Kelly Bastone writes, "skiers line up to board the Steamboat Gondola, but first they must unzip, de-layer, and turn out their pockets. Like travelers at Denver International Airport, these would-be gondola riders must run through a gauntlet of security checkpoints before taking to the skies."
After ticket scanners confirm that skiers’ lift passes are legit, a panel of uniformed police officers pats everyone down and inspects backpacks for contraband such as alcohol. Refuse the search, and that $97 day-ticket becomes null and void. Still, on this bluebird day, one baby boomer flexes his ’60s-honed flower power and bucks the system. “You don’t have any right to search me!” he shouts. Throughout the loading zone, heads swivel toward the lone renegade. The cops try to respond to him in hushed tones. But he won’t be quieted. “You have no right!” he repeats.
Thanks to an agreement with the federal government through the US Forestry Service, which is another unconstitutional bureaucracy, Steamboat Resort has every right to force their skiers into this intrusive pat down. For crying out loud skiers, are you going to continue allowing this to happen in America?
Perhaps it's time to boycott Steamboat Springs, specifically the ski gestapo of the Steamboat Ski Resort, to let them know you have had enough. This is America, home of the brave land of the free, and we have rights in this country, and simply boarding a ski lift isn't probable cause to be treated like a criminal with another intrusive search simply to go and have some fun.
Where has our country gone?
