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The really dumb thing is we only started doing security for airplanes because the airplane itself can be used as a missile to hit another target. A train can't

The really dumb thing is we only started doing security for airplanes because the airplane itself can be used as a missile to hit another target. A train can't be used to hurt a third party. If someone wanted to attack a train they wouldn't need to get onboard at all. Simply wait along the track in the middle of nowhere. The whole idea is pointless.

rascul 5y ago
> Simply wait along the track in the middle of nowhere. That seems to be a bit of a meme in plenty of western movies.
Mountain_Skies 5y ago
There was the attempt by a train engineer to hit the USNS Mercy when it was docked in New York Harbor to assist with COVID19 treatments. He missed by quite a bit of distance. Edit: Los Angeles, not New York.
- mwint 5y ago
  Got a link? Sounds interesting.
  - mgkimsal 5y ago
    https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/02/825897966/train-engineer-says-he-crashed-in-attempt-to-attack-navy-hospital-ship-in-l-a https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/0... may be that story? that says LA though, not New York.
  - Mountain_Skies 5y ago
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/02/train-derails-usns-mercy-coronavirus/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/02/train-derai...
legalcorrection 5y ago
All bureaucracies expand until stopped by an external force. Self-justification and perpetuation is in their very nature. Politically, if you're anti-TSA you're not only anti-safety and pro-terrorism, you're against jobs for veterans (in reality, the bottom tier of veterans with no marketable skills and personality problems that make them unemployable in the private sector).
throwawayboise 5y ago
I guess in theory you could run a train into the station at the end of the line, which was the plot of the action/comedy Silver Streak staring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.
- skeeter2020 5y ago
  I believe they found a VHS copy of that movie in bin Laden's hideout, so obviously this level of TSA overreach is warranted.

rascul 5y ago

> Simply wait along the track in the middle of nowhere. That seems to be a bit of a meme in plenty of western movies.

Mountain_Skies 5y ago

There was the attempt by a train engineer to hit the USNS Mercy when it was docked in New York Harbor to assist with COVID19 treatments. He missed by quite a bit of distance. Edit: Los Angeles, not New York.

mwint 5y ago
Got a link? Sounds interesting.
- mgkimsal 5y ago
  https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/02/825897966/train-engineer-says-he-crashed-in-attempt-to-attack-navy-hospital-ship-in-l-a https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/0... may be that story? that says LA though, not New York.
- Mountain_Skies 5y ago
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/02/train-derails-usns-mercy-coronavirus/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/04/02/train-derai...

legalcorrection 5y ago

All bureaucracies expand until stopped by an external force. Self-justification and perpetuation is in their very nature. Politically, if you're anti-TSA you're not only anti-safety and pro-terrorism, you're against jobs for veterans (in reality, the bottom tier of veterans with no marketable skills and personality problems that make them unemployable in the private sector).

throwawayboise 5y ago

I guess in theory you could run a train into the station at the end of the line, which was the plot of the action/comedy Silver Streak staring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.

skeeter2020 5y ago
I believe they found a VHS copy of that movie in bin Laden's hideout, so obviously this level of TSA overreach is warranted.