Welcoming Criminals and Terrorists

I just received an e-mail that passed on what the person called “a profound message,” under the subject of “IDAHO – my kind of state!” The passed-on message said “This sign actually exists just inside Idaho near the border with Washington.”

Here’s the picture contained in the e-mail:

Funny, but fake.

Note to anyone and everyone who might get sucked into the hoax: This sign is a fake. It only exists as a doctored graphic. It was apparently made as a political statement, to further someone’s agenda

There are multiple common-sense “flags” that the sign is a fake. First is the atrocious grammar, capitalization, and spelling used in the sign. The second is that the warning sign is a different color than the welcome sign. The third is the confusing way that the sign implies people don’t need a permit (license) to carry concealed weapons. In Idaho, though, a permit is required to carry a concealed weapon. The only time you don’t need a permit is if the weapon is in plain sight (unconcealed).

Here is the real, undoctored sign:

The real sign is much easier to read when traveling at the speed limit.

Idaho is not alone, though, in doctored signs. You can find them for a variety of states if you look about. Here’s one for Louisiana:

Here’s one for Indiana:

Here’s one for Wisconsin:

Here’s one for North Carolina:

Silly stuff. Perhaps we need a sign that similarly welcomes people who pass along such obvious hoaxes as “real.”

If you want to see what some actual “welcome to our state” signs look like, here’s a good site that has many.