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Homeland Security bulletin warns of weaponized drones and threat to aviation
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an updated terror bulletin on Thursday highlighting the threat of weaponized drones, chemical attacks and the continued targeting of commercial aircraft.
"We continue to face one of the most challenging threat environments since 9/11, as foreign terrorist organizations exploit the internet to inspire, enable or direct individuals already here in the homeland to commit terrorist acts," reads the bulletin.
[...] "The current bulletin introduces unmanned aircraft systems as potential threats and highlights sustained concern regarding threats against commercial aviation and air cargo," said DHS acting press secretary Tyler Houlton in a statement.
There's been an "uptick in terrorist interest" in using unmanned aerial systems as weapons in the United States and other western countries, according to a senior DHS official. These tactics have been used by terrorists on the battlefield, and the department wants to "guard against those tactics being exported to the west," said the official. The official said that DHS wants to be "forward leaning" about seeing what terrorists are doing overseas and tactics they might adopt in the future.
Since the last bulletin, concerns about terrorist targeting aviation sector have grown, said the official. "[T]errorists continue to target commercial aviation and air cargo, including with concealed explosives," reads the updated bulletin.
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(Score: 3, Interesting) by Bobs on Wednesday November 15 2017, @05:54PM (9 children)
Given the incredibly massive number of completely open, easy targets in the US that a low grade moron could hit at will, the only reason there aren't more terrorist attacks is because they aren't trying.
US has wasted far more billions on security theatre than the terrorists have done in damage to the US.
It is a tragedy when people die and are injured. It has happened and will happen again and we need to be vigilant to minimize the risk.
But we can't eliminate risk. And I would rather embrace an open society that live in fear. As we can't stop everything we will be better of if we focus and prioritize what we protect against.
How about instead of billions of shoes being removed we replace all the openly hackable electronic voting systems? Or scan every incoming cargo for NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) threats?
A fool with a car can easily kill more people than a drone with grenade.
P.S. In the US civilians can buy a grenade launcher:
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/701561961 [gunbroker.com]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M203_grenade_launcher#Civilian_ownership_in_the_United_States [wikipedia.org]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday November 15 2017, @06:56PM (2 children)
The FBI is trying harder than the terrorists are.
(Score: 2) by Bobs on Wednesday November 15 2017, @09:47PM (1 child)
No, the issue is by are large the "terrorists" aren't trying.
If they were buses, malls, busy roads, stadiums, theaters, etc would all have been targeted and hit multiple times because it is effectively impossible to prevent these attacks.
Look at the past six months.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by urza9814 on Thursday November 16 2017, @07:34PM
The way I read that was that the FBI are trying harder than the terrorists *to blow things up*. A huge number of foiled terror plots are planned, supplied, or financed by the FBI themselves. While the number of terrorist attacks you read about is quite low, the number of real threats are significantly less.
(Score: 3, Informative) by AssCork on Wednesday November 15 2017, @07:21PM (5 children)
Yes, any U.S. civilian that can;
Oh, would you like some 40mm grenades with that?
Repeat the above process, for each one.
Oh, you used one?
Submit the paperwork to notify the NFA, BATFE, and Chief CLEO in your county of the destruction of a "Destructive Device".
Just popped-out of a tight spot. Came out mostly clean, too.
(Score: 2) by Bobs on Wednesday November 15 2017, @09:41PM (4 children)
FYI: Heard about one guy with a licensed grenade launcher who has an arrangement with the local sheriff:
He also has a license for a single grenade. Each time he shoots it off he just takes the "empty" in the the sheriff to swap out for a/the replacement, so that he doesn't have wait months for the reload. Easy on everybody.
Rinse and repeat.
----
Two more thoughts:
- If anybody with a couple of thousand $ and can pass a background check can buy grenades and a launcher, how much worse is: Drones!?
- Several of the recent mass shootings were kids taking adult's weapons, with no background check required. If it is on the street someone will likely eventually be using it.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday November 15 2017, @10:48PM (1 child)
A lot less worse.
Your average COTS drone can't lift a live grenade. The guy trying to get a grenade airborne with a drone is the only one at risk.
Maybe when people can get their mitts on used Amazon watermelon delivery drones we will have to worry.
On the other hand you can buy a use beat up white van and drive that sucker anywhere you want - with or without payload, and hurt a lot of people.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by AssCork on Thursday November 16 2017, @07:20PM
Why buy when you can rent? [homedepot.com]
Just popped-out of a tight spot. Came out mostly clean, too.
(Score: 2) by AssCork on Thursday November 16 2017, @07:19PM (1 child)
Sounds like a violation of ATF Ruling 2016-5 [atf.gov] (PDF warning) regarding the Serial Number requirements on all NFA items. Specifically "Destructive Devices" that are all legally defined as 'firearms' in regards to requirements.
In the case of 40mm grenades, a serial number was likely printed (rather than etched) onto the shell casing.
Getting a 'refill from the Sheriff' would be unlikely, unless everyone involved was comfortable with the possibility of 10 years in a federal prison (unless someone had an entire case of the things, all with the exact same serial etched on them).
Just popped-out of a tight spot. Came out mostly clean, too.
(Score: 2) by Bobs on Thursday November 16 2017, @09:14PM
I may have told it wrong or misunderstood it.
Think it just simplifies the paperwork: he has permit to own 1 grenade. I believe the paperwork to replace a round that has been fired is less than that to own a "second" round and he has some arrangement that simplifies reloading/replacing his one grenade after it has been fired.