don't ask for help,
just possibly blow off your fingers instead)
- Large quantity of paintball equipment and supplies with very little information about
local paintball activities
(We need stronger paintball laws!)
- Using cash for large transactions or a credit card in someone else’s name
(Forget about that "This note is legal
tender for all debts, public and private" thing, it's so pre-dictator)
Here is a complete list of the
FBI "Communities Against Terrorism" Suspicious Activity Reporting Flyers
on the PublicIntelligence.net website.
Posted February 15, 2012
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