Something about the feds checking out Railfan sites for possible terrorist links, or for anything that may help terrorists. In all honesty, a piece of bovine feces that is doing no more than causing some folks to get upset. If that's informative journalism, we're in trouble.
I have to put in my 2 cents on this issue. I have been rail fanning for a long time, through 9/11 and up to now. I belong to the BNSF citizens on patrol also. With that said I have only once been approached by any type of agent be it either BNSF security or actual police. I think this is like the old saying my Drill Sargent used to say that "one persons mistake will ruin it for all." I have been on the rail side with expirenced rail fans only to see them run across 3 yard tracks to take a shot of a gondola or some rolling stock this is how we get kicked off of good shooting locations when some idiot and yes I mean idiot does something like this. This is how we all get stero typed into this catagory of stupidity and fanatics. From my cheap seats use common sence and stay off the the tracks out of the right of way and we can all still take our pictures and chace the trains. If the Federal Goverment wants to see if we have terror links so be it. This is a small price to pay for the ability to watch and shoot our favorite subjects. "Jumps off of his soap box" This is my opinion and I will stick by it. Thanks Steve
It's rather disconcerting to know that the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI, are not without bureaucracy and "managers" who are more involved with pandering to politics than to focusing on issues that we may think are more important to our security. This is just reality in huge organizations. I mention this because I have a friend who works for one of these agencies. Unfortunately, within these organizations, some managers are more concerned with their own personal career aspirations than they are with decisions which we may regard as having higher priority. These people work in the real world, and are motivated by career advancement and monetary gain, and are not a part of some movie or TV show that might typify these people as always being driven to do what is "right" or "noble". Sometimes as merit reviews come around annually, these managers tend to do some things that could be construed as being more for "show" rather than having actual merit. The result is that there are directions handed down to field offices that the managers of those field operations know how to handle - so almost everyone on the lower levels recognize that some of the directives they receive sometimes detract from the hard work these people have to do each day - if you catch the drift of what I'm trying to say. So keep in mind that for the most part, field agents - just like local law enforcement (for the most part) - are not out to get us. That is unless we are giving them some reason to suspect what we are doing through unusual actions. So continue to railfan responsibly and safely - and when someone asks you what you are doing, ask them politely why they are asking, and explain it to them. If you are pressed further, and particularly if someone threatens to confiscate your camera, film, memory card, etc., ask them for identification - and don't hesitate to call 911 and report the incident. Never hand over your personal property or agree to further questioning until local law enforcement can arrive on the scene and assess the situation – and verify the credentials of the person questioning you.
Teens are NEVER Simple, they just try to learn as much as they can....sorta like a sponge. :teeth: I'm pleased to say that you are doing a great job of learning. You ask genuine questions and listen to the answers, then you ask further if you don't understand. Keep it up! :thumbs_up:
thanks! http://www.locustfork.net/radio/brballad.mp3 If so of you could listen to this song. I think what the song has to say some what applys to railfans. lol
I wounder if the law enforcement would like to hear this from our sterios while we are railfanning. lol
