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Backpacks, just say no?

Should backpacks be banned from public events

  • yes

    Votes: 5 9.3%
  • no

    Votes: 49 90.7%

  • Total voters
    54
It's very simple: You set up a perimeter around the start and the finish lines (which is where people congregate) and search the bags of people who enter the perimeter

It's what they do at other sporting events and concerts, etc.

The NYPD and TSA do bag inspections at certain train stations. Since it isn't all train stations even an idiot terrorist, and most of them aren't rocket scientists, can figure out that just walking a couple blocks will get them to a station that doesn't have a police presence. In short bag inspections are next to useless.
 
They just make us feel better.
The NYPD and TSA do bag inspections at certain train stations. Since it isn't all train stations even an idiot terrorist, and most of them aren't rocket scientists, can figure out that just walking a couple blocks will get them to a station that doesn't have a police presence. In short bag inspections are next to useless.
 
I have a better idea.... How about the American Public get our heads out of our asses and start paying some attention to what's going on around us? I don't know about anywhere else, but here in Massachusetts the state has been promoting a program for people to speak up when they see something out of the ordinary. Bags left unattended are on that list. In a crowd like that it's more difficult to recognize these things sometimes, but we as citizens need to start getting involved in our own safety. If something looks out of place, tell somebody about it. Don't assume that "It's nothing".

We have the same policy in NY and the only problem with this is that it generates a large number of false positives that effective terrorize the people who get evacuated from subway stations, building etc, which of course just serves the ends of bomb planters.
 
Hmmmmmm.

I think everyone should be allowed to carry a gun (including children over 3), and be allowed to shoot the **** out of any backpack that even looks suspect. Even of someone is wearing it. One can never be too sure, ya know.

Just you.
 
This Boston bombing could not have taken place if people were not allowed to carry backpacks to events like this. Why does anyone really need a backpack anyway? IMO it would not be asking to much to leave your backpack home. The only time I ever wear one is you know, when I'm going backpacking.

"You have people that have their backpacks with them, a runner may have a hydration pack on them, another person may be coming to watch the race and they may have a backpack," Penza said. "You see them so much, you stop thinking that any of those bags might have explosives."

Marathon Security Practices Scrutinized in Wake of Boston Marathon Explosions - ABC News

No, I don't think so.

I do think that any unattended backpack, package, pressure cooker, suitcase, whatever, should be scrutinized and confiscated at any large event. People should report them, give them a wide berth and stay alert.

I don't think this danger is going away. I also think people ought to unplug their ears and be aware of their surroundings in large crowds. Or anywhere. We've got a million eyes and half of them are focused on their Smartphone screens.

More than ever before we should have situational awareness.
 
The NYPD and TSA do bag inspections at certain train stations. Since it isn't all train stations even an idiot terrorist, and most of them aren't rocket scientists, can figure out that just walking a couple blocks will get them to a station that doesn't have a police presence. In short bag inspections are next to useless.

I wouldn't be bragging about NYC.

You all gave up all of your rights happily to Bloomie years ago.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety - B. Franklin
 
That date was determined by someone?

I've been paranoid in shoulder to shoulder crowds for a while now. Mostly because certain Americans think we should be "free" to do what most people know are risky. Certain people are trying to take "freedom" to an Anarchist level.

Well, after someone used them in a high profile bombing, I dare say they will not go unnoticed. Having lived in a big city I can say I have seen people carry so many odd assortments of things in public, on the subway, etc, that it all becomes not out of place.
 
We could issue licenses for backpacks. You must present ID, have a criminal background check and pay a modest fee, like $35.00 and you would get a permit with an ID number that you could sew onto the pack. At public events, scanners could verify that the pack and the pack registered owner match up. Basically a modified license plate scanner paired with facial recognition software.

The bonus is nobody will steal your backpack if you leave it on the ground somewhere. The backpack data can be linked to the missing persons registry and aid in locating the missing you.

Sounds complicated and expensive.
 
It's very simple: You set up a perimeter around the start and the finish lines (which is where people congregate) and search the bags of people who enter the perimeter

It's what they do at other sporting events and concerts, etc.

Because you just can't live without your backpack?
 
Utterly absurd suggestion.

Backpacks have far greater use than just for hiking.
They are made for carrying things.
Whether that be to a sporting event or to take a persons shopping home, or shoes and clothing to work, they serve a far greater purpose than for just hiking.



Searching a persons personal property is not common sense, but a violation.

How oh how did my generation ever get along without backpacks?:lol:
 
In a big city with public transport so you cant carry your stuff in a car, yes a back pack is very important.
Because you just can't live without your backpack?
 
Nobody was carrying the backpacks in question when the bombs exploded. So I guess we can rule out that it wasn't a suicide bomber or a backwoods backpacker from Idaho. Btw, aren't suicide attacks one of Al-Qaeda's trademarks? If so, then it probably wasn't Al Qaeda.

Anyway, the news has been reporting that one of the backpacks sat there in plain view for over an hour before it went off (see photo).

130416-whdh-backpack-before-1.photoblog600.jpg


However, that backpack doesn't look very black like the one they're now showing torn to pieces.....

130416094907_ABC_marathon_backpack_130416_wblog.jpg


Was the news jumping to conclusions.....again? Kinda looks like it.

The fact that no one noticed unattended backpack(s) suggests that Sen. Mitch McConnell was right, American's have become complacent.

Security has become complacent on backpacks as the quote in the OP points out. Hard to tell by your post what your opinion is on backpacks.
 
Oh I get it...kid shoots and kills other kids with assault (style) weapon, and "we" want to ban assault (style) weapons..

Backpacks (maybe) used to transport explosives....lets ban backpacks...

I see what you're doing there.....

Not what I set out to do but an excellent point.
 
My home away from home is Disney World. Post 9/11/01 they stop every guest and search their bags, usually ladies who carry handbags. It's an annoyance and IMHO an intrusive invasion of privacy but I understand people are just doing their jobs. Recently I asked a bag searcher in the years they've been digging through people's bags have he'd ever found anything dangerous. He smiled and shook his head no.

I realize the world isn't as safe a place as we'd like but in my humble opinion there are a lot more effective things we can and should do to promote safety than banning backpacks, searching handbags and fondling children and little old ladies and airports.

Maybe they never found anything because people know the backpacks will be searched.
 
Every day that I ride my motorcycle to either of my two jobs, I wear/use a backpack. I carry food, clothing, goggles, and other necessities for the day in it.

About a ga-gillion school kids use backpacks everyday for school books and other daily needs while away from home.
 
No, I don't think so.

I do think that any unattended backpack, package, pressure cooker, suitcase, whatever, should be scrutinized and confiscated at any large event. People should report them, give them a wide berth and stay alert.

I don't think this danger is going away. I also think people ought to unplug their ears and be aware of their surroundings in large crowds. Or anywhere. We've got a million eyes and half of them are focused on their Smartphone screens.

More than ever before we should have situational awareness.

In this recent bombing everyone was fixated on the finish line waiting for their friend or loved one to cross it. Discretely setting down your backpack and walking just far enough to get away from the blast means it sits unattended for maybe one minute. Not enough time to be noticed much less reacted to.
 
Every day that I ride my motorcycle to either of my two jobs, I wear/use a backpack. I carry food, clothing, goggles, and other necessities for the day in it.

About a ga-gillion school kids use backpacks everyday for school books and other daily needs while away from home.

The OP is not about daily use, it specifically is about public events where there are large crowds.
 
I wouldn't be bragging about NYC.

You all gave up all of your rights happily to Bloomie years ago.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety - B. Franklin

Who's bragging? It's a stupid idea. And I don't live in NYC anymore, I just work there - though I actually travel into the city much less frequently now that I work from home half the week.
 
After reading through this thread I am truly amazed, I figured a 50- 50 split on this thing but apparently people have become as reliant on their little backpacks as they are on their smart phones, don't leave home without it.:roll: If you can't even make one little tiny sacrifice in your spoiled little pampered me me me American life to prevent a horrible thing like this Boston massacre then maybe you will be the next one blown up and guess who won't care.
 
The OP is not about daily use, it specifically is about public events where there are large crowds.
That's included in daily use. For many it's a matter of convenience as it frees their arms and hands, etc.

I'm closer to you in my view of the use of backpacks, but I recognize why many people like them.
 
As of now backpacks are the only thing big enough to carry a simple home made bomb.

A pipe bomb will easily fit in a brief case or laptop bag or one of department store bags. You are again arguing tactics. Tactics change overnight. It a losing proposition.
 
Who's bragging? It's a stupid idea. And I don't live in NYC anymore, I just work there - though I actually travel into the city much less frequently now that I work from home half the week.

I understand.
 
A pipe bomb will easily fit in a brief case or laptop bag or one of department store bags. You are again arguing tactics. Tactics change overnight. It a losing proposition.

Sawed off shotguns are banned because they are easily concealed and can do tremendous damage. People still use pistols to create havoc but the sawed off is illegal to own. Banning backpacks from public events would at least take one weapon away from terrorist and just like the sawed off vs the pistol you at least take the bigger deadlier weapon out of the equation. The backpack ban would be very easy to enforce, they are kind of obvious.
 
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