It is good to know that some in government are indeed still worried about privacy... too bad its not ours. And as people think it is a wise idea to send armed troops to 'protect' the Texas border we should probably be concerned that something like this happens on the U.S. Canada Border:
A central Iowa Boy Scout troop just returned from a three-week trip they will likely never forget.
Boy Scout Troop 111 Leader Jim Fox spelled out what happened to him and the Mid-Iowa Boy Scout Troop 111 as four van-loads of Scouts and adult volunteers tried to drive from Canada into Alaska.
Fox said one of the Scouts took a picture of a border official, which spurred agents to detain everyone in that van and search them and their belongings.
“The agent immediately confiscated his camera, informed him he would be arrested, fined possibly $10,000 and 10 years in prison,” Fox said.
Granted this boy scout could be Al-Qaeda in training attempting to get his first merit-badge in border-crossing espionage, but somehow I do not think so... thus making this a bit unnecessary:
Not wanting things to escalate, Fox said he did not complain.
Another of the Scouts was taking luggage from the top of a van to be searched when something startling happened.
“He hears a snap of a holster, turns around, and here’s this agent, both hands on a loaded pistol, pointing at the young man’s head,” Fox explained.
Fox said that had them all in fear.
Ultimately no one was hurt or arrested, and after about four hours they were allowed to continue their trip into Alaska.
The saddest part about the whole ordeal instead a violent over-reaction to something totally not illegal is that this is somehow a good thing. A life lesson. Something to be accepted, and even appreciated.
Charles Vonderheid with the Mid-Iowa Council Boy Scouts of America said Troop 11 learned a valuable lesson.
“We want to make sure they follow the rules. A Scout is a good citizen. It would be a great lesson in civics for that young man and that troop,” he said.