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Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: Ben on January 09, 2012, 04:04:42 PM

Title: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Ben on January 09, 2012, 04:04:42 PM
I'm pretty sure some murderers get less time than this. I'm thinking this might be worse than the British guy getting arrested for the racial slur. A fine maybe -- but 20 years? This MMPA stuff is WAY over-abused by the .gov.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/317451

Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: MechAg94 on January 10, 2012, 09:34:10 AM
Do you think she will actually get that much or is that just the prosecutor playing bad cop?
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: vaskidmark on January 10, 2012, 09:44:15 AM
Is she being charged with feeding the whale or lying about feeding the whale?

If the latter, she's toast.

stay safe.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Ben on January 10, 2012, 10:12:24 AM
Do you think she will actually get that much or is that just the prosecutor playing bad cop?

I don't for a second think she'll get twenty years or even any jail time. She'll get a very large fine. That's how MMPA and LMR enforcement works -- they're geared toward collecting fines that go into an enforcement fund that's used to continue going after people like this. Much like the War on Drugs with confiscation of property. It creates a climate of people who are more concerned about using the law as a funding opportunity than actually following the spirit of the law.

What I find completely appalling is that we actually have a law for which the maximum potentially penalty is 20 YEARS IN PRISON for feeding a whale, or even 20 years for what the law is supposed to be about - harassing marine mammals. Even if she was driving her boat around, chasing whales and shooting them with paintball guns, she shouldn't be open to a maximum punishment like that. I can't think of any "crime against whales" that would justifiably result in that maximum penalty. Especially when, as I mentioned earlier, people can get less time for murder, or child molestation, or any number of crimes that are more heinous than this.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: roo_ster on January 10, 2012, 10:46:42 AM
I don't for a second think she'll get twenty years or even any jail time. She'll get a very large fine. That's how MMPA and LMR enforcement works -- they're geared toward collecting fines that go into an enforcement fund that's used to continue going after people like this. Much like the War on Drugs with confiscation of property. It creates a climate of people who are more concerned about using the law as a funding opportunity than actually following the spirit of the law.

What I find completely appalling is that we actually have a law for which the maximum potentially penalty is 20 YEARS IN PRISON for feeding a whale, or even 20 years for what the law is supposed to be about - harassing marine mammals. Even if she was driving her boat around, chasing whales and shooting them with paintball guns, she shouldn't be open to a maximum punishment like that. I can't think of any "crime against whales" that would justifiably result in that maximum penalty. Especially when, as I mentioned earlier, people can get less time for murder, or child molestation, or any number of crimes that are more heinous than this.

There is a large contingent of morally crippled folks who like whales more than children, born of otherwise, and prefer to see molestation of the whales more vigorously prosecuted.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: zxcvbob on January 10, 2012, 11:46:29 AM
I don't for a second think she'll get twenty years or even any jail time. She'll get a very large fine. That's how MMPA and LMR enforcement works -- they're geared toward collecting fines that go into an enforcement fund that's used to continue going after people like this. Much like the War on Drugs with confiscation of property. It creates a climate of people who are more concerned about using the law as a funding opportunity than actually following the spirit of the law.

What I find completely appalling is that we actually have a law for which the maximum potentially penalty is 20 YEARS IN PRISON for feeding a whale, or even 20 years for what the law is supposed to be about - harassing marine mammals. Even if she was driving her boat around, chasing whales and shooting them with paintball guns, she shouldn't be open to a maximum punishment like that. I can't think of any "crime against whales" that would justifiably result in that maximum penalty. Especially when, as I mentioned earlier, people can get less time for murder, or child molestation, or any number of crimes that are more heinous than this.

"maximum potential penalty is 20 years" makes her a felon with loss of civil rights if she's convicted, even if she only actually gets a $50 fine and 2 weekends of community service.  (Where's the "rage" smiley?  I guess this will have to do...)  [barf]
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Matthew Carberry on January 10, 2012, 07:37:20 PM
Meanwhile the whale was quoted as "WTF?  Do you know how hard it is to kill these things for dinner?"
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: grampster on January 10, 2012, 07:45:21 PM
And there are the two TSA employees who stole $40,000.00 out of somebody's luggage and they got 6 mos. in the county jail.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamie B on January 11, 2012, 11:41:43 AM
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.fakeposters.com%2Fresults%2F2011%2F10%2F02%2Fzg9nrnug0b.jpg&hash=22cf4cd53d7c00968a72a1e1dd6e2e1b556a1377)
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Boomhauer on January 11, 2012, 11:42:28 PM
Does this also cover feeding those morbidly obese 600lb+ people who sit on their lazyboys for years straight, shitting and pissing themselves? Because I definitley support 20 years in jail for enabling that!

Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: MillCreek on January 12, 2012, 01:14:40 AM
And I recall a few years ago, when our Makah Native American tribe resumed their treaty rights to hunt whales off the Washington coast.  I thought that it would have been more sporting to use the traditional cedar canoes paddled by stout men, and using wooden harpoons.  But alas, they opted for outboards, a token metal harpoon and a Barrett .50 caliber to do the job.  Seems odd that this would not have been a 'crime against whales', to steal Ben's nice turn of phrase.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: longeyes on January 12, 2012, 11:13:43 AM
If this doesn't make clear who really runs America, nothing will.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: zxcvbob on January 12, 2012, 11:17:24 AM
If this doesn't make clear who really runs America, nothing will.

The whales?   [tinfoil]
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: MillCreek on January 12, 2012, 11:27:38 AM
I, for one, hail our new whale overlords.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: TommyGunn on January 12, 2012, 11:54:19 AM
 :facepalm:  This thread is going downhill at warp speed.   Whale overlords........ [tinfoil] ;/
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: MillCreek on January 12, 2012, 12:00:47 PM
:facepalm:  This thread is going downhill at warp speed.   Whale overlords........ [tinfoil] ;/

As an exercise for the student, I will leave it to you to find out where this ranks in the APS meme list. 
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: TommyGunn on January 12, 2012, 12:03:07 PM
As an exercise for the student, I will leave it to you to find out where this ranks in the APS meme list.  
=D  Ain't goin' there.  "Whale overlords" burned out too many circuits in my brain as it is. =D [tinfoil] :P
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Ben on January 12, 2012, 12:16:33 PM
Seems like "whale overloads" belongs in the "buzzing breaker" thread.  =D
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: TommyGunn on January 12, 2012, 05:32:34 PM
Geesh.
I made that mistake when I typed the first response but I caught it and fixed it.
Somehow managed to flub it the next time though....
however I did edit it.    :angel: :police: :P
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas on January 12, 2012, 05:47:12 PM
Somewhat apropos:
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/01/12/rosie-odonnell-under-fire-for-posing-with-dead-hammerhead-shark-catch/
Rosie is now the enemy of the enviros.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tuco on January 12, 2012, 06:14:09 PM
...all this blubbering and spouting off....
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Regolith on January 12, 2012, 09:02:55 PM
Rosie is now the enemy of the enviros.

But I thought they LIKED whales?  ???
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tallpine on January 12, 2012, 09:10:06 PM
...all this blubbering and spouting off....

Just needed a sounding board.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamisjockey on January 13, 2012, 09:33:12 AM
You want to go all  :facepalm:?
Try reading, understanding, and then adhering to the federal saltwater fishing regulations. 
Besides *expletive deleted*it like mmpa, you've got closed and open seasons, special international regulations on some types of fish, secondary size limits in federal waters vs. state waters, gear and tackle requirements, reporting requirements, and the list goes on.
The *expletive deleted*ing frustrating thing?
If you go to the boat dealer and buy a boat, the tackle store and buy $5,000 in gear, buy a saltwater state license, fuel up your boat, head 30 miles off shore, nobody tells you about all the extra special federal *expletive deleted*it.  Especially the NOAA/NMFS migratory species acts.  You can slay the blackfin tuna, but one yellowfin tuna requires a $100 federal stamp.  Yeah, the fines are ridiculous if you get caught keeping that fish.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on January 13, 2012, 10:10:22 AM
similar to "potomac river fisheries commission "  you need on board sat nav as well as a marine biologist on board to be safe.  particularly with rockfish
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tallpine on January 13, 2012, 10:55:21 AM
You want to go all  :facepalm:?
Try reading, understanding, and then adhering to the federal saltwater fishing regulations. 
Besides *expletive deleted* like mmpa, you've got closed and open seasons, special international regulations on some types of fish, secondary size limits in federal waters vs. state waters, gear and tackle requirements, reporting requirements, and the list goes on.
The *expletive deleted*ing frustrating thing?
If you go to the boat dealer and buy a boat, the tackle store and buy $5,000 in gear, buy a saltwater state license, fuel up your boat, head 30 miles off shore, nobody tells you about all the extra special federal *expletive deleted*.  Especially the NOAA/NMFS migratory species acts.  You can slay the blackfin tuna, but one yellowfin tuna requires a $100 federal stamp.  Yeah, the fines are ridiculous if you get caught keeping that fish.

That's what you get for killing sea kittens  :P   =D
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: longeyes on January 13, 2012, 11:59:03 AM
If we're going to have overlords, we could do worse than cetaceans.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tallpine on January 13, 2012, 12:44:15 PM
Perhaps this whole affair was just a fluke ?   =|
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Fly320s on January 13, 2012, 02:36:21 PM
I, for one, hail our new whale overlords.

All hail, Petunias!
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamisjockey on January 13, 2012, 03:16:07 PM
similar to "potomac river fisheries commission "  you need on board sat nav as well as a marine biologist on board to be safe.  particularly with rockfish

Egads yes......took a lot of questioning to get real good answers on that.
Here's a doozie: for a while, it was legal to take rocks off the coast (VA State waters up to 3mi) but illegal to posses inside the line from cape Charles to the strand.  You could leave the bay, legally catch rockfish, head back to the dock, and get fined.  Actually took a ruling to straighten that out after a number of fishermen were busted.  (now, you cannot stop to fish on the way back in the bay).  :facepalm:
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: lupinus on January 13, 2012, 04:19:47 PM
You can slay the blackfin tuna, but one yellowfin tuna requires a $100 federal stamp.  Yeah, the fines are ridiculous if you get caught keeping that fish.
Shoot, shov...err snorkel, shut up?
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamisjockey on January 13, 2012, 04:36:02 PM
Shoot, shov...err snorkel, shut up?

You can C&R them.  Get caught with fillets in the boat and you can face a fine if you don't retain the carcass until you make landfall.  Its so convoluted I can't make this *expletive deleted*it up.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tallpine on January 13, 2012, 05:00:05 PM
You can C&R them.  Get caught with fillets in the boat and you can face a fine if you don't retain the carcass until you make landfall.  Its so convoluted I can't make this *expletive deleted* up.

What about a grill hanging over the stern ?  =|
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: longeyes on January 13, 2012, 07:38:08 PM
They are already on our team.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/01/militarys-weapon-against-iranian-mines-high-tech-dolphins/47384/
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamisjockey on January 14, 2012, 05:47:50 PM
What about a grill hanging over the stern ?  =|

If its of a migratory species regulated by the NMFS, and you get caught, you're screwed.
Otherwise, you're allowed to consume about 1lb per day per person on board of other types of fish.
I'm not making this *expletive deleted*it up.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tallpine on January 14, 2012, 06:13:23 PM
If its of a migratory species regulated by the NMFS, and you get caught, you're screwed.
Otherwise, you're allowed to consume about 1lb per day per person on board of other types of fish.
I'm not making this *expletive deleted* up.

Do you have to supply a feces sample for DNA test when you get back to the dock ?  ;/


One of the reasons that I let go of my sailing dreams is that you have absolutely 4th amendment protections on a boat, even if you liveaboard.  :mad:
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamisjockey on January 14, 2012, 09:28:41 PM
Do you have to supply a feces sample for DNA test when you get back to the dock ?  ;/


One of the reasons that I let go of my sailing dreams is that you have absolutely 4th amendment protections on a boat, even if you liveaboard.  :mad:

That's exactly it, you cannot say no to a boarding. 
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Boomhauer on January 14, 2012, 11:01:14 PM
And when the authoritahs go to enforce fishing regulations, they are stone cold mother *expletive deleted*ers.

Stray over the wrong line, and they will seize your boat. Seen it happen, almost had it happen to me.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: zxcvbob on January 14, 2012, 11:11:05 PM
That's exactly it, you cannot say no to a boarding. 

Whatever happened to "kill them all and let God sort it out", or does that work both ways too?
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: lupinus on January 15, 2012, 07:16:36 AM
Whatever happened to "kill them all and let God sort it out", or does that work both ways too?
Well it certainly makes things more interesting.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: wmenorr67 on January 15, 2012, 09:41:01 AM
So what about all the fast food joints that continue to sell to Michael Moore and Rosey O.  Talk about feeding whales.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tallpine on January 15, 2012, 09:47:34 AM
That's exactly it, you cannot say no to a boarding. 

Not without lots of cannon  >:D
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: erictank on January 15, 2012, 05:53:32 PM
Not without lots of cannon  >:D

They have friends on the other end of the radio who have bigger guns than you.  Guaranteed.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamisjockey on January 16, 2012, 09:14:03 AM
Whatever happened to "kill them all and let God sort it out", or does that work both ways too?

Quite hard to do post-WoT.  Being outgunned by the .gov at every turn makes rebellion quite a risky proposition.
They have friends on the other end of the radio who have bigger guns than you.  Guaranteed.
Friends, hell, most of the coasties and larger state agency boats are already heavily armed with automatic weapons. 
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Tallpine on January 16, 2012, 09:28:59 AM
Quote
larger state agency boats

I've seen some of those Texas boats.

Bigger navy than a lot of countries.
Title: Re: Looking at 20 Years in Prison for Feeding a Whale
Post by: Jamisjockey on January 16, 2012, 09:58:49 AM
I've seen some of those Texas boats.

Bigger navy than a lot of countries.

Better armed in some cases, too.  :facepalm: