Roy Smith writes:

There's a
lot of stuff that's been done lately in the name of national security
which I strongly disagree with, but this seemed quite reasonable and
appropriate to me, especially given the easy access to heavy metal on
the GA ramp.

[...]

Maintenance tools and firearms locked in a trunk are illegal where you live?

No, they're not. But you asked me what they would have done if they
found them in my trunk, and I gave you my best guess.

What would you expect would happen?

I think it was a decent guess. The point I was trying to address was the
"seemed quite reasonable" part. If you think it's reasonable that they're
searching cars, what *reasonable* thing do you expect them to do when they
find something interesting?

I contend that what they're doing is only reasonable from the perspective
of someone wanting to cover his butt and increase his budget. It has
nothing to do with preventing violent crime ('cept maybe kidnapping). It
has everything to do with hassling people who are not causing problems in
order to make bystanders feel warm and fuzzy.

Then again, maybe I'm just a cynic. (Who'd a thunk it?)

--kyler