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Disruptive plane passengers prosecuted under Patriot Act

January 20, 2009 by  

Does disruption count as terrorism?Although the Patriot Act is intended to combat terrorists, it is also reportedly being used to fight back at unruly passengers.

A report in the Los Angeles Times describes how mother Tamera Jo Freeman was convicted of a federal felony defined as an act of terrorism, after she apparently engaged in some disruptive behavior on a plane.

In fact, her particular behavior consisted of spanking her two children, swearing at a flight attendant and throwing a can of tomato juice on the floor, according to the article.

At least 200 people on flights have been convicted of terrorism under the Patriot Act. The Times says most of these cases do not contain any evidence of hijacking or physical attacks, but have instead consisted of arguments, bad language and unruly behavior.

"We have gone completely berserk on this issue," security consultant Charles Slepian told the news provider. "These are not threats to national security or threats to aircraft, but we use that as an excuse."

The Patriot Act was passed by Congress 45 days after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
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  • Altaica

    It is my opinion that the act gives them too much power and is past it’s prime. The patriot act is no longer viable and I feel needs to be removed.

  • wpbcdeacon

    “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.”
    by John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton in 1887

  • TruePatriot

    The Patriot Act is a direct violation of the peoples constitutional rights and needs to be repealed. Again, more obvious evidence that the government intends to slowly turn this country into a socialist police state. First it starts with small things and soon it will escalate. The time is now my fellow Americans to petition for redress concerning all the constitutional rights the government has violated to date and return the republic to what it was intended to be. No longer must we allow the government to use fear (terrorism, ect…) in persuading the people to relinquish our constitutional rights. WAKE UP AMERICA BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

    • Patriotic American

      The Patriot Act was created to combat terrorism not to be misused to punish ordinary misbehavior. The currrent administration will misuse it in every which way they can to convince us that it is abusive.

      • JustDWD

        Patriotic American says:
        May 29, 2009 at 3:07 pm

        The Patriot Act was created to combat terrorism not to be misused to punish ordinary misbehavior. The current administration will misuse it in every which way they can to convince us that it is abusive.

        It will not end with the current administration. The Patriot Act always was and always will be aimed at law abiding Americans. Ans it is more than just the fact that until they attack terrorists look like law abiding Americans.

        The law was written in broad sweeping terms and is worded to be somewhat confusing on its limits. But there is something much worse afoot here. It also created a bureaucracy and bureaucracies always grow and expand their power some with no regard for the Constitution, Civil Rights, or good judgment.
        What is being seen now is the result of that inevitable expansion. But some will say it is not inevitable ans I would point out some evidence for them to consider. The most hated agency of the US government is the IRS, they started as the internal Revenue Bureau of Porto Rico. (sp?) Next we have the Food and Drug Commission, they were started to clean up meat processing plants, and protect against patent medicines made largely of alcohol and opium, which regularly contained poisonous ingredients as well. Look at their reach now 80+ years later. Think about the TSA and you will see a clear and present danger to out liberty. Remember when being shot for not having your papers occurred in the Communist Block. When torture was something Nazi’s used on conquered peoples for a confession.
        Show me your Travel Permit(at gunpoint) is coming, it marches toward us like a silent specter of death. And Patriotic American is not nearly paranoid enough, ’cause it is still paranoia even when they ARE out to get us.

      • JustDWD

        Spelling correction:
        “Ans it is more than just the fact that until they attack terrorists look like law abiding Americans.”

        should have been: “AND it is…”
        and
        “But some will say it is not inevitable ans…”
        “Should have been: But some will say it is not inevitable and..”
        and
        “Think about the TSA and you will see a clear and present danger to out liberty.”
        Should have been:”Think about the TSA and you will see a clear and present danger to our liberty.”

        Sometimes the way I type I think my fingers have a mind of their own and it has brain damage.

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