Great idea, SandMan, P.R.I.C.K. somehow seems an appropiate acronym for the subject of pipebombing. However, I've softened my stance (no pun intended) on this issue since my post inspired by the combined effects of Quiche, Chardonnay and Hand-Wringing at my local Friends Of The Earth/Save The Redwoods committee meeting/dinner to an extreme centerist- right wing position.
The problem is with concealable sized pipes, say 24 inches or smaller. Obviously a 50 foot pipe won't fit into a mailbox, so the pipe itself isn't the culprit as much as the tools used to cut pipe to size and, more importantly, thread its ends. We need to register pipe threaders and end caps. Make it mandatory for the Pipe Manufacturing Industry to stamp serial numbers into all pipes and plumbing fittings and establish criminal penalties for posession of pipe or plumbing fittings with altered or missing serial numbers.
Establish a Federal Beaucracy to test, certify and monitor our Nation's plumbers. Make it mandatory all plumbers be American citizens and subject to unannounced testing for drugs, alcohol or illegal thong underwear.Establish a Federal Grant of 500 million to study the appropiate disposal of used pipe which may possibly be used to manufacture pipe bombs. Hire 5,000 new Federal Inspectors who will inspect and monitor pipe production facilities for compliance with these new Federal regulations. Make the posession of unlicensed pipe threaders fall under the broad umbrella of "Terrorism" and detain the perps indefinately at a military prison in Cuba.
OK, let the whining commence. "Gee, who will pay for it?" whines the Stingy Republican. "Great ideas, I back you 100% but just in case the polls say you are too radical I can't say that publicly," whispers the Whimpy Democrat. Shee-it, spread out, Larry and Curly- we'll make the Pipe Manufacturers pay for the whole thing. After all, they're the ones who are responsible for this domestic terrorist assault. It's a win-win.
