Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012 - Research Paper Example

 Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012 The Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012 has been recently signed by the President of America. This Act amends the Tariff Act of 1930, as the Congress felt that the aviation smuggling needs to be extended in respect to the aircraft. It amends the previous Act and includes many of the clauses that would extend the coverage of the Act to the aircraft to (1) any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air; and (2) ultralight vehicles. The Act also specifies many other subjects which tended to be unclear in the Tariff Act. It also attempts to cover the subject of conspiracies to commit aviation smuggling to specified criminal penalties. According to the congress, their review about this Act shows their expressing sense about the Secretary of Defense. Congress believes that the Secretary of Defense should continue their broad program that they had been following. It suggested that they are in cooperation with the Secretary of Homeland Security to be able to identify the Secretary of Defense technology, equipment and expertise which could be leveraged by the Department of Homeland Security to fulfill its missions. This is included in the summary of the Act which is provided by the Congress and not by the government (Cooper, 2012). Another important aspect of this Act is the Congress urge to the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security (DOH) is able to identify the DOD equipment and technology which would be also used by the U.S Customs and Border Protection to battle the unlawful trafficking across the international borders which include the United States and the Mexican border and also the United States and the Canadian border. This would include any technology that could be used to detect and track the illegal use of ultralight aircraft. Thus, according to the Congress, the summary of this Act related to the above points. There are some detailed views on this Act and the passing of this Act. It was an anti-drug legislation proposed by Gabrielle Gifford. Now this has been turned into a law after the signature of the President of America. The background of the Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act states that this Act puts an end to the ambiguity that indulged the use of ultralight aircraft to help and encourage the drug smuggling from the use of another aircraft. However, after this law coming into form, the use of these aircrafts can impose strict fines or a long sentence in the jail (McCarter, 2012). The ultralights that are mentioned in this Act weigh less than 254 pounds and they usually have a single seat. The problems occurring form these ultralights have a long background as it goes back to past decade. The Customs and Border Protection officers have been in this issue as they have been tracking these ultralights pass the borders for years. And not only is their purpose to pass the border, but it has also been detected that these small aircrafts cross the borders of US and Mexico and US and Canada to bring in drugs to the United States, which means drugs smuggling. The increased problem was seen at great heights between the years 2009 and 2011. In these years, there were more than 600 suspects for using the ultralight aircraft for smuggling, and about 400 were confirmed to cross the border and bring in drugs, according to the data provided by the Customs and Border Protection officers. According to these officers this was an increasing problem like never before. They spoke for it publicly and pointed out the fact that this problem with the ultralight aircrafts had been increased as a result of the success of other ways which have been used to stop the drug smuggling through borders. The use of ultralights was a new kind of activity that troubled these officers immensely. These ultralights can carry about 250 pounds of drugs at one time, as mentioned by the officers. They claimed that sometimes these traffickers tend to drop these drugs and go back to Mexico, and sometimes they take time in landing, unloading the drugs and refueling. Thus, Gabrielle thought it became necessary for these operations to be stopped through legislation. She expected this to become a successful law just in the way other laws were about the drug smuggling. With some clear instructions and clauses in the Act, it tends to control the number of ultralights used in drug smuggling, or making it completely nil (Rockwell, 2012). Gabrielle Giffords was the lady behind this legislation. As she proposed the legislation to the President, she pointed out these points problems as claimed by the officers of the Customs and Border Protection. The legislation was very important for the US safety of the southwest border, as this border was mostly affected by the ultralights and drug smuggling. Also, Gabrielle had been an honorable member of the Congress who had done immense acts of public service, and thus it was believed that passing this bill would give a chance to honor this incredible member of the Congress for her efforts and work. Gabrielle was behind the legislation and she introduced it in 2010 for the first time. Although she had won its passage, the Senate refused to take it up. Then, over the year Gabrielle worked over it and introduced it to the Senate once again. It was passed by unanimous consent and then later it was help up in the House due to some procedural issue. Once again, Gabrielle had to reintroduce her legislation in the House, after which she chose to resign and as a bid to her farewell, the House passed her bill. This legislation was extremely important and it was Gabrielle’s last legislation to be passed out, and as President Barack Obama stated that even though she would not be able to introduce any more legislations, her last one would serve the public for a long time (Walton, 2012). The Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012 was an evidence of Gabrielle’s concern about securing the national border. As she went through the increasing claims about the insecurity of the border from activities involving smuggling, she took it in high concern and introduced her legislation. She went through the various events of increasing illegal activities on the borders through these ultralights. The efforts of this woman have inspired all those in the Congress and the House of Representatives. She is known as one of the best ladies for the Nation who served the people from all her loyalty. Gabrielle is known as the shining light for all who truly admire her. Through this legislation, as further explained, the ultralights will be considered as illegal for the conviction of illegal activities. Previously, according to the literal definition of the ultralights, they were not considered as aircrafts and thus were not subjected under the Tariff Act 1930. Usually the criminal penalties for the usage of ultralights for crimes may be lesser and lighter than those for the usage of aircrafts. As an effect of this legislation, now the criminal activities that take place using the ultralights will also be fined as stricter as the others. It is expected that this law will protect our borders in an efficient way just as it was protected through other successful laws (Udall, 2012). The idea of giving the Customs and Border Protection the technology and equipment to detect the ultralights is also included in the legislation. Gabrielle included these clauses to make sure that the borders are safe through all aspects. she wanted to make the communities safer and secure which is why she worked tirelessly with her team to make this legislation happen to the people. She did not give up despite the hardships and technicalities. Her efforts will long preserve her in the minds as a great public servant. She did all the effort to make this happen and she succeeded after immense tries. After the new law came into form, the ultralight aircrafts which are used in smuggling were treated the same as ordinary planes which meant that the penalties could now reach up to 20 years of jail sentence and more than $250,000 in fines. When the bill was signed President Brack Obama was impressed with Gabrielle’s work. He praised her in inspiring words gave her great honor. The President appreciated the efforts and praised the legislation. He agreed to the facts that this legislation was made to make the community safer and stronger, away from all sorts of illegal activities. He also quoted his expectation of a better future at the borders from this law. The President also praised Gabrielle and her efforts in words and quoted that he felt pride in sigining the bill with her friend, Gabrielle. He also stated that he was happy that he worked with a member of the Congress who was dedicated and loyal towards her work. She worked all her life for the people of Arizona, and is respected by everyone who knows her (Udall, 2012). Moreover, the acceptance of the legislation showed that how much she is respected and appraised by her colleagues in Congress in both parties. The President added that Gabrielle’s dedication towards the country has greatly inspired many, including him. Gabrielle worked effortlessly for the country and for her people. She was appreciated wherever she went and was known for her decent nature that showed concern about the welfare of the people. She was one of the best representatives in the Congress. After her work for the Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act, she was greatly honored by the Senate and the House. Although it was her last effort for her country, she was fully dedicated towards the acceptance and success of it. This Act was believed to be one of the greatest considerations that could have been taken for the protection of the national border. Gabrielle did not loose hope and her dedication even when she had resigned. She had promised the people that although she is working on her recovery, she tends to come back and work for the people of Arizona and her country. However, Gabrielle was shot dead in her house during a constituent meeting. She faced a tragic death and yet she was focused to work for her people. All the members have immensely grieved her death and considered her as an ideal for many as she left her mark on every heart. This Act has been served as a great benefit to the community. Because of the increasing use of drugs, there have been many problems seen in the community. This made it very important for the government to take action to stop the entry of drugs in the country which was seen as a common practice from the Mexican border. The best way to stop it was through law and that was already imposed on the aircrafts. However, this new way of promoting drugs was started a few years ago and had become one of the most troubling issue sin the country. Likewise, it could be controlled through law and a new law was passed for it successfully. Hence, the community is now safer from drugs than before, until there seems to be another adoption of new technique. This Act not only helped the border, but also the whole nation as drugs is something that ruins the community as a whole. It takes a long while until legislation is approved and passed as a law. This Act also took a while to be passed and has many efforts behind it. Yet, it brought great hopes to the people who are hoping for a better future now safe from smuggling and other illegal activities. The nation keeps expectations from the government, and an efficient government is proved when such minor technicalities are judged through laws just for the sake of encouraging safety. This Act will also make the nation proud and hopeful from their government in the future years. References Cooper, A. (2012). Gabrielle Giffords’ anti-drug legislation signed into law CNN. Retrieved online from http://articles.cnn.com/2012-02-10/politics/politics_giffords-ultralight-law_1_ultralights-traffickers-gabrielle-giffords?_s=PM:POLITICS McCarter, M. (2012). Congress Passes Final Giffords Bill to Crack Down On Use of Ultralights by Drug Cartels HSTODAY.US. Retrieved online from http://www.hstoday.us/focused-topics/customs-immigration/single-article-page/congress-passes-final-giffords-bill-to-crack-down-on-use-of-ultralights-by-drug-cartels/8c5fe9a49136761325d1690ad01cf6d5.html Rockwell, M. (2012). Congress passes Gabby Giiffords’ Bill to crack down on drug smugglers’ ultralight aircraft. UK: World Business Media, LLC Udall, S. (2012).Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012. London: Sunlight Foundation Walton, E. (2012). President Obama to Sign Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012 TucsonNewsNow.com. Retrived online from: http://nogales-riorico.tucsonnewsnow.com/news/crime/73330-president-obama-sign-ultralight-aircraft-smuggling-prevention-act-2012 Read More