Anyone Had Contact with VIPR Yet?

[RoyGBiv]

Just wondering if anyone has had any contact with a VIPR team yet... I recall a report a few months ago of a team in Austin, possibly (my mind is going) one on TRE recently as well?

Shivers my timbers...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/us/ts ... d=all&_r=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

T.S.A. officials respond that the random searches are “special needs” or “administrative searches” that are exempt from probable cause because they further the government’s need to prevent terrorist attacks.

[gthaustex]

We are from the government....we are here to help.

I heard about this yesterday on the radio. Scary...

T.S.A. records show that the teams ran more than 8,800 unannounced checkpoints and search operations with local law enforcement outside of airports last year

I wonder how long before they don't co-opt local LEOs and just decide to run things themselves because they can?

In 2011, the VIPR teams were criticized for screening and patting down people after they got off an Amtrak train in Savannah, Ga. As a result, the Amtrak police chief briefly banned the teams from the railroad’s property, saying the searches were illegal. In April 2012, during a joint operation with the Houston police and the local transit police, people boarding and leaving city buses complained that T.S.A. officers were stopping them and searching their bags. (Local law enforcement denied that the bags were searched.)

I haven't run into any of these teams myself, but at least some in Congress, etc. have problems with them as well according to the article. This has the potential to grow into a huge abuse of power...

[bdickens]

The potential?

[Cedar Park Dad]

Just wondering if anyone has had any contact with a VIPR team yet... I recall a report a few months ago of a team in Austin, possibly (my mind is going) one on TRE recently as well?

Shivers my timbers...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/us/ts ... d=all&_r=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

T.S.A. officials respond that the random searches are “special needs” or “administrative searches” that are exempt from probable cause because they further the government’s need to prevent terrorist attacks.

They are exempt until someone challenges them in court.

[o b juan]

they will get away with it until they try that in a county where the Sheriff knows how much power he has

I cant remember where that is in the statutes. State or federal?

[Dave2]

Just wondering if anyone has had any contact with a VIPR team yet... I recall a report a few months ago of a team in Austin, possibly (my mind is going) one on TRE recently as well?

Shivers my timbers...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/06/us/ts ... d=all&_r=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

T.S.A. officials respond that the random searches are “special needs” or “administrative searches” that are exempt from probable cause because they further the government’s need to prevent terrorist attacks.

They are exempt until someone challenges them in court.

I really wish we didn't have to wait for "harm" or whatever the legal standard is to sue to have a law declared unconstitutional.

Edit: Actually, I take it back... I really wish those in authority would consider issues like this and not pass laws or implement policies that wouldn't pass constitutional muster in the first place.

[texanjoker]

Just heard about that yesterday myself..... they now have guns

I'll never forget the TSA guy that told me at the airport how stressful leo work was and that when you go home you have to turn off being a leo... My reply was you are a security guard so you wouldn't know

[Jaguar]

I would refuse, not happy to be a test case but not willing to give up my liberties for someone else to feel safer. There is no way I would consent to a search outside of getting on an airline, and it chaps me then as well. They would have to arrest me and we'd see where it goes.

I can't believe this hasn't happened yet, too many people willing to be violated for the sake of feeling safe.

[gthaustex]

The potential?

Fair enough. Badly worded and you caught me.

It is already a huge problem....

[anygunanywhere]

I would refuse, not happy to be a test case but not willing to give up my liberties for someone else to feel safer. There is no way I would consent to a search outside of getting on an airline, and it chaps me then as well. They would have to arrest me and we'd see where it goes.

I can't believe this hasn't happened yet, too many people willing to be violated for the sake of feeling safe.

Anygunanywhere

[tbrown]

My instructor said if domestic enemies of the United States Constitution are in the act of violating the US Constitution on US soil, they can be executed on the spot by any US Citizen witnessing the attack.

[MoJo]

My instructor said if domestic enemies of the United States Constitution are in the act of violating the US Constitution on US soil, they can be executed on the spot by any United States Citizen witnessing the attack.

I don't think it works like that. I wouldn't want to be the test case on that one.

[Texas_Blaze]

They might as well wear swastikas.
Thx W.

[Dave2]

My instructor said if domestic enemies of the United States Constitution are in the act of violating the US Constitution on US soil, they can be executed on the spot by any United States Citizen witnessing the attack.

I don't think it works like that. I wouldn't want to be the test case on that one.

Even if it does work like that, I wouldn't want to be the test case.

[rbwhatever1]

Over reach by the jack booted thugs in Washington...