# Space Shuttle Columbia arrests - bullshit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 6, 2003, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176 "2003-02-06T10:21:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/21 "2003-02-06T14:28:31Z")
“he is im **p** eding an investigation.” ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/22 "2003-02-06T14:29:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spooje \* > \*\*Yeah. It wasn’t enough that it was announced that a) they were gonna need the debris for analysis and b) you should stay the fuck away from it and c) it’s _possible_ that the debris is pretty hot and giving off some fumes and d) stay the fuck away from it. > > I have no sympathy fro the nutjobs who were arrested for doing what they were told NOT to do. \*\* I couldn’t have put it better. ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/23 "2003-02-06T14:40:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gruven \* > \*\*…It seems to me that the government is a little too happy to put its citizens in jail lately. Jail is for crimes. Picking up a piece of toasted crap that fell into your yard isn’t hurting anyone.:rolleyes: \*\* So you would keep a “toasted” eyeball if you found it in your backyard? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/24 "2003-02-06T15:11:57Z")
Given the amnesty program currently underway to allow residents to turn in pieces they have picked up, these two probably were doing something a little beyond just holding pieces. Today’s Newsday alleges the woman told bystanders she was with NASA. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/25 "2003-02-06T15:14:45Z")
Some of you are assuming the pieces recovered by these two fell onto their own private property, which _might_ in some way mitigate their actions. I’ve seen nothing to suggest that’s the case. [Newsday](http://www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hstex063118837feb06,0,4448261.story?coll=ny-health-headlines) is reporting that > [@](#): > > Chief Marc Cossich of the Security Force at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, who was involved in the investigation, said Hipp was arrested after residents reported seeing a woman take the circuit board, telling bystanders she was with NASA. A suspicious bystander snapped a photograph of her license plate as she drove off. The [Santa Rosa Press Democrat](http://www.pressdemocrat.com/local/wnews/06search_a3.html) is reporting that > [@](#): > > The authorities said that Bradley Justin Gaudet, a 22-year-old college student, removed clumps of thermal coating from a soccer field The clear implication in both cases is that they were not on their own property. They deserve whatever they get. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/26 "2003-02-06T15:19:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\*Would the same thing have happened if it was a piece of Mir? Spacelab? > > No.\*\* Um, yes. Seven people died aboard Columbia. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/27 "2003-02-06T15:28:42Z")
\*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > [@](#): > > “Hi it’s my first day here, what you in for?” > “I killed my mother and stuffed her in a footlocker. What are you in for?” > “I hid a heat tile in my closet. Can I buy a shank from you?” **Jack** , I think this is the first time I’ve ever disagreed with something you’ve said. What if we ponder this exchange… “Hi it’s my first day here, what you in for?” “I killed my mother and stuffed her in a footlocker. What are you in for?” “I hid a heat tile in my closet that was the missing clue in a federal investigation, leading to the deaths of seven additional astronauts and fourteen schoolchildren, the destruction of an elementary school and another shuttle in an identical explosion.” ? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/28 "2003-02-06T15:48:47Z")
I think **Jonathan Chance** is right: these arrests are primarily for the purpose of making _real sure_ that everybody gets the idea: even though there are 100,000 pieces of debris out there, that doesn’t mean you can take even one. You’d think that would already be perfectly clear to everyone by now, but it seems that without at least a credible threat of some jail time, the message doesn’t seem to be getting through to everybody that the government really _means_ it. And the woman who took the circuit board, claiming to be from NASA: I wouldn’t mind in the least if she spent 90 days in jail. It would do her good. ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/29 "2003-02-06T16:00:54Z")
This is a pending investigation for so many layers of government. Throw in _evidence tampering and obstruction of justice_. This is nothing like a random piece of junk falling in your yard from some unknown black project. Can anyone collecting the debris reasonably say they did not know it was wrong? If someone picked up some debris - went “doh!” - and called it in, no way will the government charge them. But, if someone collects it and obviously if someone tries to sell it - throw away the key. ---
**Author:** ![gruven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a9a28c/32.png) [@gruven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gruven)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/30 "2003-02-06T16:14:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flyboy88 \* > \*\*I think it’s been pretty well demonstrated that not only is it a federal crime, but that in denying the investigators access to the debris, you _are_ hurting people, namely, future shuttle crews. Did you not read the thread before posting? \*\* I did read it. My point is I don’t believe it should be a crime. It’ll be nice to know what happened to the shuttle, but do people really need to be arrested over it? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/31 "2003-02-06T16:17:02Z")
They are disrupting an investigation into a fatal accident, meaning that NASA might not have all the data it needs to understand what happened. By so doing, they are putting the lives of future astronauts at risk. I hope they spend years in prison. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/32 "2003-02-06T16:19:43Z")
Allright, maybe I was rash. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I jumped to conclusions about the government running over search and seizure laws. I’ll bow out and try to gather more information about the cases in question, spend some time thinking in a more rational state of mind than a hung over and pissed about something irrelevent 5 AM, and maybe post something better than my kneejerk OP a little later. mea culpa. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/33 "2003-02-06T16:27:52Z")
Another thing is that NASA needs to KNOW WHERE THIS STUFF LANDED! AND I DON’T MEAN ON EBAY! GPS readins have to be taken at the scene where the debris landed and NO having dumbfuck walk back and say I found somewhere round here as he apologizes for stealing is not good enough. Plus, who wants to take bets on people later sueing the gubernment later because ‘some of day-bree gave the cancer to my best hound after I hid part of it in the dawg house.’ ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/34 "2003-02-06T16:29:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beeblebrox \* > \*\* > Something falls in my backyard out of the sky. I don’t notify authorities immediately. Should I be arrested?! \*\* Did things happen that way? arrested? not if it was a golf ball… However if a 10’x10’ chunk of flaming metal debris that had the words “NASA” on it would you do? : a) let it cool ,then sell it on ebay b) ignore it c) fry an egg on it before it cools d) toast marshmellows over it e) squirrel it away in your basement f) show a little common sense and call “the man” “f” you say? ::clap,clap,clap:: How hard was that? especially after the guy on the “magic box” sez **not** to touch, and these parts may be critical to the investigation If you answered **a** or **e** do not pass, go directly to jail. If you answered **b,c or d** , the guys in the white coats will be along soon,dont be alarmed they’re there to help you… ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Montana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tony\_Montana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tony_Montana)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/35 "2003-02-06T16:35:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gruven \* > It’ll be nice to know what happened to the shuttle, but do people really need to be arrested over it? \*\* Yeah, I second that “It’ll be nice to know”…:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/36 "2003-02-06T17:28:06Z")
This is actually a problem not unique to the shuttle situation. When the Air Force has a plane that crashes they also want to get the debris, and some of the “noble, salt-of-the-earth” farmers who have a part land on their field try to hide it in exchange for some cash from the gov’t. You didn’t need ebay to do this. The smug smile on their face disappears real fast when they find out that they can be arrested, and the AF takes a very, very dim view of they’ve done. Usually, they cough up the part when the cuffs come out, but every now and then the AF gets a guy who thinks everything that touches his property belongs to him. Personally, in the case of the shuttle, I think these scumbags are lucky we don’t have summary field executions. ---
**Author:** ![gruven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a9a28c/32.png) [@gruven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gruven)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/37 "2003-02-06T19:17:39Z")
I’m confused on one point, regardless of the legality of debris collecting and all that. Why are 7 astronauts dying in the shuttle worthy of more grief than, say, 10 rangers who die in a helicopter training accident? Why are they worthy of more grief than 4 people who die in a car accident? I see quotes like “Personally, I equate it with trying to swipe holy relics from a religious site, but that’s just me and I realize that not all folks take the space program as seriously as I do.” and “Personally, in the case of the shuttle, I think these scumbags are lucky we don’t have summary field executions.” What makes a space shuttle accident that special to people? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/38 "2003-02-06T19:36:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gruven \* > \*\*What makes a space shuttle accident that special to people? \*\* Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe because it’s a **FUCKING SPACE SHUTTLE ACCIDENT!** ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/39 "2003-02-06T19:43:23Z")
I’ll disagree with Beeblebrox and day the arrests are justified, and agree with the people who think they will get only fines (unless they have priors) Going to space is how we are going to get off this rock and spread throughout the galaxy. Then we won’t have to worry about some idiot dictator starting WW3 and the human race becoming extinct, we will be too spread out for it to matter. ---
**Author:** ![gruven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a9a28c/32.png) [@gruven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gruven)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176/40 "2003-02-06T19:54:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe because it’s a **FUCKING SPACE SHUTTLE ACCIDENT!** \*\* A Blackhawk crash is a **FUCKING BLACKHAWK ACCIDENT!** :smack: :rolleyes: I really honestly wanted to know what people thought, not to get unintelligently cursed at. But thanks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-shuttle-columbia-arrests-bullshit/153176.md?page=3)