DHS official moots Real ID rules for buying cold medicine

[douglas9]

A senior US Department of Homeland Security official has floated the idea of requiring citizens to produce federally compliant identification before purchasing some over-the-counter medicines.

"If you have a good ID ... you make it much harder for the meth labs to function in this country," DHS Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker told an audience last month (http://www.heritage.org/Press/Events/ev011608a.cfm) at the Heritage Foundation. Cold medicines like Sudafed have long been used in the production of methamphetamine. Over the past year or so, pharmacies have been required to track buyers of drugs that contain pseudoephedrine.

His comment came five days after the agency released final rules (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/14/realid_changes_issued/) implementing the REAL ID Act of 2005 that made no mention of such requirements. It mandates the establishment uniform standards and procedures that must be met before state-issued licenses can be accepted as identification for official purposes.

Beyond boarding airplanes and entering federal buildings or nuclear facilities, there are no other official purposes spelled out in the regulations. And that's just what concerns people at the Center for Democracy and Technology. They say Baker's statement underscores "mission creep," in which the scope and purpose of the REAL ID Act gradually expands over time.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/05/real_id_for_cold_medicine/print.html

[NightWatcher]

1. I already have to use my drivers license to buy sudafed or advil cold and allergy

I also have to sign a statement on the credit card machine that swears that I'll just use it for its intended medical purpose.

Shit man, I'm buying 20 tabs, standing at the counter with the sniffles....a drug kingpin I am not

[DCKit]

2. "Mission Creep". What a Nice Euphemism for "Creeping Fascism"

I have varied reactions to many different drugs. Even pseudophredrine sometimes causes the shakes. However, it also clears up my sinus congestion and I've got serious reservations about trying one of the newer drugs. Ever read the fine print on one of those packages? Scary shit.

When asked for my ID to buy a box of sudafed, I declined to purchase. I'm not playing along and got someone else to buy it for me, JUST AS ANY METH PRODUCER WOULD.

How fucking stupid are we that we're letting them get away with pretending they're keeping us safe when, in fact, we are at greater risk than ever because of the * maladministration? In seven short years, they've managed to drastically increase the terrorist threat as well as trash our economic, infrastructure and civil security.

We don't need a change, we need a nation-wide enema.

[wtmusic]

3. John Q. Public won't give a crap until it's too late

The "what do you have to worry about if you didn't do anything wrong" mantra is pervasive.

[BattyDem]

4. I'm getting so sick of the "show your papers" crowd in our government

Everyone is guilty until proven innocent! How the hell is that democracy? I bought Sudafed last week and they did everything but fingerprint me! :grr: