Less than 15 minutes ago an agent with the Department of Homeland Security showed up at my door and asked me, what seemed to be, a standard list of
questions about my former neighbor that moved out last year. He asked bizzare questions like "do you have reason to believe that Mr. Blank was in any
groups planning to overthrow the United States government?". He even asked if I thought he had a meth lab. What does that have to do with homeland
security?
Jesus Christ! Call me paranoid but if this has anything to do with me simply asking for thionyl chloride online then I've lost all faith (what little
was left) in my government.
Damn! My plan of making nerve gas and overthrowing the government is foiled once again! Blast!
[Edited on 5-12-2007 by MagicJigPipe]Magpie - 5-12-2007 at 10:32
Quote:
"do you have reason to believe that Mr. Blank was in any groups planning to overthrow the United States government?".
Somehow that just seems like a really dumb question. Does DHS really take such groups that seriously? Or do they just need something to do to
justify their salary that is laid on the backs of us taxpayers?
Do you know anything about your former neighbor that would justify such questions? Or, as you say, perhaps it was just a ruse to check you out abit
(hope not). After all asking about reactive chemicals is highly suspicious, right? pantone159 - 5-12-2007 at 11:09
Is is possible that your ex-neighbor is getting a background clearance, e.g. he applied for some job that needs a security clearance? Then they might
ask such questions, having no idea that you are up to chlorinating things for no good. MagicJigPipe - 5-12-2007 at 12:26
That's very possible because one of the questions was something like, "Would you recommend him for an important government position". And, no, I
didn't know him at all. Him and his family seemed very reserved. Only really going outside to go to the car from what I can remember. The only
information I was able to give them was that they seemed like "reserved" people.
Oh yeah, and he asked if I thought he was a "good American"! Ha! What a 1984ish question.
[Edited on 5-12-2007 by MagicJigPipe]Phosphor-ing - 5-12-2007 at 12:32
I believe Pantone159 is probably right.evil_lurker - 5-12-2007 at 12:39
Personally I'd be concerned that you just got hit with sort of "knock and talk" investigation... if I got such a visit, my lab shit would be boxed up
and moved ASAP, or at least any "sensitive" reagents and relocated off property.Magpie - 5-12-2007 at 13:57
Quote:
Is is possible that your ex-neighbor is getting a background clearance, e.g. he applied for some job that needs a security clearance?
I would think that if the DHS agent was doing a background check for a government security clearance he would tell you that up front. And there would
be questions about the persons "morals," i.e., unusual drinking habits, unusual sex preferences, gambling, etc. I've been interviewed in the past for
colleagues who were seeking such clearances. They were very congenial and non-threatening type interviews.
I need an exit strategy
chloric1 - 5-12-2007 at 14:05
I was born here, love the country most of my life, but I want out! I need an exit strategy. Even if I sell everything I own, there is something
better than this place
If some DHS idiot asked me if someone was a "good American" I think I would say only if he listens to Shawn Hannity! roll eyes
Always keep your lab supplies locked up and only handle foul odor reagents between 11pm and 5:30 am.Rosco Bodine - 5-12-2007 at 14:06
Yeah , let's go knock on that dumbasses door and spin him a yarn about doing a security check on his neighbor
as a ruse to spend a few minutes checking this guy out ,
get a good look at his eyes , do a line of sight search ,
and sniff things out ......you know the drill
Probably best to not even answer the door . Or say its a bad time for a visit , you are busy , come back later .
Big dogs can be a real deterrent for snoopy cops who don't have a good reason as in probable cause to be there . Dogs are a good judge of character
and they have good instincts about threats , they read it in the body language and respond without any ambiguity . If your dogs don't want particular
visitors there , generally trust their judgement 12AX7 - 5-12-2007 at 14:50
Ponderance:
I was raking leaves the other day. Some officers found a curiosity across the street. After checking it out, one came over to me and asked some
questions.
DHS does not do background investigations for security clearances. There is an entirely seperate agency within DOD that does that, and only that, and
as far as I know they are not considered law enforcement officers, have no police powers and do not carry firearms.
More precisely, DHS might do background checks for clearances for its own employees, but not for defense contractors, military personnel, etc.ordenblitz - 5-12-2007 at 19:16
The government does not politely sniff around anymore. If they had any suspicions about you they would have shown up with warrant. They are
unfortunately not hard to get. Happens out here all the time in the name of drug war.
[Edited on 6-12-2007 by ordenblitz]Sauron - 5-12-2007 at 19:56
If they really thought you had a "clandestine lab" of any variety (drugs, explosives, terrorist) they would not ont only have a warrant but a CLEAT
team Your doors would be knocked down, not on, and then the search would proceed.
CLEAT = Clandestine Laboratory Emergency Action Team.
Other acronyms may be in use but that is the only one I have heard.
Even back in the 80s, when I was still in the special operations weapons business, the drug warriors were starting to put out requests for sound
suppressed weapons specifically designed so that they could be discharged in an ether-saturated environment (clandestine lab usually drug lab) without
setting off the ether.
I guess they were occasionally losing agents to ether explosions and fires touched off by the raid.
I mean, such fires and explosions often happen anyway and are all too often the way law enforcement locates a drug lab after the fact. "Survivors may
be prosected"
roll eyes