BreakTheChain.org
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Ring, Ring, Boom!Date Added: Oct. 17, 2001
This bit of net rumor was circulating before the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the U.S. But it took on a new life in the air of heightened awareness and security that has followed. Here's the 2001 version. Why are airport security people taking a closer look at cell phones? Because cell phone guns have been discovered OCONUS. The attached video clip shows how cell phone guns operate. These phones are not in the U.S. yet, but they are in use overseas. Beneath the digital phone face is a .22 -caliber handgun capable of firing four rounds in rapid succession using the standard telephone keypad. European law enforcement officials are stunned by the discovery of these deadly decoys. They say phone guns are changing the rules of engagement in Europe. We find it very alarming, says Wolfgang Dicke of the German Police Union. It means police will have to draw their weapons whenever a person being checked reaches for their cell phone. Although cell phone guns have not reached the U.S. yet, the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Customs Service say they have been briefed on the new weapons. All U.S. ports of entry have been alerted. These covert weapons were first discovered in October of 2000 when Dutch police came upon a cache during a drug raid in Amsterdam. In another recent incident, a Croatian gun dealer was caught attempting to smuggle a shipment through Slovenia into Western Europe. Police say both shipments are believed to have originated in Yugoslavia. Interpol sent a warning to law enforcement agencies around the world. If you didn't know they were guns, you would think they were cell phones, said Ari Zandbergen, spokesperson for the Amsterdam police. Only when you have one in your hand do you realize that they are heavier than a regular cell phone. Be patient if security asks to look at your cell phone In 2007, the chain is still making the rounds, though in a more concise version. CELL PHONE GUN Very IMPORTANT - Read Before Watching Most see airport security as a pain. Some feel violated. When you watch this clip, you'll understand why they want your cell phone through the x-ray machine. If you get asked to test your cell phone at the airport, this is the reason. Cell phone guns have arrived. They are real. The attached video clip shows how cell phone guns operate. These phones are not in the U.S. yet, but they are in use overseas. Beneath the digital phone face is a .22 caliber handgun capable of firing four rounds in rapid succession using the standard telephone keypad. European law enforcement officials are stunned by the discovery of these deadly decoys. They say phone guns are changing the rules of engagement in Europe. Only when you have one in your hand do you realize that they are heavier than a regular cell phone. Be patient if security asks to look at your cell phone or turn it on to show that it works. They have a good reason! Wake up to our NEW WORLD!! We shouldn't complain about airport security "invading your privacy." Now, click on the attachment.........
The chain comes complete with a video clip of the James Bond-like device in action. Click here to view it (~500kb). In a nutshell, cell phone guns are real, which is the primary reason security checkpoints usually have folks demonstrate that their electronic devices are fully functional and not just props made to hide the true deadly potential within. Cell phones, PDAs, MP3 players and other devices are now suspect because they can conceal guns, contain explosive charges or be used as detonators. There is no evidence, however, that such malfeasance is afoot. The cell phone guns described in the mail and in the video are notbeing mass-produced as far as any law enforcement agency is aware. In late, 2006, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security bumped up surveillance efforts for liquids on flights that could be used as explosives, suggesting that new possible threats are being identified every day. The exact origin of the texts above is unknown, though the existence of these guns has been widely reported in the media. Stories about terrorists and criminals using them to hijack planes and hold people hostage, however, remain largely the domain of Hollywood action movies. References: TruthOrFiction.com, Snopes.com
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