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Air Date: March 14, 2012
Host: Vic Eliason
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Discussed were a number of disturbing developments, including new laws that threaten to infringe on the privacy and safety of U.S. Citizens.
One issue is the “Active Denial System (ADS)”, which is a non-lethal, directed-energy weapon developed by the U.S. military. The ADS works by firing a high-powered beam of high-frequency electromagnetic. The effect is similar to microwaves, and just like microwave ovens, any tissue they come into contact with will be suddenly heated to painful temperatures—possibly causing first-degree burns.
The system was originally designed for crowd control, but several portable ADS transmitters were taken to Afghanistan, but were not used due to the controversy over how they could affect innocent civilians as well as military or terrorist combatants.
Now, however, the system is being described as being effective to stop a person without any “long-term” injury, and there are moves to make smaller versions available for civilian law enforcement agencies.
A bill which would criminalize even peaceful protests, has passed the House of Representatives, H.R. 347 threatens even those who protest peacefully individually or as a group anywhere near the President are now in danger of arrest, fines, and even imprisonment. The bill passed the House by a wide margin.
Another bill, which is now law, authorizes the use of drone aircraft law enforcement in the Unites States for surveillance. Some cameras used on drones on the battlefield have the capacity to read a license plate from 30,000 feet in the sky. These drones are very small and quiet compared to manned aircraft. There are concerns over privacy, and possible future uses (already proven on the battlefield) which could include firing weapons.
Listeners commented on these developments.
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