I think that since cigarette smugglers carry mac10s, the coasties are
smart to discourage their use, even their carriage, by exhibiting a
couple of .50s. I just hope they don't point them at me while I am
trying to explain what "heave to" means.

Smuggling smokes is one thing, smuggling aliens or terrorist bombs is
another. Targets have a responsibility to defend themselves.

Be reasonable and polite, these guys will not long enjoy boarding
CL18s to check for pot under the porta pottie, and will revert to
their previous gainful employment. Who wants to boat amongst such a
crowd as to bait enforcers?

I hope they catch every drunk out there, and I hope their bosses catch
on to the fact that soft soles are cheaper and safer on boats. I get a
kick out of watching town cops in RIBs with parade shoes trying to act
like experienced sailors, on lookout for beer bottle ******* and wake
offenders and I am glad to see them out there, giving tows and free
gas to those idiots who need it. It's also fun to hear them bellow
"Heave to!" to 16 foot power boats. I can't wait until some dummy to
windward tells me to do so in my 29' sailboat. I will immediately
round up into him to backwind the jib and then go to court if we
collide. After all, I am obligated to obey peace officers, no?

It seems sad to me to think that rock concerts have better security
than airliners, let alone toy boats. Where is this so-called threat?
With the WMDs?

Terry K