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Update: Dept. of Homeland Security weighs forcing passengers to wear stun gun bracelets on airplanes
Back in March, Gadling blogged about a firearm training system, Lamperd, which had patented a bracelet that worked like a stun gun when activated. At the time, Lamperd was lobbying the Transportation Security Administration to make it mandatory for all airline passengers to wear one, with the thinking that it was the best way to thwart a terrorist.
Well, here's an update.
The Department of Homeland Security, ever the shepherds watching over their flocks, appears to be seriously weighing making this bracelet mandatory and has sent a letter to Lamperd encouraging the company to draft a formal proposal for integrating its bracelet into flight security.
That's right. Your tax dollars are funding the R&D arm of DHS, which wants to develop technology that acts essentially as a GPS attached to your wrist, allowing the government to track pretty much everywhere you go once you check in for your flight, and giving the flight crew the ability to waylay you if you get out of hand.
O.K., that might be overstating it: Officials say the bracelet would only be activated in the event of a terrorist attack. But still....
Here is a promotional video for the bracelet that piqued DHS's interest.
The Washington Times today quotes a letter from DHS's Paul S. Ruwaldt, of the Science and Technology Directorate, in which he writes to Lamperd saying, "To make it clear, we are interested in...the immobilizing security bracelet and look forward to receiving a written proposal."
The Times says the letter was written on Federal Aviation Administration letterhead.
The Times goes on to detail what the bracelet could do. It would:
- Eliminate the need to carry a boarding pass
- Contain personal data about you, including your travel history
- Monitor the whereabouts of both you and your luggage after check-in
- Employ Electro-Musclar Disruption technology that could immobilize a passenger for nearly 10 minutes
But seriously, I consider all this with some foreboding. I mean, slipping a bracelet on a little kid that could deliver a shock powerful enough to make an electronic dog fence zap seem like a pinprick is a scary thought. What if a flight attendant accidently activates one of them?
What do you think? Would mandatory bracelets like these make air travel safer, or is this just another way for the government to look over our shoulders?
What other strange things have been found on planes?
Click the image to read the bizarre story...
Filed under: Activism, United States, Airlines, Video, Airports, Consumer Activism
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 11)
Tom Jul 7th 2008 3:30PM
If they do it, I promise the a giant portion of the security community will jump on the opportunity to hack the system and showcase how difficult it is to make something like this secure. And how's that for a terrorist tactic - sending debilitating shocks to everyone in a 30m radius in an airport terminal. The community has published the German Foreign Minister's fingerprint, cracked the Dutch passport, cloned a US passport and more; I have the utmost confidence they will succeed..
Parissa Jul 9th 2008 9:12AM
Thanks for your additional insight! I couldn't agree with you more!
BrianM Jul 7th 2008 3:36PM
I would sell everything I owned (even at a huge loss) and leave the country for good before it was "Mandatory". If they want to control terrorists on airplanes, then make it mandatory that every passenger carries a loaded firearm. Who's going to pull anything stupid if they know the whole plane is armed?
Land of the free tends to be more of an oxymoron anymore when talking about the USA.
Connie Jul 9th 2008 8:00AM
I agree
KENNETH CALUSI Jul 9th 2008 9:54AM
you said it all brother!
wtsallw Jul 9th 2008 12:33PM
brian, are you from idaho?
and i think this would be a good idea IF it couldnt get hacked, and i dont think lil kids should have to wear it. dont like that idea
Michael Jul 9th 2008 12:36PM
Since you will feel a loss of freedom by wearing a bracelet, may I suggest you drive your car instead, and at the governments posted speed limits, using the governments required id (driver license).
basbleu Jul 9th 2008 2:50PM
Give every passenger a gun? You are...oh well..
Just think having the Mother with the four unruly rag rats on your flight, would you be smiling and condoning their display of out-of-control or would you pull the trigger and send Mama flying? Or the drunk who is mad at the flight attendant who cut him off....is he going to shut up or make a point waving his gun in everyones direction. We already had a pilot discharge his weapon in the cockpit...yes, it will be a real in flight wild west scenario when you arm the passengers. I think I will buy me a scooter.
vitlady3 Jul 9th 2008 8:11PM
I agree with BrianM. The day this bracelet going into "effective"....my flying days will be over. Let's punish the law abiding citizen because of the criminal acts of some. DUH!!! I think the government should stop wasting tax payers dollars and squash this idea.
Carl Jul 7th 2008 3:37PM
I would hope that the citizens of our great country would not let this happen. This is clearly over the line. If this were to come to pass I would have to seriously consider finding a new place to live. I am eligible for British citizenship so maybe that would be enough to push me over the edge...
I can deal with a huge network of cameras in public places like they have in Britain, but tracking bracelets that can remotely shock someone? That is way over the line.
Chibi Amy Jul 9th 2008 12:07PM
Next step, permanent chips in our wrists... Didn't I see something like this on the TV show "Sliders"?
Emma Leigh Jul 7th 2008 4:14PM
There is no way this is gonna "fly."
The ACLU will be all over it like stink on fecal matter.
VagabondFrank Jul 7th 2008 4:14PM
You're a terrorist. You've been planning your evil scheme for months, maybe years. They strap the EMD bracelet on your wrist as expected, but you're not concerned, afterall, you expected this. You were able to disable / remove the bracelet before the flight.
It's mid-flight, You stand with your weapon, the cabin crew activates the EMD, completely immobilizing every passenger on the plane except for you, your team, and the cabin crew. It's now a five on five brawl.
I'll pass on the bracelet, but thanks for the suggestion, Homeland Security! I don't understand - is it too inconvenient or costly to preform adequate background checks? It's easier to just zap us all and hope for the best?
VagabondFrank
Andrea Jul 9th 2008 10:42AM
VagabondFrank,
This was going to be my commentary, practically word for word.
Any 'weapon' you can use, be it a gun, knife, or zapping bracelet, has the capacity to be turned against you and the people it's supposed to be protecting.
How do these paid researchers and security personnel not think any idea completely through is beyond me. Every research group needs a Devil's Advocate...that one person who keeps saying "ok, this is a good idea, but what if this happens? or that?" If this contracter has such a Devil's Advocate employed with them, they obviously aren't listening or the DA is not speaking loudly enough, or both.
There are all kinds of ideas that are great...in a perfect world. You need to look at all the possible ways someone can hack, incapacitate or otherwise screw with whatever security measures you put in place...because we DON'T live in a perfect world.
Sasha Jul 9th 2008 11:27AM
I agree with you, this idea is ridiculous and inhumane. Will they make children wear this bracelet too? If this plan is implemented I will never fly and alot of people won't fly either. Then the airline industry will really take a hard hit when it doesn't have any customers to service.
Robobagins Jul 7th 2008 4:16PM
LOL, this is seriously being blown out of proportion. Really no way is this going to fly.
No one is going to stand by and pay for the privilege to be locked into these. Because they're gonna have to lock them on.
Not to mention all the crap with electroshock. Suddenly everyone flying will have a "delicate heart condition."
Not to mention all the problems with being used as a boarding pass in general. The paper ones barely work as it is now.
TARA Jul 9th 2008 7:27AM
LOL SO TRUE IF ANYONE EVER AND I MEAN EVER TRY TO DO THIS TO ME OR ANYONE I KNOW BELEIVE ME THAT IS THE LAST THING THEY WILL EVER DO. LOL PLEASE GIVE ME BREAT. DO YOU HONESTLY THINK IN YOUR WILDEST DREAM AMERICANS WILL ALLOW THIS ROFL PLEASE..................
Bill Jul 7th 2008 4:22PM
If there was ever a way to grind the security check lines to a halt, this would certainly be it. Not to mention the lawsuits.
BRUCE Jul 7th 2008 10:38PM
OH COME ON FOLKS!!! IF TSA WAS TO ACTUALLY GET THAT OFF THE GROUND, HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD EVER FLY AGAIN? GET REAL.... OUR CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TRAMPLED, BUT HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING THE GOVERNMENT TO GO?
sgrenillo Jul 9th 2008 11:15AM
The way things have been moving, why would you be surprised at any proposal from the Gestapo ... oops! I really meant DHS. Any excuse to take another bit of freedom from the little folk will do.
Next they'll want the right to read everyone's communications. O, I'm sorry, they already have that right. no warrant needed.
We may be losing our freedom in less time than it was won.