# Will the FL postal worker's gyrocopter capital lawn landing stunt be effective? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 15, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783 "2015-04-15T21:52:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/1 "2015-04-15T21:52:16Z")
He claims that he had planned for a year and it’s purpose is to bring greater attention to the need for campaign finance reform. So do you think it will be effective, or will he be viewed as a nut and things will rock on? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/2 "2015-04-15T21:55:15Z")
I hope its effective in demonstrating our poor air space security. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/3 "2015-04-15T23:09:48Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I hope its effective in demonstrating our poor air space security. I read that Capitol security and Secret service were notified within an hour of his arrival by a Florida newspaper that he was coming, and it was intended to be a peaceful protest. Maybe they decided it wasn’t worth shooting him down. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/4 "2015-04-16T01:23:28Z")
Nut job. Nothing will get campaign spending by either party under control; especially not so close (in campaign terms) to a Presidential election. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/5 "2015-04-16T01:55:16Z")
That newspaper is lucky he didn’t decide to bring a gun (or anything that looked like one) with him after all. Especially with the Iraqi prime minister visiting the Hill, security might have been much more paranoid. This could easily have been a tragedy. And no, he’ll be quickly forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/6 "2015-04-16T01:58:35Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > And no, he’ll be quickly forgotten. For campaign finance reform, sure. For White House security, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/7 "2015-04-16T03:45:55Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I read that Capitol security and Secret service were notified within an hour of his arrival by a Florida newspaper that he was coming, and it was intended to be a peaceful protest. Maybe they decided it wasn’t worth shooting him down. I am pretty sure in the end we’ll discover that they didn’t have a clue it was going to happen and were surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/8 "2015-04-16T11:06:32Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > For campaign finance reform, sure. For White House security, not so much. A day or two before, a toddler got past the White House security measures. I thought, now they’re just _trolling_ us. But apparently it’s happened [before](http://www.google.com/search?site=&source=hp&ei=eJUvVZGLK-G1sQTkvIDwAg&q=toddler+white+house+lawn&oq=toddler+white+house&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.1.1.0l2.4499.22932.0.24325.22.21.1.10.10.0.589.6416.2-12j7j1j1.21.0.msedr...0...1c.1.64.mobile-gws-hp..1.21.3516.3.tUUh7Z2Y9Ts), in August 2014. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/9 "2015-04-16T11:47:17Z")
Dude be whacked. No ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/10 "2015-04-16T11:51:46Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > That newspaper is lucky he didn’t decide to bring a gun (or anything that looked like one) with him after all. Why is the newspaper lucky? I’m guessing they said something like “we know this guy, and he told us he’s been planning a peaceful arrival,” rather than “we pledge with our lives and our sacred honor that this man will arrive unarmed.” ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/11 "2015-04-16T13:34:31Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > For campaign finance reform, sure. For White House security, not so much. Dude didn’t land at the White House. It was the Capitol lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/12 "2015-04-16T15:32:54Z")
Unless his argument is that we should divert funds from campaigning to mental health services and more SAMs, I doubt it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/13 "2015-04-16T15:40:44Z")
Of course it won’t be effective. I have seen pics and headlines about this story. I was curious to see what kind of aircraft it was. But until I opened this thread I had no idea the guy had a specific agenda. I’m sure the vast majority of people don’t either. And I will forget it soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/14 "2015-04-16T15:52:24Z")
Actually, it’s been extremely effective – in getting his message out. Despite what has been said above, I was aware of what he did and why. I was told about it by multiple media outlets, which not only reported the incident, but also gave his name and his agenda. If the man’s purpose was to bring public attention to his cause, he undoubtedly did that, making a big splash in the national media that got a key spot at the top of the newscasts. He did better than many publicity forms trying to tour their products or celebrities. Whether anything will come of this is quite another matter, but he has a lot less control over that aspect. If he put his effort into quietly working Behind the Scenes to further this project, it’s likely that none of us would ever have heard about it. Another question is whether it was worth the price – he’s going to be paying in (probably) fines and some loss of personal freedom. But there’s absolutely no question in my mind that it was effective. It did exactly what he wanted it to do. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/15 "2015-04-16T15:54:52Z")
Neither rain nor snow nor a restricted fly zone… ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/16 "2015-04-16T17:08:47Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > purpose is to bring greater attention to the need for campaign finance reform. For that you’d perhaps want the helicopter to land on John Roberts’ and Fat Tony’s lap. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/17 "2015-04-16T18:18:21Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Why is the newspaper lucky? I’m guessing they said something like “we know this guy, and he told us he’s been planning a peaceful arrival,” rather than “we pledge with our lives and our sacred honor that this man will arrive unarmed.” Because they knew about his plan long before but waited until he was almost there to “warn” anyone. If it turned out that he decided to shoot his way in, it would not look good for the newspaper to be saying that it let the stunt play out and didn’t tell the authorities earlier because it trusted his good nature. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/18 "2015-04-17T05:04:29Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Neither rain nor snow nor a restricted fly zone… ↑ ↑ ↑ Thread win !!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/19 "2015-04-18T18:08:45Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > He claims that he had planned for a year and it’s purpose is to bring greater attention to the need for campaign finance reform. > > So do you think it will be effective, or will he be viewed as a nut and things will rock on? Actually one thing this shows, to my surprise, is that the courts and security folks still have a smidgen of common sense. The pilot is getting fined, sent home with an ankle bracelet and told not to come into the District of Columbia again. Obviously the guy is a mis-guided kook, but I expected the cops and courts to follow their usual course and label him a dangerous terrorist and lock him up for 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783/20 "2015-04-18T19:38:21Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Dude didn’t land at the White House. It was the Capitol lawn. Am I the only one that thought that lawn looked rather ratty? Particularly from the airborne footage? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-fl-postal-workers-gyrocopter-capital-lawn-landing-stunt-be-effective/717783.md?page=2)