Gitmo to the great white north.
 

I'd rather have the gitmo bad guys than the Kaleefornee killers.

Legislators: Gitmo detainees would be good fit in Standish



The people of Standish and Arenac County support the importation of California convicts to fill a soon-to-be-closed state prison and save local jobs. But if American criminals can’t be found, they’d settle for terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay, a trio of state lawmakers told a House committee this morning.

“First and foremost our goal is to keep the prison open,” said Rep. Tim Moore, R-Farwell, whose district includes the Standish Maximum Facility.

If California, which is considering exporting prisoners to reduce overcrowding, decides not to utilize the Michigan prison, Moore said the community is receptive to the idea of housing terrorists “if it can be done safely.”

He was joined at the hearing of the Corrections Reform subcommittee by Reps. Joel Sheltrown, D-West Branch, and Jeff Mayes, D-Bay City, all of whom said they believe the Standish facility can securely house prisoners of all kinds.

State prisoners from outside of Michigan, which the Department of Corrections has pursued as an option to avoid closing Standish and another prison in Muskegon, is preferable to housing federal detainees, because the prison could be operated with virtually the same staff it has now, the lawmakers said. If the prison is converted for use by the Department of Defense, it would presumably be staffed by federal employees, they said.

I never understood the hysteria about transferring Gitmo detainees to US prisons. I don't see how they're any more dangerous than the average murderer. How many people in the US die of terrorist attacks vs. normal, every-day murder?

I heard this piece of NPR. The guy that was ridiculous.


Personally I don't even think any of the Gitmo terrorists are a major threat. I take most of the information coming from any government agency with a grain of salt.

I love how California has an out of control prison problem. Maybe releasing some of their inmates with non violent offense would help with that.

Then again the police lobbies for the state would be all over that like a bad date.

As I understand it, it has to do with the difference in rights that these prisoners would be entitled to in the US prison system.

They should have the same rights.

As someone said before. He may be a SOB but he is OUR SOB. I have 50 murderers in this state. Why would I want to have 51? Especially if the 51st one is not even one of our people?

Read the article. To save prison jobs. I don't care if it's my SOB or someone else's. They're still SOB's.

Wasn't talking about the article. You were wondering why the hysteria. I gave you a possible answer. I thought we were talking in general terms.

OK, then in general terms, how's a terrorist suspect any more dangerous than someone already convicted of murder? I assume the feds will be paying for the prisoners so cost shouldn't be an issue to the individual states. But yeah, it's probably another unjustified case of NIMBY. I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is, so I wouldn't mind if my state or county took a few of these prisoners, seriously.

Aside from escape, evade, demolition, chemical warfare and combat skills you are correct.

6 of 1, half dozen of the other.

You aren't running for office either. If you were, you'd look at things a little differently. The only reason they are considering housing gitmo people is that their prisons will have to close. That means unhappy people. This way, they can say "I feel your pain". If that weren't the case, they would not want them anywhere near the state. Reason is very simple. Without a financial reason, other constituents will say "You are endangering us by housing those clowns near us. Put them somwhere else.". Why aren't the other states rushing for this business opportunity? Because they don't need it badly enough to risk pissing off their constituents. If ANYTHING happened, the press would have a field day and this sort of thing can hurt a politician's career.

I think you're giving the typical terror suspect much more credit than they deserve. Besides, what about the 100's of terror suspects already housed in US prisons? You do know about them, don't you?

It's a perfect example of how unfortunately emotions and political careers frequently come before the right thing to do.

I'm curious do you know or personally know anyone that has personal experience with these fellows.


They say the the war in Afghanistan will cost more than Iraq do you think that is because of the high cost of MRE's?

How's that relevant?

Again, do you or don't you know that the US prison system already houses 100's of convicted terrorists? I'm talking convicts, not mere suspects like most of those in Gitmo who were turned in for cash bounties by locals in Afghanistan.