Spanking = Terrorism?, This is just ridiculous. Options

[hi-C]

Tamera Jo Freeman was on a Frontier Airlines flight to Denver in 2007 when her two children began to quarrel over the window shade and then spilled a Bloody Mary into her lap.

She spanked each of them on the thigh with three swats. It was a small incident, but one that in the heightened anxiety after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks would eventually have enormous ramifications for Freeman and her children.

A flight attendant confronted Freeman, who responded by hurling a few profanities and throwing what remained of a can of tomato juice on the floor.

The incident aboard the Frontier flight ultimately led to Freeman's arrest and conviction for a federal felony defined as an act of terrorism under the Patriot Act, the controversial federal law enacted after the 2001 attacks in New York and Washington.

"I had no idea I was breaking the law," said Freeman, 40, who spent three months in jail before pleading guilty.[...]

The costs of a conviction can be enormous. In Tamera Freeman's case, it cost her custody of her children.

The confrontation on the Frontier Airlines flight to Denver was particularly harsh, recalled Amy Fleming, the flight attendant who told Freeman to stop spanking her children. In a recent interview, Fleming called Freeman the most unruly passenger she had seen in 11 years on the job.

"Absolutely she deserved a felony conviction," she said.

In-flight confrontations can lead to charges defined as terrorism

Isn't this abusing the law? Not to mention a complete waste of tax dollars that could be spent finding real terrorists. What do you think about this?

[Harp]

did she really do much wrong?

[hi-C]

I certainly don't think so. And in a country where corporal punishment is legal, this particular conviction doesn't make any logical sense.

[dilligrout]

They're just trying to hide the fact that they can't catch any ACTUAL terrorists. Because they suck.

[coconutter]

i hate the patriot act





this is ridiculous.......

[brooklyneast05]

she lost custody of her kids cause she spanked them

[Maccabee]

That is absolutely ridiculous! I feel so bad for the mom. And if she was charged for any thing which she shouldnt be it would be for mistreating the air hostess.

[heyo-captain-jac...]

Even though I'm reading all this, feeling bad for the woman and her children, I can't help but wonder what the kids names were. I know it's completely unrelated, but I've been wondering if either of the kids were named Gordon Freeman.

[karmakiller]

I don't know why this would even go to trial if a) she wasn't breaking the law and b) the children had no physical signs of abuse. I could understand if she swatted them in a way that she didn't think would inflict pain upon the children, but the children ended up bruised and hurt. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

[Maccabee]

^Exactly! SO i still hold my case, that she shouldn't have her children taken away. Was there even any evidence she did that?! The only evidence anyone has is the air hostess being spoken to rudely.

[*KINGdinguhling*]

LIE, if this is a true, im a real terrorist during sex

[hypnotique]

she lost custody of her kids cause she spanked them

yep our society frowns down on spanking so we give time outs and then we wonder why my kids are on the f*cking pole or worse on maury.

Reason for edit: btw i WILL beat my kids with a broom like my mama did and her mama did to her thank you very much though i think thats how i obtained my domination fetish........oh well

[smash]

That is absolutely ridiculous! I feel so bad for the mom. And if she was charged for any thing which she shouldnt be it would be for mistreating the air hostess.

i agree. this is ridiculous. it really pisses me off. 3 months in jail and losing custody of her kids for spanking them?! terrorist act my behind. i see nothing wrong with spanking a child if the child understands why he/she is getting spanked and has had a warning. i was spanked as a child (only a couple times, i learned my lesson quickly ) and i'll spank my children if i find it necessary. even on a plane.

[dosomethin888]

I think discipling your children is necessary to keep them from overridding your rules and becoming spoiled brats. There is nothing wrong with spanking your kids, on a plane or at home or in the bathroom or in a room full of strangers.