Customs Lets Man In U.S., But Takes Bloody Chainsaw, Sword

[rainbow4321]

Um, yeah, Homeland-fucked-up-Security strikes again:

http://www.click2houston.com/news/4579376/detail.html


On the morning of April 25, Gregory Despres hitchhiked to the Canadian border crossing at Calais, Maine, carrying a homemade sword, a hatchet, a knife, brass knuckles and a chain saw stained by what appeared to be blood.

Customs officials confiscated the cache of weapons and fingerprinted Despres, but allowed him to enter the United States -- not knowing the gruesome scene about to unfold in the hitchhiker's hometown.

<snip>

Bill Anthony, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said the Canada-born Despres couldn't be detained because he is a naturalized U.S. citizen and wasn't wanted on any criminal charges on the day in question. Anthony said Despres was questioned for two hours before he was released. In the interim, he added, customs agents employed "every conceivable method" to check for warrants or see if Despres broke any laws in trying to re-enter the country.

"Nobody asked us to detain him," Anthony said. "Being bizarre is not a reason to keep somebody out of this country or lock them up... We are governed by laws and regulations, and he did not violate any regulations." Anthony conceded it "sounds stupid" that a man wielding a bloody chain saw couldn't be detained.

[Sabriel]

1. I guess the severed head was allowable

"U.S. citizens may import one severed head, providing said head is fresh and does not contain raw milk cheeses, Cuban cigars, or other non-allowable items."

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Oh my.

I have such a sick sense of humor, I'm a sucker for gallows humor. You forced a chuckle.

[beam me up scottie]

3. What should they have done?

If he had committed no crime and was not wanted by authorities, they cannot and should not violate a citizen's rights.
It sounds like they tried awfully damned hard to hold him for something but couldn't find any way to do it legally.

[etherealtruth]

4. I feel safer just knowing ...

... that bloody chainsaws don't "send up any red flags" for our border patrol.

(Yes, I am SURE there are many conscientious hard working members of our border patrol and these very likely were hamstrung )

[LittleClarkie]

5. There can be only one

I wonder who's going to be losing their head.