Lousiana police are heeding the cautions of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, and looking around their area for rightwing extremists. If you are driving in Louisiana with a Don’t Tread on Me bumper sticker, you may be placed on a “watch” list, as happened to one Ball, Louisiana resident.
Don’t Tread on Me Extremist Bumper Sticker
Reports out of Ball, Louisiana say that a man was detained by police for driving with a Don’t Tread on Me bumper sticker on his vehicle. A roadside background check was run, probably looking for extremist “militia-type” activities in the driver’s background.
This time honored flag and its message, Don’t Tread on Me, has long symbolized American patriotism. The first official record of the term “Don’t Tread on Me” was in 1775. Continental Colonel Christoper Gadsden designed the flag. Now the message that followed the Nation’s first Marines into battle is considered an extremist bumper sticker, and “suspected” of sending a subversive message. How sad is this?
The driver’s name has not been released, but an initial report says the man’s sister-in-law telephoned American Vision blog and recounted the event.
As background, a recent Department of Homeland Security warning was issued to police throughout the U.S. The report warned of “rightwing extremism” activities from returning military combat veterans who might join rightwing extremist activities, and others. The report claims that extremists are “antagonistic toward the new presidential administration,” and upset about legislation to restrict gun laws and possible relaxing of illegal immigration laws.
Who knew it would become a honor to be placed on a Louisiana police “watch” list? The Don’t Tread on Me motto is everywhere: on T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, flags, tatoos, decals and in music lyrics. I envision millions more Don’t Tread on Me bumper stickers on our roads now. Law enforcement may be busier than they want to be. If true, will we have road blocks next to check for our yellow rattlesnake Don’t Tread on Me extremist bumper stickers - or is this just an isolated incidence from a goofy police department?
Don’t Tread on Me (Photos)
Don’t Tread on Me Police Watch List (Video)
Photo Credit: Vikrum
May 8th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Is there any other source than WND for this article??
May 8th, 2009 at 11:53 am
If true, it’s egregious to be pulled over for just about any bumper sticker.
However, you are failing as a journalist here. You make the jump to “probably looking for extremist “militia-type” activities in the driver’s background.”… injecting your own tilt without a shred of fact as to whether that was the intent. Please don’t cut corners like that if you want to be taken seriously.
May 8th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Hey Rob, the term “pundit” sort of implies an injection of one’s opinions and suppositions, does it not? This site isn’t really presented as a primary source, journalism-heavy venture to begin with.
And yeah, pulling someone over for a bumper sticker? Is the term “Orwellian” even an exaggeration any more?
May 8th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
“You make the jump to “probably looking for extremist “militia-type” activities in the driver’s background.”… injecting your own tilt without a shred of fact as to whether that was the intent. Please don’t cut corners like that if you want to be taken seriously.”
Cut corners ?
Tell me, with what weve been told where would you end up no matter what path you take ?
Lets see, would it be unreasonable to assume that cops would be looking for heroin if they pulled you over for having a bumper sticker that said “smack my b*tch up “?
What other reason would they have for this sticker getting there attention ? Someone or a clerk reported it stolen ? They hate yellow ? It covered his safety sticker ? Why the background check if there was no moving or technical violation ?
Gimme a break.
(Smack My B*tch Up performed by Prodigy)
May 8th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
I kind of find it difficult to believe that, as a rule, the Louisiana police would take Obama’s side on anything–that is, from what I know about the South. Ergo, this must be pure fantasy.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Usually when cops go out of their way to pull you over for BS reasons like that, they are able to parlay it into charges. The best that WND article comes up with is essentially “some random dude says this happened”. Even though he wasn’t arrested and there is no police record of it. And mind you, as arch said, Louisiana isn’t exactly in lock step with the Obama administration.
Furthermore, has it even been a month since that report was released? I think we’re all familiar with the pace that government moves at. It seems highly unlikely that someone would have taken a very controversial report that even the President disowned, and then run with it, creating new policy that is even stupider than the report, all in a very short time.
Paranoia.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
“Furthermore, has it even been a month since that report was released? I think we’re all familiar with the pace that government moves at.”
Ever heard of Amber Alerts ?
Trust me, if they’re givin a heads up and they’ve got a boner for Obama it could happen.
Were the cops black ?
And please, dont get all hypersensative on me and start crying rac*st, its a legit question since almost evey black person voted for Obama
May 8th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
MICKY PLAYS THE RACE CARD! Way to go, Mick. Hey Mick! I know of at least one black person that didn’t vote for Obama…. Oh! But you said ALMOST.
May 8th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I think the cop was pink with blue polka dots… since this was all made up in the first place.
I don’t think it’s impossible, there just isn’t much meat on the bone here.
May 9th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Arch.
I told you the fire was hot but you had to stick your hand in it anyway, didnt you ?
Its a fair question since you guys want to generalize everyone in Louisiana as being anti Obama its only fair to say that almost everyone there didnt vote for Obama ?
Maybe then according to your prejudice and discrimination you could admit that there might be some black folk of which 2 might be cops ?
Wise up, get an imagination for crust sake and stop being so childishly predictable.
Typical leftist bullsh*t that I knew would happen if I even brought it up yet they wont explain the rac*sm behind 90% of black America voting for a black man.
Oh wait ? Am I being rac*st by bringing up that issue also ? Am I being rac*st by questioning rac*sm ?
Or would I be the ultimate rac*st like a liberal if I assumed that anyone who wasnt white deserved more than anyone simply due to pigmentation ?
“oh, the poor guy, hes not white, lets see if we can do something special for him”
Aint that what its all about Arch ? Isnt that what you guys do ?
You automatically go to assuming victimization of anyone whos not white as if they’re too stupid to know how to take care of themselves.
You practice rac*sm at one of the highest levels the planet has ever seen in your wholesale indoctrination of an entire people into believing they’re victims, that they can never get ahead due to the evil white man.
Dont talk to me about rac*sm buddy when its your party that creates it and uses it to the fullest extent any organization has ever seen since WW2 N*zis.
May 12th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
So, when did it become unamerican to be american?
May 14th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I live in the town of Ball, the town was shut down by the FBI on the 12th of this month. This town is known for stupid cops, it probably happened. Hate to say it.
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Playing on the r@ci$t angle, and how absurd the African-American mindset was prior to the election. I was told, by a black man, that if I didn’t vote for Obama, I was r@ci$t! It’s clear that the AA community in America has a deep seated victimization complex embedded in their psyche, and the politically far left like to exploit it.
May 30th, 2009 at 7:21 am
There Has to be Reasonable Suspicion if Somebody
is up to no good,and that Supported With Evidence
to Sustain a police officer from detaining anybody.If there Isn’t any of the Above then It Is
Not Wise and Justified to do Otherwise.I Know I’m
an ex-cop.I Know That This Symbol reflects Freedom
from Tyranny,and I am all for it.I Love “Don’t Tread On Me”
September 6th, 2009 at 12:55 am
Обычно с пол года требуется
September 6th, 2009 at 1:44 am
Maggie, generally any stop by the police will include a warrant check, and in some places an FBI check. They will use any probable cause they can think up and the war on drugs gives police nationwide probably cause to investigate anybody any time. That is why they ask for your name and walk away with your drivers license to call somebody. All that is happening is the police have expanded their probable cause to another class of suspects. Yes it keeps expanding and expanding. That is what the American criminal justice system does relentlessly.
October 31st, 2009 at 7:51 pm
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