No Fly, No Buy, No Way

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." I'd love to accept credit for this quote, but at the risk of being labeled a Trump family member, attribution belongs to Benjamin Franklin.

Giving up essential liberty for vague safety is being proposed, locally, by a New Bedford City Councilor. Under a motion up for consideration, anyone on the feds "No Fly List," can't get a gun. The police chief could deny a permit. Councilor Joseph Lopes calls his motion "common sense." Well, how many times in U.S. history has one person's common sense led to an unconstitutional measure? Where's the due process of law granted to all of us living in this country? Check Bill of Rights #5, councilor.

The vaulted No Fly List is one of the knee jerk reactions from the 9/11 attacks. It's intent to stop terrorists from boarding an airplane has sobered some highly-notable citizens.

Take Senator Ted Kennedy. He found himself on the No Fly List. What happened? An honest government mistake. His name was confused with another T. Kennedy. You're correct. Massachusetts Ted is legally Edward. An honest mistake that took weeks to correct. Good thing Senator Ted served in the senate with then Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge. Helps to have friends in high places. I can call Senator Kennedy a lot of things. Terrorist is not one of them.

Civil rights activist and long time Congressman John Lewis is another mover and shaker mistakenly placed on the No Fly List  This is as bad, maybe worse, than having your mug on the wall at the Post Office or library. A major problem with the No Fly List is someone with your name, living in a different part of the country, could be placed on the list, and you go to fly or buy (a gun) and you're flagged. One man told me it took more than two years to clear his name off the No Fly List. Two years because the captured bad guy had the same name!!

Councilor Lopes says folks can go through an appeals process to get their name cleared, and Police Chief Cordeiro will have discretion. Sure! We have to defend ourselves instead of government proving we did something wrong.

What qualifies any of us to be placed on the No Fly List, besides mistaken identity? Who selects the group of non-elected government professionals duly authorized to make the list and the reason or reasons for placement on said list? Councilor Lopes cannot possibly answer these important questions. Why would he subject the very citizens who elect him to office through an unwarranted, unnecessary procedure? Councilor, please explain why your constituents do not deserve the right of due process of law? As we've seen, the No Fly List has hampered essential liberty and hasn't stopped sporadic terrorism erupting in our great nation. Remember the above quote from Mr. Franklin.

If the New Bedford City Council passes the Lopes' motion, New Bedford would set a very strong, ugly precedent that the Bill of Rights ain't worth jack!

Councilor Lopes means well. Nobody likes terrorism at their doorstep. His measure is misguided, not common sense. I respectfully ask the Councilor to withdraw his motion. If he refuses, then the full council needs to strike it down, or admit they care more about temporary safety than the due process of law. Urge the council to KO this unconstitutional, unsafe measure. Liberty is essential!

I welcome your comments.

Brian Thomas, Host, Brian's Beat, Monday-Friday, 10:00-Noon [EDT]