I’m not quite sure whether to be disturbed, amused, or reassured
(Fox News) When two burly men walked into a Missouri women’s underwear store Tuesday, the owners didn’t think much of it — until the pair flashed their Homeland Security badges and confiscated several dozen panties bearing the initials “KC” in honor of the Kansas City Royals.
Danielle Meister, co-owner of Birdies Panties shop, said the undercover agents seized the lingerie, claiming the store violated copyright laws by selling underwear with “Take the Crown” and “KC” printed across the rear. Meister and her business partner, Peregrine Honig, said they wanted to celebrate the success of their hometown team — which on Wednesday night beat the San Francisco Giants to tie the World Series at one game apiece — by designing the panties. (snip)
“It all came crashing down on Tuesday when Homeland Security showed up and said we were committing a crime of copyright infringement,” Meister said. “My initial response was fear. How often does Homeland Security show up to your panty shop?”
Exactly. How often does a federal agency show up armed at a small private business? It could be scary enough having the local, county, or state law enforcement show up, but to have Los Federales appear? Scary and intimidating. It does get worse
Major League Baseball spokesman Matt Bourne said counterfeit merchandise is a serious problem.
“We support [Homeland Security’s] efforts to protect fans from purchasing counterfeit tickets and merchandise while protecting legitimate businesses that are authorized to conduct those activities,” Bourne said.
While certainly MLB wants to protect its brand and the brand of the teams, is it necessary to send in armed federal agents to a small lingerie shop? They couldn’t have placed a call or registered letter, telling them to cease and desist?
The raid itself was carried out by Immigration and Customs enforcement, having apparently solved all the problems with illegal aliens, including ones that are gang members and Bad People.
Meister, in hindsight, described the incident as comical.
“These two tall, strong undercover officers had to stand there and count the panties,” she giggled. “They didn’t not seem to want to carry out their appointed task that day.”
Well, there is that.
On the flip side, they were working to stop the sale of all the counterfeit merchandise, and, more importantly, tickets. Most people buying merchandise will know when it is not real. Tickets, though, can see people out hundreds of dollars, and not allowed in the game.
Still, panties? Happy Friday.
Crossed at Right Wing News.
