Thursday, July 10, 2008

TSA Denies "Shock Bracelet" Story

Malkin updates on yesterday's ....ahh....shocking news.

...the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate nor TSA have been pursuing shock bracelets for airline passengers as alleged by the Washington Times Blog

...This all originated from a meeting held two years ago with a private company representative (not Lamberd) who proposed bracelet technology in response to the TSA’s desire to find less-than-lethal means to detain an apprehended suspect.

...This concept was never funded or supported by the DHS or TSA and hasn’t even been discussed for two years. The letter circulating throughout the blogosphere from Paul Ruwaldt was not addressed to Lamberd and merely states the DHS was interested in learning more about the technology. Neither side followed up.

DHS/TSA does NOT support the asserted use and has not pursued the development of such technology.

OK. But as Malkin notes, there is a line in the TSA letter which is ambiguous, to say the least:

In addition, it is conceivable to envision a use to improve air security, on passenger planes

...assuming that there will be passengers. Given the fuel price/ticket price problems we've seen, that might not be a valid assumption.

1 comment:

steveegg said...

That would actually be see-dubya, Michelle's co-blogger.

Of course, with oil prices going the way they are, there won't be a need for shock bracelets on airplanes...because there won't be any flying.