Expanding Government Powers - A growing TSA?

A reader sent me this link on a possible expansion of powers for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The article is from a website called PoliceStateUSA.com which is the first time I have seen this site.

Other relevant news concerning TSA is that in the wake of the LAX International Airport shooting is there are proposals to arm TSA agents. This is very problematic as just the training, initial and recurrent, to make these newly armed travel security guards safe with firearms - let alone competent - would be very costly. The Government already has armed agents at  airports from the Customs and Border Protection agency who have authorities at air ports.

Another potential change to the TSA is that there is talk to legislation to expand the TSA's authority to other transportation modes such as bus depots, train stations and sea ports.

I also called a former Homeland Security (DHS) who served in mid-upper management of a law enforcement agency within DHS and he said that he would be very concerned with arming TSA agents and expanding their powers.  He also reminded me that President Obama did promise to create a national law enforcement agency as powerful as the Army.  If TSA agents become armed, TSA would be the largest armed law enforcement agency in the country with 40,000 + personnel.  Executive orders could grant them additional enforcement and regulatory powers.  Scary to say the least.     

I don't know what the intent is.   Good idea or not, its hard to accept an additional expansion of governmental powers, especially if it limits or controls citizens' rights to travel.

TSA will now “pre-screen” your taxes, car registration, passport, employment history, and more

Travelers are now being subjected to even more invasive screening procedures by the infamous Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Before “allowing” people to travel, the TSA is performing unwarranted checks of a wide variety of personal documents, going further than ever before into the lives of innocent passengers. As expected, Americans will roll over for the new intrusions and accept that they are necessary to protect the Homeland.

The new pre-screening procedure is more exhaustive than a federal background check. The TSA will now be dramatically expanding their reach into the lives of every passenger, and scouring all of the following documents, according to the New York Times:

• private employment information
• vehicle registrations
• travel history
• property ownership records
• physical characteristics
• tax identification numbers
• past travel itineraries
• law enforcement information
• “intelligence” information
• passport numbers
• frequent flier information
• other “identifiers” linked to DHS databases

“I think the best way to look at it is as a pre-crime assessment every time you fly,” said Edward Hasbrouck to the New York Times. Hasbrouck is a consultant to the Identity Project, one of the groups that oppose the prescreening initiatives. “The default will be the highest, most intrusive level of search, and anything less will be conditioned on providing some additional information in some fashion.”

What gives the TSA this authority? The constitution does not even provide for the TSA’s existence. In fact, the constitution ensures that the federal government will not perform these kinds of searches without probable cause or a warrant. Yet all day, every day, the agency devotes itself to performing warrantless searches of travelers. Its existence is a travesty, and its mission-creep is alarming (and predictable).

And what will the TSA do with this information? Nobody is explaining what criteria the agency will be looking for to indicate whether a passenger will be denied the right to travel. How can job history and vehicle registration possibly be relevant to flight safety? What happens if you have criminal convictions on your record? More groping?

Is owing taxes going to prevent people from flying? Actually, the NYT reports that the TSA will be reporting their findings to “a debt collection agency for the purpose of debt collection.”

For fun, compare the government’s disparate efforts in invading travelers’ privacy versus ensuring fair and proper voter registration.

The process is meant to be onerous. The only alternative that travelers are left with is to join the TSA’s “PreCheck” program and become a “trusted traveler.” This program allows passengers to willingly submit their biometric fingerprint scans into a FBI database, submit to a criminal background check, and pay the TSA a fee of $85.00 for a five-year PreCheck membership. RT reports that the TSA may net $255 Million hustling travelers in 2013. This option is still highly invasive, and actually enriches the very entity that is violating our liberties, so it hardly seems like a viable alternative.

Ask yourself: Is this how free people travel? Every trip is now turned into a personal investigation by the federal government. This might be reasonable research to do on inmates transferring between maximum security prisons, but not for people trying to travel between American cities.

New Survival Items for the Modern Day Bug Out Bag

GoGen. Small portable generator.

Maybe I'm a bit behind the times being a desk-jockey now, but hadn't seen this before and thought it was a cool idea. It's a small portable generator. It's called the GoGen and is advertised as being able to charge or run a cellphone, notebook, laptop, multi volt adapters, small water heaters, rechargeable lanterns, and all other 12 volt and smaller voltage appliances and devices through the USB port or inverter directly.

GoGEN packages are available with complete accessories including a carrying back pack, 75 watt AC/DC inverter with USB port, flex light, fire starter, powerful internal 7.25 /12 volt battery, external battery hookup, 10 watt 12 volt solar panel and 1 year limited warranty.

This small 5 lb portable generator is the most versatile bang for your buck!

Specifications:

GOGEN- 8 1/4" high x 6" deep x 6" wide.

Weight - 7 lbs. with internal battery.

Solar panel: 14" x 11" x 1" Weight 5 lbs.

It looks like something you could put in your bug out bag.

Biolite Stove. Great little stove and uses natural fuel to boil water and even create a charge for a cell phone or other device. The heat from the fire generates electricity via a thermoelectric generator to power a fan creating airflow for improved combustion. Surplus electricity is sent to the USB port for charging devices. The Biolite stove is about the same size as a Nalgene Bottle and the specs are:

Packed Size Height 8.25 inches x Width 5 inches

Weight 33 oz (935 grams)

Fuel Renewable biomass (twigs, pinecones, wood pellets, etc.)

Fire Power Output Peak: 3.4 kW (LO), 5.5 kW (HI)

USB Power Output Max continuous: 2W @5V, Peak: 4W @5V

Compatible Devices Powers most USB-chargeable devices including smartphones.

Charging Time iPhone 4S (2G): 20 minutes of charging provides 60 minutes of talk time. Charging times vary by device and by strength of fire.

Boil Time 4.5 minutes to boil 1 liter of water. Varies based on strength of fire.

Watch the video to see it in action - another great tool for the modern Bug Out bag.

Need a Anti-Vehicle Survival Rifle?

Jared wrote and asked my opinion on a big bore rifle having a place in a survive the collapse arsenal.

"I am thinking about buying a large caliber rifle capable of stopping vehicles. The Savage .338 lapua is an affordable piece, but a Barret .50 caliber semi-auto may be a better choice. If I was living in the swamp I wouldn't think about one but in Arizona where I plan to be I can see for miles and it may come in handy stopping people from getting too close to me. what are your thoughts? Jared."

Wow, wish I could afford a heavy rifle like a Barrett. But I just have too many priorities right now. I could be convinced to buy one under given circumstances like long observation distances (which you talk about) and a need to engage threats at that far out. But the costs just may it impossible especially when compared to other needs.

A Savage .338 Lapua bolt gun, with a decent scope and an adequate amount of ammunition will run you $3,000. A Barrett .50 caliber semi-auto double that. The .50 cal Browning round is much preferred to the .338 Lapua for stopping threat vehicles. .50 caliber is usually a little more expensive but probably more easily available given military surplus and the fact that it is not an uncommon cartridge limited to the military anymore.

.50 Caliber Ballistics
661 grain bullet
Barrett Model 82A1 29 inch barrel produces 2,750 feet per second muzzle velocity.
Barrett Model 82A1CQ 20 inch barrel produces 2,500 feet per second.
10 rounds of Barrett M33 ball will cost your $49, while 10 rds of Match grade ammunition from 50 BMG Ammo Supply would cost you $59.95.

.338 Lapua Ballistics
250 grain bullet
2,900 feet per second out of 26 inch barrelled rifle.
20 rds of Hornady Match will costs you $90.

Lets get back to needing a heavy rifle,..........I suppose if I had all my other firearms requirements met, a couple AR-15's, several semi-auto handguns, a goods hunting bolt gun in a medium caliber,....one or two 12 gauge shotguns, a couple of .22 LR's guns, AND is my other preps were sufficient then I may consider a heavy caliber gun like a Barrett. I don't think I'd consider a .338 Lapua or other calibers in that category. My .300 Win Mag can come pretty close or close enough to make a .338 Lapua redundant.

When thinking on being able to stop vehicles that may be bringing people with bad intent close to my survvial position, I would be more concerned with good observation points; good defensible positions with over lapping fields of fire; using obstacles to deny vehicles getting too close where an assault could overwhelm my group. These obstacles could help channelize attackers to points where they could be dealt with more easily.

As far as what points on the vehicle to shoot,...the driver is always a good place to start. Also flat tires don't move several thousand pounds of steel very well through sand or heavy gravel, or through serpentine obstacles.

Interdicting the radiator, while disabling that vehicle for the long run won't immediatley stop it. Likewise hitting the engine block and creating fluid leaks. Other critical components would be a hit and miss (no pun intended) affair as they are small and protected from your direct vision by the vehicle body. Anyway my point is that trying to immmediatley stop a vehicle without explosives or explosive munitions would be pretty hard.

But then again I know from personal experience not to get between a man and his focus on buying a particular gun.

Advice from Survival Podcast

This was sent to me by a reader asking for commentary. This is the first time I have seen The Survival Podcast. I have not went through their site yet, but the first article on the landing page link I was sent lead me to what The Survival Podcast calls the 12 guiding principles of permaculture. My comments are in Italics underneath each guiding principle which I think are unique but not necessarily what I would use as my principles.

1.  Observe and Interact – or – Be a Part of Things

Observe to gathers the facts,....observe to recognize potential threats,....observe peoples reactions to decisions,....observe to see what motivates or de-motivates them, interaction is vital to build a cohesive team - everyone has to feel valued.  

2.  Catch and Store Energy – or – Be an Ant not a Grasshopper

3.  Obtain a Yield – or – Get an ROI on Your Efforts

4.  Apply Self Regulation and Accept Feedback – or – Don’t Kill the Golden Goose

People are best motivated when they know they have input into effort.  Making people, or your survival team, believe they are valued for their opinions and their skills is much preferable to distancing these individuals.    

5.  Use and Value Resources and Services – or -Be Efficient to Become Independent

Be Independent,.......I suppose you could draw a parallel to the preppers who stock food, guns and ammunition, but little else. 

6.  Produce No Waste – or – Make Use of Everything

7.  Design from Patterns to Details – or -Be an Artist and Step Back for a Longer View

This can apply to planning.  From the concept of the operation to planning the details including contingency plans.  Anticipate the problems and plan for immediate solutions to be immediately implemented.

8.  Integrate Rather than Segregate – or -Understand the Power of Teams

To me this means team building and using people's skills for the groups advantage.  This is not contrary to what you rugged individuals believe, this simply recognizing the fact the survival is best achieved in a team.   

9.  Use Small and Slow Solutions – or – Focus On What You Can Do First

10.  Use and Value Diversity – or – Practice Risk Reduction

11.  Use Edges and Value the Marginal – or – Seek Alliances Not Conflicts

12.  Use Creativity and Adapt to Change – or – Improvise, Adapt and Overcome

Really is should be "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome OR Perish."  But I get the point. 

Survival Podcast is asking for input with the request to "Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon. Also please enter our listener appreciation contest and help spread the word about our show. Also remember you can call in your questions and comments to 866-65-THINK (866-658-4465) and you might hear yourself on the air." This good survival planning and preparation asset also has what they call their "Expert Council" that readers can address callas to. If you do this you should email Jack right after your call at jack@thesurvivalpodcast.com with expert council call in the subject line. In the body of your email tell Jack that you just called in a question for the council and what number you called in from. Jack will then give the call priority when he screen calls. Survival Podcast Expert Council:

Kerry Davis – Dark Angel Medical – Emergency Medicine and Life Saving Care

Bryan Black – ITS Tactical – All Things Tactical, E&E, Lock Picking, etc.

Frank Sharp Jr. – Fortress Defense Consultants – Weapons, Tactics and Security

Darby Simpson – DarbySimpson.com – Livestock and Farm Management/ Homestead Consulting

Ben Falk – Whole Systems Design – Permaculture (Specializing in North Eastern Climates)

Paul Wheaton – Permies.com – Permaculture (Specializing in North Western Climates)

Tim Glance – Old Grouch’s Military Surplus – Bug Out Vehicles, Military Surplus and Communications

Stephen Harris – Solar1234 – All things Energy

Chef Keith Snow – Harvest Eating – Cooking