The University of Georgia is now safe from ninjas. Thank God!
Actually, don’t thank God. Thank the ATF, who apprehended a student who’d been attending the Wesley Foundation’s “pirate vs. ninja” event. (The Wesley Foundation is a Christian group… I don’t know what pirates and ninjas have to do with Jesus, but hey, cool.)
The money quote (emphasis mine):
“Agents noticed someone wearing a bandanna across the face and acting in a somewhat suspicious manner, peeping around the corner,” said ATF special agent in charge Vanessa McLemore.
(h/t Adrian)
READ ME: Disclaimer
9 Responses to "The pirates win, I guess"
No, this is the money quote:
Yeah, that was the one that jumped out at me the most as well, valeko. “That’s not right…” Hilarious!
Seriously, WTF?!
Who were these agents and what the hell were they doing on our campus?
Talk about jumpy paranoids…
At least we are safe from the Ninja threat. When will the ATF actually do their job and protect us from Chuck Norris? That’s what I want to know.
I smell something fishy:
They were on campus for a Project Safe training I believe …
And watch what you say about Chuck Norris … the man can do some damage.
In reference to the wearing of masks and the federal government, there is 18 USC 241:
What follows this clause are the penalties for this kind of conduct. Although there were not two ninjas, wearing masks in public is a federal crime (in addition to being a Georgia crime: see Georgia Code 16-11-38) in certain circumstances and can raise reasonable, articulable suspicions of other crimes in other circumstances.
At first, the federal law (and the Georgia one as well) seem unreasonable. It is, afterall, a harmless mask. However, given the historical context in which 18 USC 241 was first legislated—the 1870s—it should become clear as to why this law was written and why it was a federal issue.
None of this, however, should be considered as my support of what the ATF agents did in apprehending Ransom.
That federal statute excerpt says enough: “with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege.” Clearly the ninja’s handkerchiefs were not a violation of this federal statute even if there were others with him.
Arrrrrguably it was a violation of the Georgia mask statute, but the language of the statute is little guide, and it is highly unlikely he could be convicted under the statute. First, there are statutory exceptions for theatrical productions and sporting events. Second, the Georgia Supreme Court abrogated the mask law in 1990 and 1994 by naming exceptions and ruling that the intention to threaten or intimidate must be present. Since we don’t have reason to think that the ninja was trying to threaten or intimidate, any prosecutor trying to charrrrrge him should be made to walk the plank.
OK, so he looked suspicious. I don’t know the Georgia law on that, but I’m guessing the agents were justified in apprehending him.
However, the ninja arrrrguably could sue for a Fourth Amendment excessive force violation. He stated that he has a bruise, so he has evidence that more force than necessary was used. A classmate has also suggested that he could sue for battery, assault, false imprisonment, and defamation.
OMG, I misspelled my name. I’m so embarrrrassed.
My intention in referencing the Title 18 code is just to point out that, “from a federal standpoint”, the wearing of masks and disguises has long been a concern. I seriously do not think that Ransom could be reasonably considered to be in violation of that specific code section.
Gotta run.