Why? Because they’re the Department of Homeland Stupidity. Sounds like a certain department is overly sensitive these days. Jerks.
The Department of Justice, on behalf of the National Security Administration (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has threatened to criminally prosecute a novelty store owner for selling mugs and t-shirts that say, among other things, “Department of Homeland Stupidity” and “The NSA: The only part of government that actually listens.”
The novelty items are sold online at Zazzle.com, which is operated by merchant Dan McCall. The NSA and DHS sent “cease and desist” letters to Zazzle stating that the parody products violate statutes that protect their official seals from misuse.
The NSA and DHS, through the Department of Justice, are “threatening litigation and criminal prosecution if the parody designs weren’t immediately removed,” reported the government watchdog group Judicial Watch.
While the parody products, such as “NSA: Spying on you since 1952,” have been removed from Zazzle’s website, a federal complaint has been filed by Dan McCall against the DHS and NSA, claiming that the cease and desist directives violate his First Amendment rights.
“As the complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland states, “This is an action for a judgment rejecting claims made in cease and desist letters that two government agencies sent to an online vendor of T-shirts, mugs and similar merchandise.
So, I guess we will all be going to jail over future Tammy Gear. Not happy about this, because orange is not my color 🙁
Well, I don’t look my best in stripes either, Shifra. But I’ll take my chances for some TAM gear. 🙂
I asked this question in chat, and no one seemed to know the answer, so I will ask again: If the Feds arrest this guy for selling mugs, will they take a mug shot ? 🙂
Shifra, Haha! Good question!
We’ve become the USSR.