Comments on: Terrorism in… Ventura County?

By: Billy Beck

Billy Beck — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:12:50 +0000

“Wherever the law is, crime can be found.”

(Solzhenitsyn, “Gulag”, Vol. I, p. 67)

By: Dave Krueger

Dave Krueger — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:11:15 +0000

America must be growing weaker by the day to be endangered by ever smaller threats. I especially like Solzhenitsyn quote someone posted below the story.

By: Nando

Nando — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:44:46 +0000

SJE, they already watch fertilizer like a hawk. You have to be careful when you go to Home Depot and buy a few bags because it happens to be on sale. Maybe they’ll come to your house, trample your immaculately green lawn, and send you to prison for 3 years for buying up too much fertilizer (or Claritin, for that matter).

By: SJE

SJE — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:40:52 +0000

Since vinegar + baking soda can explode, when do we expect raids on homes across Ventura Cty for “possession of bomb making materials?” Or, will the Feds now require a license to purchase baking soda and/or vinegar, which will be placed behind the counter and only sold at state registered dealers?

By: Zeb

Zeb — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:20:59 +0000

Yeah, he was probably guilty of having illegal fireworks, for which he should get a stern lecture on fire safety and a $50 fine.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:59:47 +0000

I’d like to see where the law and order types are on this one. “He was probably guilty of something.”

By: Nando

Nando — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:45:02 +0000

This country is just getting ridiculous. Hows about we use some common sense? A kid had some fireworks, whoop die doo! Do you know how many fireworks I’ve set off in my lifetime? Are they going to go all-out crazy on the 4th of July?

By: David

David — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:46:01 +0000

Now who would’ve guessed that “terrorist laws” would wind just being tacked on to what was previously just a misdemeanor to make it felony?

Sarcasm aside, I can see investigating these sorts of complaints(not with a raid though), but once it becomes clear that you’re dealing with kids and homemade fireworks (that is, not a terrorist plot), why charge them to the fullest extent of the law? It’s almost as if they’re trying to replace “he got off on a technicality” with “he’s serving 25 years on a technicality”.

By: j a higginbotham

j a higginbotham — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:12:32 +0000

Where’s the letter?

By: annemg

annemg — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:40:22 +0000

Oh dear. This is where I grew up. I’m not surprised in the least. This is the same police department that used to pull me over at least 3 times a week for being out after curfew, when I was driving home from work. (Under 18s had to be in by 10 or something, I can’t remember the specifics.) You’d think after the second or third time, they’d stop. They need to find something constructive to do.

By: tde

tde — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:43:11 +0000

When I was a kid we made “destructive devices” all the time: rigged timers on m-80s and “cherry bombs” to blow up model cars, watermelons and all kinds of other stuff.

I hate to think what laws I would be violating if I did that now.

By: Halcyon

Halcyon — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:06:05 +0000

I live in Ventura County and while I don’t have experience with the Ventura police, the ones down in Moorpark where I live have a history of over-reacting to things like this and I can’t say I’m particularly surprised.

By: P.A.

P.A. — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:01:53 +0000

I agree, Radley, more facts will have to come to light before we can make an accurate judgment. But taking everything at face value, it would seem quite outrageous and I hope the reverend’s letter generates the attention that it deserves.

Just like the war on drugs, the war on terror is being used (it would seem) to transform a relatively innocuous misdemeanor (possession of illegal fireworks) into a relatively serious felony.

Please keep us updated, if at all possible.