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Border Patrol Agent Draws Gun On Boy Scout

TeleKat

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A group of Boy Scouts from Central Iowa received a lesson they won't forget in federal manners at a border crossing from Canada into Alaska. According to the scoutmaster, a casual snapshot of a Border Patrol agent got the group of about two dozen scouts and volunteers detained, searched—and one of them ultimately held at gunpoint.

According to Marcus McIntosh of Iowa's KCCI:

Boy Scout Troop 111 Leader Jim Fox spelled out what happened to him and the Mid-Iowa Boy Scout Troop 111 as four van-loads of Scouts and adult volunteers tried to drive from Canada into Alaska.

Fox said one of the Scouts took a picture of a border official, which spurred agents to detain everyone in that van and search them and their belongings.

“The agent immediately confiscated his camera, informed him he would be arrested, fined possibly $10,000 and 10 years in prison,” Fox said.

Fox said he was told it is a federal offense to take a picture of a federal agent.

Not wanting things to escalate, Fox said he did not complain.

Another of the Scouts was taking luggage from the top of a van to be searched when something startling happened.

“He hears a snap of a holster, turns around, and here’s this agent, both hands on a loaded pistol, pointing at the young man’s head,” Fox explained.

Charles Vonderheid with the Mid-Iowa Council of the Boy Scouts of America is getting a lot of grief for referring to the incident as a "lesson in civics." But he told me that he made the comment after getting blindsided by reporters before learning any details about the encounter. He assured me, though, that he and the Boy Scouts are concerned about scouts' safety and support them. He also said that Troop 111's Jim Fox, who led the group that endured the gauntlet at the border, is "a trusted scoutmaster who cares about his boys."

I've been unable to reach Fox, and I'll update once I hear from him and Customs and Border Protection.

For the record, federal rules specifically permit photographing federal facilities, at least for "news, advertising, or commercial purposes." There don't seem to be any special limits on just-because snapshots.

Except where security regulations, rules, orders, or directives apply or a Federal court order or rule prohibits it, persons entering in or on Federal property may take photographs of—

(a) Space occupied by a tenant agency for non-commercial purposes only with the permission of the occupying agency concerned;

(b) Space occupied by a tenant agency for commercial purposes only with written permission of an authorized official of the occupying agency concerned; and

(c) Building entrances, lobbies, foyers, corridors, or auditoriums for news purposes.

The American Civil Liberties Union offers guidance, too, including the photography of federal agents:

Taking photographs of things that are plainly visible from public spaces is a constitutional right – and that includes federal buildings, transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties.

But, adds the ACLU, "there is a widespread, continuing pattern of law enforcement officers ordering people to stop taking photographs from public places, and harassing, detaining and arresting those who fail to comply."

Relatively isolated border crossings in Alaska might be the sort of place where you'd run into that pattern.

Border Patrol Agent Draws Gun on Boy Scout

Wow.
 
I want his ass on a platter. Roasted.
 
I want his ass on a platter. Roasted.

Not me.

I simply want him charged with assault with a deadly weapon and prosecuted/tried as any civilian would be if one were to draw down on a Boy Scout for taking a photograph.

Until we start prosecuting law enforcement officers for the crimes they commit, as though they were civilians (which they are), they'll continue to commit them with impunity.
 
I pretty sure the story is fake. It's only being picked up by fringe and conspiratorial news sites.
 

Well, let this be a lesson to all the scout leaders out there. If a federal law enforcement agent has an issue with one of your charges then just hand the youngster over and go on your way. No way that one kid is worth putting your whole troop at risk. Besides, the FedGov is getting pretty good at taking care of kids.

/s
 
I am surprised that GOPers are not handing this guy a medal and begging Obama to transfer him to the Southern border. He should be great at helping curb all these unaccompanied minors coming from Mexico.

:lol:
 
CBP takes any allegations of wrongdoing very seriously. CBP’s review of this group’s inspection, including video footage review, indicates that our officer did not un-holster or handle his weapon as stated in the allegation. The review revealed nothing out of the ordinary. We have reached out to the Boy Scout troop for additional information in reference to the allegation. The video footage has been referred to CBP Internal Affairs for further review.

Always remember there are two sides to every story.
 
Ignore the illegal Mexicans coming across - we must pull a gun on the Boy Scouts!

This is the problem with the border enforcement, we're not looking in the right places at the right people.
 
Open borders are good for big business, enough said.
 
“The agent immediately confiscated his camera, informed him he would be arrested, fined possibly $10,000 and 10 years in prison,” Fox said.

Fox said he was told it is a federal offense to take a picture of a federal agent.

No it isn't.
 
Remember when a police officer was a guy with a badge and a 38 six shooter? Today America's police are America's homeland military. Remember Waco.
 
Definitely sounds like this story is not as is being reported by this Scout leader.

Feds in Iowa to investigate Boy Scout border incident | Local News - KCCI Home

This story makes a lot more sense. Now, if the agent actually told the kid that he would be charged with all those things and not could be charged, then that was wrong, but not even firing worthy. As for the pointing the firearm at the scout, that definitely depends on what exactly happened. Did he actually do it? Not even sure if it happened. If he did do it, which is actually pretty possible, why was it done? Did the kid reach for his bag while they were searching the vehicle after being told not to? What exactly was going on? If it was just pointed at the scout for nothing more than taking the picture, obviously the agent deserves to be fired at least. But that sounds very suspicious, especially in front of so many witnesses and with a camera recording the incident.
 
Sounds to me like this guy Jim Fox has an agenda and a chip on his shoulder about boarder security and federal officials.
I'm willing to bet that his "story" is fabricated and at the very least is an overzealous, imaginative exaggeration.
The investigation will tell the tale but if Fox is making **** up we will probably never hear about it.
 
I am surprised that GOPers are not handing this guy a medal and begging Obama to transfer him to the Southern border.
He should be great at helping curb all these unaccompanied minors coming from Mexico.
:lol:





ICE should put him in charge of training people for that work, eh?
 
Always remember there are two sides to every story.

Having crossed the Canadian border many times myself, this story is totally believable. Border guards are a collective set of flaming sphincters. Total power tripping dicks.
 
Ignore the illegal Mexicans coming across - we must pull a gun on the Boy Scouts!

This is the problem with the border enforcement, we're not looking in the right places at the right people.

Yes, fifteen feet away there were probably illegal Mexicans crossing the border, and that agent chose to harass a Boy Scout troop instead. Sounds plausible.
 
Yes, fifteen feet away there were probably illegal Mexicans crossing the border, and that agent chose to harass a Boy Scout troop instead. Sounds plausible.

Well, unless you have a better explanation for why he'd pull a gun...
 
Having crossed the Canadian border many times myself, this story is totally believable. Border guards are a collective set of flaming sphincters. Total power tripping dicks.

I've done it many many times myself (though not very recently). I never had any trouble getting back into the US, but of course I am white, so....(Once I actually crossed with a foreign national, but she had her passport)

I have been searched and questioned coming into Canada. Driving to Toronto to see Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, apparently those crazy Canucks thought we were smuggling pot. Which we weren't stoners and even if we were, don't you think we could just buy some in Toronto? Oh well..,
 
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