Mid-Flight Play Pits U.S. Couple Against BS Anti-Terrorism Law

"Carl Persing and Dawn Sewell were allegedly snuggling and kissing inappropriately, when a flight attendant asked them to stop. On a second warning from the flight attendant, Persing snapped back threatening the flight attendant with 'serious consequences' if he did not leave them alone. The comment was enough to have the couple, both in their early 40s, arrested when the plane reached its destination, and charged with obstructing a flight attendant and with criminal association. They have been placed under legal surveillance until their trial on February 5. If found guilty, they both could be sent to jail for up to 20 years."

Why sheeple, er – people, still pay good fiat money to be subjected to this police state crap is beyond me:

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/1....5hvb8xln.html

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

Mile High Couple Arrested For Overly Friendly Skies

Behavior on plane called a misunderstanding

The "drowsy and sick" tale doesn't ring true to me. I don't know SOP for this kind of thing. I imagine that after two warnings, the couple would be separated if possible. There's just no excuse for making threats. It's been a big no-no since way before the Patriot Act.

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"Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves." ~Ronald Reagan

It has always been illegal to create a public disturbance and not comply with the warnings of the attendant on any public carrier. I saw a similar thing happen on a train. A man who seemed to be drunk was taking up two seats. When the conductor to please sit up and occupy one seat so others could be seated, the man was loud and obnoxious. People traveling on trains usually get a little extra leeway, but after a few more warnings, the man was escorted off the train at the next stop and into the hands of the waiting police.

That's not a privacy issue, in my opinion, it is part of allowing all customers to observe proper traveling etiquette. It is a case of your freedom to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose... in the confines of an airplane, you travel by societies rules in any country.

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Hobo
Charter member of 'Republicans Who Hate Bush" Club

The couple are getting what they deserve for NOT following the rules----which is to obey the flight attendant when they tell you TWICE to not do something.

How embarrasing. These people are in their 40's. Kids traveling alone behave better than that!!!!!

BTW, I was on a flight once where some guy was drunk and got out of his seat after the plane landed, but before it had taxied to the terminal and before the Captain had turned off the seat belt sign. The flight attendant told the man....."Sir, you must get back to your seat and fasten your seat belt. Sir----the Captain will not proceed until you return to your seat and fasten your seat belt." The man backed up to the bulkhead saying, "That's okay; I'm safe, I'll just brace myself like this." (Drunks lose all ability to reason!!)

Needless to say, we sat there until this drunk finally complied.

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"What exactly is this foreign policy experience?" Obama said mockingly of the New York senator. "Was she negotiating treaties? Was she handling crises? The answer is no."

They deserve 20 years in jail?

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"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident." - Schopenhauer

Come on T-B, you know how the law is written, "up to 20 years". Sure if the the guy on the plane got up and took a swing at the stewardess - and this was his second or third offense, the 20 years might be appropriate. But I think your heart is bleeding for the wrong person in this case. Assuming all the facts are stated in your initial post, the chances of him (or them) even serving jail time is remote.

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Hobo
Charter member of 'Republicans Who Hate Bush" Club

Well I know that if I fly I must behave a certain way, I also understand that breaking the rules has serious consequences. Personally I would't drink in a situation where my actions could get me into serious legal trouble, but than again what was I thinking most Americans think its their right to behave badly. If one wants to bully the stewardess than one is acting for major legal trouble. 20 years might be excessive, but than again I don't believe drinking alcohol is an excuse.