FastRon

Quote- As part and parcel of the whole "war on drugs" nonsense, I think the use of the "war" to justify a pattern of confiscating money and property, without the need to even file charges must less obtain a conviction, provides plenty of motive for such police abuses. Quote Ah- Do you think the cops are taking home that seized property? Whether the seizures are justified, is decided by pay grades a little higher than the cops on the street. I probably know several more cops than you- Every one is different. But every last one of them took an oath to place your life before theirs. Some may not think about that promise much when it was made, but the lion's share will honor it in spite of the callous disregard often shown them by often well-meaning people. Seems odd too that when some goblin knocks them down and steals their wallet or whatever, the first call is not their uncle in Iowa or wherever.

OK- Perhaps a grow farm in Texas is a misdemeanor these days? Do confidential informants lie? Yep. There are checks and balances that are supposed to minimize mistakes. Have the cops raided the wrong place in the past. Yep. Did they want to? Probably not- the personal, professional and legal risks are enormous. To assert otherwise is silly. Is the 'system perfect? No- because it involves a lot of imperfect parts. In my experience, they try really hard to do it right. And by the way- just what kind of "ism" do you have that assigns the characteristics of the anomolies to the entire group? It's OK if they are law enforcement, but not some other group? We had a little problem here a few years back- where a few defense attorneys were bringing meth to the local inmates. Should all attorneys share that culpability? No. Nor should they have to. The problem got rooted out and solved- just like all those "cop" problems did. Maybe the system works a little better than some folks think. I suppose that's not as much fun as sitting around howling "where's the justice?" though...

Quote- "Apples and oranges comparison. The weasel word is "acquaintenances". An acquantenance is just somebody you happen to know. Could be someone from work, someone from the drop zone, someone from school, someone from social circles, at the bar stool next to you, heck, just anyone you happen to know somehow. The vast majority of those people shot by acquantenances were not shot in their homes, or with their own gun. So that's really not the equivalent counterpart to a gun being used in a home for self defense. Most all that acquantenance crime stuff is outside the home with the perpetrator's own weapon. So having a gun in your home is irrelevant to acquaintenance crime." Quote Well said! "Acquaintances' include but are certainly not limited to rival gang members, competing dope dealers, dope rip-offs and a litany of other 'relationships'... FWIW- If the presence of guns doesn't discourage at least some attacks, why do the cops carry them? It really isn't there just to balance the portable radio :-)

One An impartial judge signed that warrant. No-knock warrants are granted for very limted reasons, like armed person(s) inside (which proved to be the case), or maybe destruction of evidence. Since a grow farm is hard to flush, I suspect the former, was the reason. Two- A 'military assault on a citizen's home'. I suppose the cops could call ahead and politely ask the folks inside to stop cooking meth, making bombs or selling human beings. In my experience such persons are not easily swayed by 'advice'. Three- "Anybody could...?" Most places you can not shoot someone on your porch until you have identified them as being armed, and a threat, and not a police officer advising you the house is on fire or a neighbor asking for a jumpstart. Four- See number two. Sometimes a night entry is safer for all converned for obvious reasons. I take from your comment that you have no experience with dynamic entries nor the reasons they might be warranted. They are very scary, and dangerous, both personally and professionally. And they are not "games" as one poster put it. And in case you are wondering, 104 and counting. Last- In response to- "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Playing Navy SEAL CQB expert when you're trying to bust someone for something that shouldn't even be against the law definitely falls under "stupid games". Fact is what you think "should" be legal is irrelevant until it is. It isn't a game. If you think the Deputy's family won a "stupid prize", please share that directly with them and let us know how that goes, will you?

Old- Small and light was de-lining a 28' 1.1, and jumping a 24' round reserve that could leave a divot in actual use. PLF's most every jump. Lord we hit hard (and backwards) a lot. 'Small' squares were 160 sq. ft... BIG jumpsuits. Light colored ones had permanent mud/grass stains. 20 minute C182 rides to 7500... sometimes... 4 aspirin every morning and noon until Wednesday? New- Small and light... Oh yeah! Small and light square reserves even. "What's a PLF"? Stand up landing a requirement, not the anomoly. Maybe no jumpsuits. Turbines! 13,500 in not enough time to regret last night. 2 naproxen and you are all good.

Also agreed. You are right about advocacy. The ongoing efforts of yourself and others is very important. Sorry, I was referring to any action at the airport or LZ. FastRon: http://www.uspa.org/AboutUSPA/Donations/tabid/316/Default.aspx Thanks Craig- I sent money to the AAD fund early this a.m., and am sending a matching amount to the DZO. I also e-mailed them why.

[Quote/] I know that was not directed at me, but as someone else already pointed out, any action should start with the DZO. It's their business. Respect that and reach out to them first if you want to help. Yep, seriously. Is there a legal defense fund/account? I will send a check when I get up tomorrow morning. FWIW- These kind of battles are not merely occurring with skydiving- The are happening to water ski lakes, race tracks/ off-road parks, and shooting ranges. Some NIMBY group decides they can't abide some activity that's been going on for maybe 50 or 60 years, and the fight starts. Having the FAA nominally on (our) side is a huge benefit- a lot of the fights mentioned are one small business individual against several- often well-heeled ones. The several have been winning often enough. I was personally arrested in one of those DZ fights long ago, and it took all summer to get it resolved with dropped charges. I think a local government giving any group like "Quiet Skies" traction is wrong, I and have nothing better to do with $5, $10 or $20 right now-

I know there are several attorneys who post here. What kind of legal fees will be required? Can we get 20,000 folks to contribute $5 or whatever? Would $100,000 be even a start? As an aside- as mentioned- if you are going to jump in defaince and have all those folks present- make double sure the cops know what law(s) you believe are in play... You might get arrested- and you can very probably beat the charges, but you will probably not beat the ride.

***Living in the Seattle area, I fully support the moratorium Jay Inslee instituted for this state regarding the death penalty. Look at it from our point of view...after they agreed to let the Green River Killer escape death simply by revealing the location of the bodies, the whole death penalty thing in Washington was screwed anyway. Fourteenth Amendment stuff. Equal treatment under the law. It's in the Constitution, and if you let off a guy who viciously murdered over 40 women, and sentence another guy to death for shooting someone in a robbery at a Seven-Eleven...then how is that equal treatment? I am not sure extending the 14th to criminal sentencing is appropriate. States rights are the reason it was written. As the States display such a variety in rule of law, the U.S. Supreme Court has not ruled to remove the death penalty under that argument. No argument- The plea agreement in the Green River Killer case is an abomination- It ought to be in a textbook on what not to do as a prosecutor- but one politically foolish person should probably not dictate protocols or even case law for the rest of the country. Actually Robert, you have it correct. What Inslee has said is that there will be no executions while he is governor. Various County prosecutors around the state have said it will cause essentially no impact upon cases at hand or to be tried- as the law is not being changed, and the penalties for ciminal behavior are codified by the legislature. Having sat through my share of trials for a host of crimes- "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" around here is so near certainty, the distinction is another angel on the pinhead. As pointed out below there certainly IS a difference between not guilty and innocent... i.e.- O.J. maybe? The reality of the matter to me is that there are people out there who are truly evil- by every definition of the word- I have met more than my share. Some are in prison, many are not... FYI- These individuals don't have a "better nature"- for whatever reason they have a behavioral "disease". For sure they don't have a set of values about self and others that most members of society would find unbelievable. They are not going to "get better", and they are not insane under the law. There are only two ways fo prtect the rest of us from them- life without, and the death penalty. The life without is also argued as too harsh. (See the "Three Strikes" debates-) What is insane is the parole board meets every few years and has to decide if Charlie Manson is eligible for parole.

That's crap, and I suspect you know it. I know a number of things. Your opinion is yours. Q. Has anyone in your immediate or extended family been murdered? Do you understand the pain it can cause, and the desire for closure? Some here do, and I am one of them. FYI- The death penalty is reserved for particular instances of premeditated first degree murder and felony murder. The appeals and reviews are several, up to and including the U.S. Supreme Court here. It is not casual, and it is not timely nor is it immediate. As Andy pointed out, what Gov. Inslee did was 'suspend' executions while he served. I would agree he is likely not competent in criminal law matters to weigh in or review the incredible amount of materials resulting from a trial of a capital crime. So- the governor made a statement. Like I said, not everyone willl agree.

SubChapter VI - Exemptions 25.08.530 Sounds exempt at all times A. The following sounds are exempt from the provisions of this chapter at all times: 1. Sounds originating from aircraft in flight, and sounds that originate at airports and are directly related to flight operations; ..... Don't know if this is relevant there but the above portion of a noise ordinance in Seattle might have some kind of corresponding rule in Colorado?... Bringing suit about aircraft noise might bring in the City/County et al, as defendants perhaps. It might help to get those government lawyers working against Gibbs and company?.

Like some- Governor Inslee values the lives of the killers over that of the victims and families of same. Some do not. I expect others will debate the moral arguments involved.

Certainly looks 'staged'... Vehicles before and after are different- Glock in second video for sure appears to be a nice spray painted Air Soft or other 'toy'- i.e.- Sights not right, rear cover wrong, slide stop wrong, Barrel hood/slide junction off and no wear either. A lot of safes are time locked- on demand opening just isn't going to happen normally.

Thank you- that is probably the best analysis of the issue I have ever seen.

"Having an opinion and being factually wrong are not the same thing. If you can't handle having your mistakes being pointed out then forums are not for you." Ss which fact is wrong- the U.N.'s own mention or my assertiont hat the U.N. is arguably ysfunctional? Do you work for them or something? Off topic- I see that you may be from the U.K. Is it true that self defense is illegal there? How is that working out these days? Has the U.N taken a position? Too, thanks so much for pointing out what is not for me-

"The link to a document that's not part of the Resolution? Yeah, you misread it." I did read the resolution. It is consistent with other material presented by the U.N. in the past and documented on its own website, which is what I was pointing out. Having an opinion and a computer seem the qualifications necessary for posting. Like some others here, I have both. If that somehow annoys you, does more or less medication seems in order?

When I restarted jumping I told the instructors that I had one artificial knee and one that should be, and expressed reservations about still being able to do a PLF. I was told that PLF's were really no longer part of the FJC. I said great! In the meantime, I fell off a ladder while cleaning gutters and voila! Did a kind of ungraceful PLF with no injury at all, (and no applause or shrieking from the 'audience' either) :-) You can do it!

The text is under the "Small Arms" heading in the U.N. link mentioned. Perhaps I misread it?

Well- I just read the "Small Arms" position/discourse in the link listed. Much of it reads as if written by Sen. Schumer, Mayor Bloomberg or others. I prefer not to take an alarmist position on anything any more, but what the U.N.'s position appears to be is that signators of the treaty would be required/forced, (or?) to maintain a permanent registry, and share it- they do mention "tracing" and other aspects of the gun control dialogue. Legal scholars can weigh in on whether an international treaty can usurp a signator's own consitution. The U.N has a sorry record in preventing or halting violence around the world. It seems a large, unwieldly, many times dysfunctional organization, that I personally would prefer was not involved in our gun control discussions.

Not sure if modern gear is susceptible to this issue, (and I'm pretty sure no one uses capewells any more...)- But before a first- of-the-year jump, I once found some pea gravel and other 'debris' in and around my ripcord housings and capewells. Not sure how it 'migrated' in there- didn't land in the peas often- but it for sure could have caused a hard/no pull on main and/or reserve. Started "dusting off" my gear, paying MUCH closer attention to my housings, and unobstructed movement of the ripcord(s) in them.

for Andy9o8- Hey I actually don't know!- Due 'density(?) issues, hard arching, and the prevailing 'fall as slow as possible' theory in the '70's, it was thought that I fell like a polished rock- thus the nickname. Still near the same size, (6'3", 195#) but I noticed in the tunnel, I wasn't needing 140 mph air to stay afloat- mostly I was pretty close to most everyone else- even wearing a nowhere-near-as-baggy tunnel suit on. During the actual jumps, the coaches didn't seem to be in head down to keep up, so...? I would actually like to find out what my mid-range freefall speed would be using a 'normal' jumpsuit. In those days, I had to fly LOT of base/pin... Even with a pretty baggy custom suit. Would like to learn to fly better and graduate from being a high speed swooping target for the floater types :-)

Just saw our post while looking for something else. I sustained shattered tibeal plateau in 1981- State of medecine then was primitive compared to now, and they advised (strongly) that I would not jump any more. Due meniscus loss and bone on bone, I had my knee replaced 8 years ago at 53. No pain, better range of motion and better snow and waterskiing too. Discovered the local tunnel 2 years ago and determined to make a real skydive again. While only 3 jumps so far- and can't kneel in Cessna 182's any more- no other issues really. Doc told me the current generation of artificial knees hadn't been around long enough yet to get a read on their longevity absent 'excess abuse'... whatever that is. did tell me running was a no, no, but I am required to as part of my employment, and still the joint is working fine- knock on wood. The replacement rehab was no picnic and hardly pain free, but definitely worth every bit of it.

Ah 'welcome' to the 'club'... I have learned to hate flying commercial- particularly before (some of) the security checkpoints began using the mm. radar instead of the metal detector. I can wear spandex, tell them about my bionic knee and point to the obvious scar(s). No matter, I get the full treatment frisk. In some countries I'd probably have to declare domestic partnership with security screeners conducting 'frisks'. The radar is way better- I take off my shoes, and hat, empty pockets and pretty much breeze through.

I stand corrected. I was under the delusion(?) that it seemed the same material as my Mark1 PC. It definitely seems heavier and bulkier than F111 and ZP. Probably leaks a lot more air too. Don't have the Mark1 any more. Star is in the attic somewhere. There was a thread a while back about building a Mark1 with new material. Is that still going forward?

I weighed about 190 , when I jumped a Stratostar up to 1980. If the flare was sone right it was actually a pretty easy landing. IIRC it had a significant sink rate in brakes- more like a traditional accuracy canopy maybe? On the other hand, the ram-air options were pretty much the 160 Sq. Ft. StratoFlyer, the 180 Ft. StratoStar or the 230(?) Ft. Cloud- all in bulky pre-F111 material. I think Jerry called it taffeta or some such? I felt the Star was much easier on the landing gear than any of the rounds we had. But compared to a 240 Navigator it was indeed a lawn dart.