Texas House Bans Offensive Security Pat-Downs

May 13, 2011 6:44 AM

A TSA agent waits for passengers to pass through a magnetometer at Los Angeles International Airport on November 22, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (credit: David McNew/Getty Images)

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AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas House passed a bill that would make it a criminal offense for public servants to inappropriately touch travelers during airport security pat-downs.

Approved late Thursday night, the measure makes it illegal for anyone conducting searches to touch “the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person” including through clothing.

It also prohibits searches “that would be offensive to a reasonable person.”

The bill’s chief sponsor is Republican Rep. David Simpson, who said, “this has to do with dignity and travel, and prohibiting indecent, groping searches.”

He believes it will keep Transportation Security Administration officials from treating travelers like criminals, though the measure may be superseded by federal law.

After a brief but raucous debate, lawmakers approved the measure with little opposition — drawing applause from supporters.

Texas House Bans Offensive Security Pat Downs

http://fortworthinsight.com/news/texas-house-bans-offensive-security-pat-downs/ Texas House Bans Offensive Security Pat-Downs « Fort Worth News Feeds

[...] Texas House Bans Offensive Security Pat-Downs The Texas House passed a bill that would make it a criminal offense to inappropriately touch travelers during airport security pat-downs. Go to News Source [...]
Mark Matis

It’s about time.

brassia

If our government was seriously concerned about our safety they would CLOSE the borders and address the problem of mexican cartel operating in 250 of our towns…..
The despicable pat downs by sex offenders non the less ( one actually had criminal record) was to condition us Americans to surrender our freedom and learn to live with it! This is the most disgusting administration in the history of our country!

jackie

You are so on target!
SuziQ

When the 3 ICE agents were killed they had a major raid on the cartels within a few days. This says 2 things to me. They know where they are. and They want them to stay in business so they can get their cut. I personally don’t care if people do drugs or smoke pot but if they are buying them on the street, most likely they are helping to support murder and slavery.
Kenneth Glenn Koons

Brassia, you are correct. If the citizens of America would demand Israeli style profiling of ME Muslims et al, not only here going out but coming in,plus doing it for illegals too, we could stop a lot of terror, cartel problems, and the absurd pat downs. We need to close the borders, and profile no matter what the liberal Dems and Big Sis think.
Troll slayer

Kenneth, your comments are spot on. The Israelis have accepted the fact that they are in constant danger and are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect themselves. Sometimes that means offending someone’s delicate sensibilities. Americans need to pull our collective heads out of the sand (or in some cases, our you-know-what) and start taking the danger seriously.

I personally don’t care if I get scanned, patted down, strip-searched or profiled. I’d rather be safe than sorry. The Israeli’s will tell anyone that if they don’t like the security procedures, then they are free to live/travel elsewhere. This has allowed Israel to exist for 60-plus years, despite being surrounded by countries that want to annihilate it.
Nico

I totally agree, especially the last sentence.
Nico

In reply to “brassia”, I totally agree with you, especially when you wrote “This is the most disgusting administration in the history of our country”.
www.AggieAvonLady.com

Right on! You hit the nail on the head.Space
sage

your are right, and disgusting is too mild of a word for it.
Kay

AMEN
Myself

It was only 1 ICE. Yes, we have a problem with drug cartels, but it is because the americans buy drugs!!! Hollywood movies worsen the problem glorifying drug addiction, American armers sell assault guns to drug dealers and nobody in the US say anything about that, why? Because they earn money. So, instead of saying that start by cleaning your own house. And nobody say anything in America about the two the ICE agents that killed two children firing to Mexian territory with no reason, so everybody in Mexico liked the Zetas when they killed the ICE agent. Those ICE are very machos when dealing with civilians, but are cowards against armed men.

Wake up Brassi, your government keep you and the other citizens paranoic in order to control you better: paranoic against british, royalists, spaniards, germans, fascists, communists, terrorists, and now drug cartels!

Philip Kirschner

All I can say from the big apple is GOD BLESS the state of Texas. Perhaps states will build upon this and pas laws getting RID TSA and their NAZI style pat downs and sex assaults of the traveling public.
mihoda

Uh huh. Guess which state the next plane wielding terrorists are going to board their flight in?

…and guess where they will be hiding their weapons.

TOM SERVO

If anything ever happens on a TX plane because of this, you can bet your life it’s a repeat Bay of Tonkin.

Ah well. It’s almost not even worth it anymore, really. I’m sorry mihoda. 80% of America firmly believes the hype that there is some real danger lurking out there from “terrorists.” I don’t know how you sleep at night. George Orwell’s 1984 probably sounds like a paradise to you: Not having to worry about anything “bad” happening to you ever again, all because of big, strong, oppressive government there to watch out for you.

No, I would bet you’ve never read it. You should check it out.
sage

they shouldn’t be in our country to begin with. get rid of them and close the damn borders, solid.
Mike

I guess no one thinks about how impossible it is becoming for legitimate TSA people to do their jobs without the fear of legal reprisal. We’re headed for yet another “he said, she said” court battle in which lawyers win and nothing is resolved. If you think patting down passengers 8 hours a day and then having to deal with their self-righteousness and indignation is fun and games, go to Texas. Most of our threats now come from U.S. citizens or legalized aliens.
Feste Ainoriba

@Mike,
I guess you don’t think about how impossible it is for otherwise law abiding citizens to live their lives without fear of being abused by security professionals WITHOUT PROBABLE CAUSE and in violation of our fundamental rights.

IT SHOULD be difficult, and the burden of proof should be substantial, for a police officer, or security personnel to interfere with an individual who is freely going about their business. Satisfying a security specialist should never be a prerequisite for the right to exercise my liberties. Police and TSA agents SHOULD be on the defensive and unable to act without probable cause.
Sexually molesting people, subjecting them to harmful radiation, making them take their shoes off, and forcing them to buy sodas inside the security zone WILL NOT prevent terrorist attacks on this country. It will, however, terrorize the citizens, and trample the constitution.
Once police are empowered by law or regulation to “prevent” crime by trampling our liberties (instead of just arresting people for having committed crimes) we will discover that we have transformed from a constitutional democratic republic and into an oligarchy run by police forces (a police state, if you will).

I WANT police (and other security personnel) to be in constant fear of legal reprisal. THAT is the only way to keep them subordinate to the people and working ON BEHALF of the people. If you haven’t figured it out…the vast majority of Americans don’t want their liberties trampled by jack booted thugs.

You need to ask yourself, where exactly do you stand on the 4th amendment? Are you willing to surrender Constitutional limits on government powers out of expediency? Do you think that Constitutional limits on federal powers have an implied “except when the fed government thinks it is expedient to violate these proscriptions”?
Are you a son of liberty, or its enemy?
person

A weapon would have to be pretty small to fit inside the genitals of a person, come on! How much do you get paid to be posting in this kind of place. It is so obvious you are working for someone…it is even silly
Speedy

Mike is the dude in the picture!!! )

H. E. Vincent

For Servo- Ever hear of Lockerbie?

D R W 70

Yeah…….well a TSA sexual assault would not have stopped that, as the bomb was planted in a radio and was packed away in the luggage compartment.

And to STEVE from above……the ‘terrorists’ are not the reason that I refuse to fly. It is because I REFUSE to submit to our HOME GROWN TERRORISTS that currently are working for our own government in the form of the TSA….

Chris C

I love how this puts liberals between a rock and a hard place. They want to support this measure, but they don’t want to create a precedent where Arizona can pass its own immigration policies.

Unfortunately, they can’t have it both ways.
nolaguy412

Waste of time! Federal Law overrules state and TSA is governed by Federal Law! Morons!

trog58

Actually TSA opperates under regulations put in place by homeland security. There is no law that says TSA has the right to do these invasive searches. They claim the ability by saying we have the right to choose not to fly. I say we have the right to be free from gov’t intrusion. Let free markets rule. If airlines allow terrorists then people will stop flying. Let the airlines handel security. Then we the people can decide who is safest and spend our dollars there.
Chris

According the the supremacy clause of the constitution, federal law supersedes state law when in pursuance of the constitution, but since TSA is violating the constitution by groping genitals, it isn’t in pursuance of the constitution, is not protected by the supremacy clause, and does not supersede state law.
george Bush

no its not a waste of time !! If those aholes grope me I promise im callling the cops and having them arrested!And im sure the tsa employees dont want to spend there time in jail.They might get out of it later but it will at least send a message!!
person

Hopefully someone that want votes from Texans will think twice.

AT

Expect a false flag plane attack to try and scare us all back in line. After all, Michael Chertoff and pals were making profits form these machines. God forbid our little quest such as freedom from their perversion and seeking protection under the 4th Amendment should stand in the way.

Feste

Terrorism is being used as a stalking horse by those who seek to replace our constitutional republic with a security oligarchy.

Danielle

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this “bill” isnt going to happen. Yes the STATE had passed it, but TSA is FEDERAL. Federal overrides State. Therefor, Texas just wasted their time trying to pass a bill thats never going to happen.

Patrick

@Danielle

Go back to school girl. You know NOTHING about the Constitution. It’s easy to see why you work for the TSA – you’re too stupid to do anything productive.

Greg

It’s not a “dog and pony show” if it causes the local prosecution of TSA employees and forces a show down in Federal Court. The point is to force TSA through Public awareness and cause the WH to count the political cost.
http://sbpdl.wordpress.com SBPDL

http://stuffblackpeopledontlike.blogspot.com/2011/05/spies-like-us-intelligence-gathering.html

This might be the best and most conservative site on the internet.

The TSA is evil

SBPDL.com
Joe

Your civil rights guarantee citizens protection from unreasonable searches. There is no reason for every passenger to blow up an air plane, and we have historical proof of that. Your civil rights also guarantee citizens from protection of unreasonable spending, but you have to read and believe in the US Constitution.

Notice how CBS says this article can not be rewritten, which also means the media does not matter anymore. Fair use discussion of the material is allowed by law, and to say that no one can talk about the issues without being accused of violating CBS or the author of the article is censorship and violations of the First Amendment, something that used to apply to the press?

We will talk about the issues whether you people in the press like it or not, and getting credited for reporting that event “A” happened at Location “B” as reported by “CBS” is about all you people deserve credit for?

Bunch of commies? Oh sure, the article can not be re-written, now please participate on our online forum where you can rewrite what we just said and talk about it all you want? Hypocrites? The only reason the media has survived is because of advertising built into all the products and services we buy, and it has nothing to do with the intelligence or even competence of the press?

Well CBS claims to be a news organization, let us all hold our breath while they answer these important questions

ANIMALAURA

This law will have about as much kick as a dead mule. The Feds believe they are ABOVE THE LAW…. and no law applies. They can do whatever they want… including grouping small children by their TSA known pedophiles on staff.

Congress Works For Us

The Feds do believe that… but the poor guy making $40k a year working for the TSA isn’t going to State jail for what the Feds in DC believe…

Cowboy

Thomas Jefferson: On the Need for a Little Rebellion Now and Then

“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.”

papalarry

You got that right ANIMALAURA! The whole damn government is out of control!!!
www.AggieAvonLady.com

Unfortunately you are right on. There is no end to their hunger for power and they believe the people are too stupid to recognize what is going on. Instead they mock us for wanting a secure border and attack anyone with enough guts to stand up to them.

sudmuf

The rervolt against tyranny has begun

Bob

Unfortunately the revolt against tyranny hasn’t begun nor is it likely to begin. We have the internet as a means of expressing our frustrations and dissatisfactions and as long as there is a means to vent the likelihood of revolt is lessened. Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president and author of our great Constitution, unless I’m mistaken, once said that we, the Amercan people, should revolt every 30 years in order to keep our government in check and to prevent the tyranny from which we left to arise. Our loss of freedoms and governmental abuses of power are our own faults as much as the government’s for we have not done our duty to protect our freedoms. But there is no winner in a revolution because the people that would fight to protect the corrupt government are the same people who are now fighting for our freedoms and way of life and that is our military. They are the American people’s ally, not our enemy. They are the enforcers of our will, not our enemies yet in order for a revolt to happen, in the worst case scenario, full scale revolution, the Amercan people would have to stand up against our own people in uniform. That already happened once in our history and it was a tragedy of the worst sort. I don’t know if it could ever happen again or even if it should happen again but I do know that something should be done about the corruption and abuse of power in our country. Every freedom we lose is a freedom our loved one’s fought, suffered, killed, and died to protect at some point in history whether recently or over 200 years ago. This country has countless problems that range from the petty to the profound and as long as our elected officials are either too stubborn or to egotistical to listen with an open mind to the people who put them in office then the problems are only going to get worse. Somehow, someway, the government needs to remember that they are put in power to represent us, not rule us for we are free men and women of the United States of America, the greatest nation in the world. Yet one must also realize the times we live in now and if one were to revolt they would be incorrectly labeled a terrorist instead of a patriot. The word terrorist is now a weapon used by the government to keep the people from being patriots. It’s a form of psychological warfare used against us. Granted, if someone were to revolt and harmed the civilian population then terrorist would be the correct label but how do you revolt against a government that refuses to fight it’s own battles but instead sends it’s military made of volunteer citizens to do it’s fighting for it? Elect officials who tell you what you want to hear and then do the opposite of what they promise once put into office? My suggestion is to simply write enough letters to our representatives and remind them of why they were elected to office and what this country was intended to be at it’s inception. We are free men and women but with freedom MUST come personal responsibility for our actions as well as our decisions in life, from the simplest to the most complex. I’m sorry for the long reply but the abuses of our freedoms by the TSA is only one of many that we must suffer in our obediance to the Lords of Washington and in order to properly address one I must address them all even if they are not listed because listing them all would be an ineverending task. God save America!

Don’tTouchMyJunk

Well said, and I read every word.
Dave

TJ did not write the constitution, nor was he a delegate at the convention that produced it. James Madison is known as the “father” of the Constitution
Capt.IsaacDavis

Very well stated Bob!
Bob

Dave, I stand corrected. You are right about James Madison. I was wrong. Thank you for pointing that out. Now, why can’t politicians admit when they are wrong? It’s not nearly as painless as not accepting the truth for what it is. Lol.
Bob

I meant to say painful instead of painless. My typo totally reversed the point I was trying to make. Lol.
USArmyCombatMedic

I agree with you 100%, but that would have been way easier to read if you had made it in paragraphs.. just sayin…
Amos

TJ was not the author of our Constitution. He was in France at the time the Constitution was being debated because he was America’s ambassador to that Country. He wrote the Declaration of Independence that provided the basis for the American colonies to politically separate themselves from Great Britain in 1776.

TJ did write that “from time to time the Tree of Liberty had to be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.”
Geneva

Thank you.
Mad Max

You sir, should run for office. if you are as patriotic as your post indicates… And I’ll say that you are, then you are the caliber of person that needs to lead the “revolt” from the front lines in Washington. Someone who writes with such knowledge, passion and zeal would surely lead with the kind of integrity people need to see now a days.

Please, serve you country and your people.
Attilashrugs

Jefferson was in Paris during the Constitutional Convention.
Jay S

Write letters begging for your rights? Come on. How utterly defeated are you?

I’m 25, and I intend to leave the country ASAP. I refuse to provide any tax money to this government. The American people will get the government they deserve.
Wallace

Bob:
Thomas Jefferson did not author the Constitution, rather the Declaration of Independence; and too, he never said we shoiuld have a revolution every 30 years. This was attributed to him by the American communist party and has been wide spread from leftist sources since.

The true authors of our Constitution was the Constitutional Convention members aking the writing of the Federalist Papers’and Anti-Federalist writings nd should be mostly ascribed to James Madison nad John Jay
Bob

Mad Max, thank you for your support. I have no interest in being involved in politics simply because I wouldn’t be able to stand being surrounded by other politicians every day. Lol.

Jay S, I don’t quite follow your logic. I suggest peaceful efforts to make improvements while you’re talking about packing it in and running? I’m the one who’s utterly defeated? I’m not the one giving up. I’m 42 and I’ve seen far more changes in the country than you have. My suggestion may not improve a single thing but peaceful means should always be tried before more radical means when talking about our own nation. Leaving the country is the surest sign of defeat. Believe me, if our politicians would fight I would fight them but I will not fight our military, who I respect and admire for their selfless service of our nation. They are not our enemy. What would you suggest we do other than all of us pack it in and flee with our tails between our legs?
jharry3

The pulled a Constitutional Convention to write the Constitution while Thomas Jefferson was in France on purpose.
We started out as a Confederacy – remember the Articles of Conferation?
That was illegally dissolved behind closed doors by those Founding Fathers who were Masons. All had to swear to secrecy what they were doing.
Franklin was in there and was none to happy with the way it went down. One the way out the chamber was when Franklin made his famous remark to a bystander who asked what form of government did we now have. “A republic, if you can keep it” replied Franklin. The sounthern states seceded in 1861 to try and get back to a Confederacy because it turned out the Constitution left too much room for the Federal Government under the Constitution to grab power. We all know how that turned out… reference comments on TSA , et al
Bob

Thank you everyone for pointing out the mistakes about Thomas Jefferson in my original reply. I stand corrected. Though my historical information is flawed I still believe the heart of the matter, the point, is accurate and true.
Sharlene Music

I have researched this situation extensively; for one solution, please check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U8O1AZROmk
Alan Whitney

Bob, I printed your post. I will send it to my Reps.
Alexander

That was a very long text. But I agree with the overall intention. It is as much our fault as our governments. When we are so ignorant to vote for looks and the face value, we will get only a face value. We put people in Senate that are useless because we allow lobby games. We support those who are supported by super PACs only to diminish our own individual voices. We encourage tyranny and that’s how almost all superpowers were brought down throughout the history. From within!
Eric Lindsey

Actually, I believe that if the people that fight now for our freedoms were told to fight people revolting in this country to preserve the constitution, the leaders of said institution would probably find themselves scrambling to find people to put down the revolt. Of course you would always have a few that find joy in following unlawful or jump at the chance to have power over others, but I think you would find a lot of empty beds and alot of missing weapons if the military was ever ordered to fight people at home.
Frank

Every 19 years I believe, but your point is well taken.
Serenity Nations

That is so very true. I have been watching the decline from an outside perspective. I do not live in the United States I live in Canada. Here we to have seen that very same from our politicians.

Now everyone should cut and paste your letter and relay that message on every news site across the globe when you have time. I for one am going to do that, to continue this relay or chain mail so to speak.
no longer confused

I seriously doubt the military would follow Obama, most I know dislike him immensely. The military swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, not willy-nilly follow the orders of the likes of Obama again the citizens of this country.
Deb

Please go to http://www.goooh.com (Get Out Of Our House) to see what can be done to change this loss of freedom. We must elect citizen legislators in order to end the two party stranglehold on our government. A Texan, Tim Cox, is leading the way. Hope everyone checks out this movement of freedom.
tnjack

spott on!
Dalemu

Viva La Revolution!
Jeff

Jay S

Please make your departure a rapid one. And dont let the door hit your ass on the way out.

P.S. Please stop by the U.S.embassy or consulate in whatever utopic land you end up in and surrender your pasport!
Roland

Wallace wrote “[Jefferson] never said we shoiuld have a revolution every 30 years. This was attributed to him by the American communist party and has been wide spread from leftist sources since.” Not sure I’d call Free Republic leftist!

freerepublic.com/focus/news/1531520/posts
Wolffie

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.”
- Marcus Tullius Cicero

It’s happened before and it will happen again as long as men desire freedom and as long as there are those who think it foolish.
John Van Wagenen

Amen!!
Cowboy

Thomas Jefferson: On the Need for a Little Rebellion Now and Then

“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.”
linda

less is more
SV

Well said Sir. In addition..

THESE are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Obama, with an army to enforce his tyranny, has declared that he has a right (not only to TAX) but “to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER” and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God.

Only changed two words from Thomas Paine’s original.

I swore an oath 30 years ago to “Protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same.”

No expiration date on that one.

I’m not advocating violence, but we are being turned into sheep, not free people.

Where does it stop?

When terrorists blow up a train do we submit to gropings to ride Amtrack?

When terrorists attack a shopping mall, do we submit to these indignities in order to shop?

When terrorists slaughter the people in line to clear airport security, do we submit to searches in the parking garage?

When terrorists drive a vehicle based explosive device (vbed) into a building, do we submit to roadside checkpoints with body scanners?

TSA is playing a reactive game to the terrorists actions. Al-Qaeda members are laughing at us as our government is destroying us and our freedoms better than Al-Qaeda ever could.

All this in the name of security. No thanks, I’ll keep my dignity and take my chances. More threats have been stopped by airline passengers tackling the perpetrators then by TSA screening.

The world is NOT safe. Never has been, never will be.

hey who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin

And from Patrick Henry,

http://libertyonline.hypermall.com/henry-liberty.html
waltd

Could not have said it any better. But, how do you wake up this great nation???

Ryan Santos

Blessed Be…Ryan Santos, American
Goodgold

A lot of us totally agree with you. Thanks.
somewhereinus

Going to disagree with you here on this. The freedom of expression on the net gives way to moves like Texas has made into this area where the feds have just gone too far. Its about time, but its a great time, and other states will have to follow or lose their population, period. I am not willing to live in a state that does not stand up for the constitutional rights of its citizens. No one else should settle for it either, not ANYONE. Change has been slow, but BECAUSE of the internet, this subject could not be overlooked or squashed by the mainstream media… Thank God for alternative media for the people!!!!

StaticKlingon

I wrote a letter to my Texas state rep on that subject. I wrote that I believe that the Texas constitution guarantees that I will live under a republic form of government, and the at some point it can be judged that Federal usurpation would have removed that right (and in the process reduce state government to null and void status HAHA) I asked at what point can we decide that Texas no longer has a republic for her citizens. I don’t know that he came up with an answer to that for me, but he did call and have a half hour conversation to figure out what I was up to. Hit em where they live!

Freedom Ringer

All we need is ONE million people to march on Washington waving the American flag, shouting ‘FREEDOM!’ in unison. Peacefully shutdown Washington. It’s not like we need half of America to show up. Just .333% of the population would work. We just have to hijack the mainstream media somehow, to get the word out.
Sharlene Music

The “people” not the “citizens” have rights to alter and abolish the govt. we created; please take a look at this video I made http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDQB-Ha2fAM
Ricardo_Queso

They picked a perfect photo for the story. That TSA goon looks like he spends every night practicing his “You talkin’ to me? Ok, you’re gettin’ the full body cavity check, wiseguy” lines in the mirror of his room at the ‘Y’.
Joe

TSA and the Government have gone way to far. You can’t protect our freedom by taking it away.

StaticKlingon

The irony is that we have to give up the right to travel freely within our own borders so that people from other countries can tear through here at will. I would be willing to keep out all but what is absolutely necessary. We don’t need the hassle, the diseases, or the expense.

james

honestly how many people need to correct Bob about Thomas Jefferson? Did you even read what he said or just a couple sentences? He said himself in his original post that “he could be wrong”. So i’ll do what these other bozos do and only comment by pointing out someones mistake. honestly people. is that all you got out what he said? Great comment Bob. There should be more like you.
wanda sage

Indiana Court rules that Hoosiers cannot resist police from illegally entering your home. Seems tyranny is alive and well in Indiana. Seems there is a 4th Amendment issue here.
anonymous

We should also be allowed to video tape it openly. being arrested for video taping a sexual assualt is rediculous. It has nothing to do with security as anyone can buy a spy pen video recorder for $10

It is time for America to rise up against TSA. Stop flying until their assaults stop.
Bill

The invasive searches are as I have said before a Smoke Screen like Black Magic, supposed to make Americans think we are safe because the TSA does these feel ups to us.
It must stop and fire all the TSA people now. Let us just go through the airport as we always have.
But, hire police who are trained to profile. Let’s stop kidding ourselves. We know who is trying to kill us and it is not a midwest grain farmer, his wife and baby.
TSA be gone!
Pilots need to watch who gets on their plane too and kick the persons off who wear turbins.

FedUp389

Better yet. Replace TSA with explosive sniffing dogs in the terminals and Air Marshals on every flight; two if need be.

It couldn’t be more expensive than the current system and would impact only the morons trying to hijack planes.

steve

THANK GOD- i only hope that ALL the other states follow their lead

Katie

Here’s someone else trying:

http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/doherty/tsa-petition/sign-the-petition-help-stop-invasive-tsa-screening/7149

Babylonian

how is a petition going to help ? you need to file a federal lawsuit and take it all the way up the chain, to the supreme court and then win

I don’t think the judges will let you win though
Yes

There’s strength in numbers!
Here’s why

The U.S. Constitution gives you the right to petition.

Signing a petition shows support for a cause you feel is worthy.

The more support, the greater the potential for change.

Al G

Maryland has a smooth talking Obama lapdog. If the Obama administration asked for a 3 minute fondle, Gov Martin O’Malley would fondle for 6 minutes.
Ben Franklin

Every one needs to keep TSA in check. They are manipulating events to seize more power. They are molesting children and definitely dont belong in train or bus stations. We dont have a country if we dont have our freedoms. We are becoming a nation of ninnies and when you sacrifice freedom for security you get neither.

John_Hart_da_man

The bigger picture that everyone is missing is something called the 4th Amendment. Why has there been no outcry and reaction from all levels of government and courts regarding the TSA’s blatant assumption that all are presumed guilty and therefore they skip that whole inconvenient thing of no undue search and seizure.

Frank

It’s been tried but the courts ruled that you do’t have a right to fly and the government can require that you undergo their groping if you want to. Ya, well we don’t have a right to a car either so when do they start randomly stop cars and grope the passengers?

John_Hart_da_man

…..or bicycles! No….. even children do not have a right to tricycles so they must be stopped and accosted as well!

Glad you brought this up because if that was a court’s reasoning, it only shows how far we have strayed from the intent of the Constitution. It is there to limit the power of government NOT THE PEOPLE.
Bruce

that is a messed up arguement. The right involved is the right not to be subject to unlawful searches and siezures….do we have a right to own our own home? The 4th amendment is not subject to whatever right you have…IT IS our right in and of itself.
Darrell

The way the airport security chooses the people they search is insane and other than choosing the people they don’t think will fight back there is no reasoning. That being said, part of the contract a person agrees to when “choosing” to purchase a ticket are these stupid searches. Texas is on the right path.

Hazmat77

The 4th prohibits UNREASONABLE SEARCH ….. until SCOTUS says otherwise, the TSA has carte blanche to take any steps it deems reasonable to protect the air travel system and the People … at least this is what they would assert, if they haven’t yet.

Based on the facts available to the public, the TSA’s approach, absent profiling, will never be effective in providing 100% security. The foolish pat downs and body searches are, in my opinion, UNreasonable. Unfortunately I’m not a member of SCOTUS.
FedUp389

“Why has there been no outcry ”
becaused the overwhelming majority of our fellow citizens don’t give a damn. They’re too busy finding our who got voted off the island or made it to Dancing with the Stars or similar trash.

Hell, half the eligible electorate skps the Presidential election and midterm elections are even worse.

TSA does what it does because no one complains.

I refuse to accept the ‘well, I can’t do anything about this.”

I can and I have.

I refuse to fly. period.

I refuse to subject myself to “Gate Rape’ posing as Security Theater as does my wife. We travel by car, see the sights and avoid all the TSA kubuki theater.

If enough of us simply say no, this nonsense will end.

Yes, it is inconvenient. Yes, it takes more time.

I’m sure the Continental Army at Valley Forge was a bit inconvenienced too.

Nicole

Half the electorate votes but a whole lot of dead people vote. And what is to stop illegal aliens from voting?
Feste Ainoriba

@FedUp389,
Part of the reason for no outcry is because the “free” press supports the administration. Instead of performing their designated role as the “watcher on the tower”, the mainstream media has thrown in with the enemies of the Constitution, and willingly aid and abet undermining traditional Constitutional limits on government power.
The “free” press has been infiltrated by progressives who roundly condemn and belittle patriots while wrapping their wolves in sheep’s clothing and passing them off as benefactors to the sheep.

Our watchmen, our free Press, are not just asleep at the switch, they are actively lulling the public into complacency instead of raising the alarm.

Jay Joseph Laurence Wolf

Everything the TSA does is window dressing for the fools. Nothing they do makes us ant safer and your a fool if you think so. I used to fly 5+ a week and am in a related field to security. I used to watch them spend 5 minutes patting down the Pilots of the plane. Stupid sheeple the pilot can crash the plane he does not need a weapon to do that.

OH and for those who thought it was cool to drop out of HS States rights preempt Federal. There is no clause in the Constitution for the TSA. Only by suspending federal funding does congress force States to comply with their constitutional violating mandates.

Nancy

After going through security in San Francisco, where the body scanner for some reason was not operational, watching old ladies and children getting groped, i sat down at the gate next to a woman who realized after she had been through security that she had a full can of Diet Sprite in her carry on. So much for the 3-1-1 rule! Good thing is was soda and not explosive. Duh!
American Fatty

Not really.

Article VI, Clause 2 of the United States Constitution, known as the Supremacy Clause, establishes the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Treaties, and Federal Statutes as “the supreme law of the land.” The text decrees these to be the highest form of law in the U.S. legal system, and mandates that all state judges must follow federal law when a conflict arises between federal law and either the state constitution or state law of any state. (Note that the word “shall” is used, which makes it a necessity, a compulsion.)

Corporal Punishment

Groping is not a federal statute, treaty or part of the US Constitution, so therefore, state statute overrules fed agency regulation.
Cato

Your truncating of Article VI, Clause 2 of the Constitution leads me to wonder if you are just another liberal decepticon or if you just don’t understand what the Clause means. Article VI, Clause 2 states: “The Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; etc., shall be the Supreme Law of the Land; etc.” This means that any law passed by Congress and signed by the President must be CONSTITUTIONALLY lawful to be Supreme. Every Federal Law must still be viewed under the limitations of the Constitution to be considered Supreme.
Guest

@ American Fatty: you’re only discussing part of the Supremacy Clause. The part that I’m talking about is “implied preemption.” If a state law directly conflicts with the Federal law, the Federal law wins. See Gibbons v. Ogden.

@ Cato: “truncating” means shortened. I quoted the full text of the Supremacy Clause so I’m not really sure what you’re talking about. In fact, you truncated it in your post.

Sandogbob

It´s truly amazing that the TSA geeks do such a complete search and pat down to make sure I don’t have the ability to take over the aircraft with my fingernail clippers. But the fun part is after they are certain I don’t have a knife, as soon as the meal is served, I now have a metal knife and fork. Go figure.
Hazmat77

Jay Joseph Laurence Wolf

Check the Commerce Clause; the necessary and proper clause; and the

Cowboy

Liberal interpretation of the ‘commerce clause’ and the ‘necessary and proper’ clause make absolutely no legal sense under statutory interpretation of the law. How can those be interpreted as federal government ability to do what it wants, given the clear meaning of the 10th Amendment?

Frank

Hey Gumby, haven’t ya heard, Big Sis now wants to pat you down riding a train, going to a ball game and soon at malls. It never ends. I say let’s go back to Smith & Wesson airlines.
WakeUp

What happened to the 10th amendment? Seems the states were suppose to supersede the feds.

Alan

Let’s see if Arizona can get its fence built to protect itself from invasion. I bet the Federal government will stop them even though AZ is raising the money to build the fence from private donations coming in from around the country. The central government is pushing the states around using a grossly exaggerated threat of terrorism as the pretext. Personally, I’d rather take my chances with terrorists than give up my rights. I believe most Americans feel that way. “Give me liberty or give me death.” Tyranny has no place in the USA.

Hazmat77

If the States build the fence on private land the Feds have no recourse.
Cowboy

At least one would hope so…

ognywogny

What happened to the 10th amendment was called the Civil War!

Babylonian

yes and the south lost !
Blaze

THAT was the War of Northern Aggression and NOBODY in the modern USA knows exactly WHY it was really fought…had NOTHING to do with slavery…actually the North was JUST as slave happy if not MORE so…
Unfortunately the axiom: ‘To the Winner Go the Spoils’ ALSO means ‘We get to rewrite all the History books for the upcoming generations!”
Blaze

Everyone lost fathers, brothers, sons and grandsons because the US government wanted to cover up yet another colossal LANDGRAB!!

Jamie

Maybe we can have two sets of airlines and two sets of airports… one for those so uptight about being touched they’re willing to risk their life over it… and one for the rest of us who are under no delusion that militant terrorist are gone because ONE individual has been executed. Personally I’d rather have the security then the risk of flying with a jihadist. I’m just sayin…

Ben Franklin

No terrorist has been stopped by the TSA.

Not one.

After ten years, you’d think that they would have a veritable rogues gallery of terrorists that they had stopped. It doesn’t exist, because they never stopped one.

They will give you statistics on how many ‘terrorist weapons’ have been seized, but they are all pen knives and nail files.

Not one terrorist has been stopped by the TSA. Think about it.

steve

exactly! its security theater – they just want to take away our rights and break our will so when they come and knock on your door for a bus ride to the fema camps, everyone will just bow down and lick their masters boots-
Babylonian

How do you know that terrorists weren’t deterred from trying to go through security to the point where they stayed home ?
Martin Bogle

Has any terrorist act been committed with a weapon by anyone who went through a tsa screening?
davec

Not only is there no record of STOPPING it, THEY LET ONE ON IN NYC. Remember the one who put the fake bomb in the SUV in NYC?

THEY LET THE SOB ON A JET LINER
Robert

Babylonian What about the underwear bomber? He not only boarded a plane, but successfully managed to light the fuse. He was just to dumb to know how painful that would be and it was sheer luck on our part that there wasn’t a more capable person trying to die for Allah.

The TSA’s own security tests are showing that weapons and simulated bombs are making it through checkpoints virtually unhindered. So how is this grope-a-dope policy helping again?
Babylonian

@Robert

yes the underwear bomber got through, you are right about that

however I am asking how people know that others didn’t give up and not try because it would be too hard to get one through the checkpoint
Jay Stang

Robert,

The shoe bomber and the underwear bomber were both on inbound international flights. They did not go through TSA insecurity to get on a plane. The underwear bomber was allowed to get on the plane in Amsterdam by the CIA. Admiral Dennis Blair, the outgoing DNI, testified to Congress in a hearing recently that the CIA let him board so he could lead agents to his fellow terrorrists (which did not exist).
Cowboy

And if we don’t let ANYONE on planes, air travel will be even safer…

Except for air traffic and airline accidents, so I guess we should eliminate them.

Everyone stay home and you will be safe…

Except for crime, heart attacks, accidents…

Noelle

See my reply above. THe TSA has a 80% fail rate. You are safer being inspected by clowns from Cirque Du Soliel.

Tom

That would be a sight I would PAY to see..
Shay

They would juggle your balls…
Frank

What you say is true but to not disparage the TSA too much, they have an impossible mission.
Cowboy

TSA has an impossible mission because political correctness …

Kyle

Jamie, You have yourself a deal! I’m encouraged to see someone in favor of voluntary risk/reward. Now we can both be happy.

Though we don’t need two sets of airports, just two security lines — one that screens based on rational criteria — and the one with the TSA. I trust you’ll accept the results when 90% of the people voluntarily choose the best option; I will.
Alex Scipio

The problem with your reasoning is this: I fly alot and have no problem. But having the feds grope and frisk my 13-year-old daughter is not reasonable. Think about it reasonably for a second. 25 years ago if ANYONE had groped my daughter as TSA now demands to be able to grope anyone and everyone, I’d have knocked the guy down and he – not me – would have been prosecuted for battery on the child. 50 years ago I’d have beaten the guy silly – and been helped by fellow passengers and any cop in shouting distance. Progress is not supposed to mean less liberty, fewer freedoms and no rights, or the establishment of a government police force that can grope at-will.

Take your ideology out of the discussion and just think for a moment. And, no, this groping is not going to make anyone safer. As already pointed-out here, TSA has not stopped anyone. And the refusal to treat Muslims equally via pat-downs shows that their interest has nothing to do with security when they refuse to search those responsible for ALL terrorism over the past 20+ years.

Eric

While I agree with some of what you’re saying, let me just ask you: why is it that we have been attacked by Middle Easterners? Because the official findings of the 9/11 Commission blamed it on “blowback”.

Do you know what that’s a nice term for? We’ve killed hundreds of thousands of Middle Easterners, overthrown a democratically-elected government and installed a Dictatorship, and generally meddled where we’re not wanted for over 60 years.

I’m by no means saying that what they’re doing is right, only that you couldn’t be more wrong in saying they’re the only terrorists.
Frank Davis

@Eric, Really. Do you really believe that drivel? The muslims have been a problem in the world since the 1st Crusades. And you think that what American has done in less than 200 years is what causes these backwards folks doing what they do? Get a reality check dude.

jim s

I like that idea, but i would modify it a little, one airport/airline where it is ok to bring a hand gun on board and one run by Feds/TSA. Which one do you thik the terrorists will target? The one where everyone is armed or the one where everyone is disarmed?
Jason

Jamie is an example of another useful “gooberment” minion. The TSA has done nothing except create more useless gooberment jobs that in all cases produce NOTHING except waste. Get that through your head.

john

“though the measure may be superseded by federal law.”

If the courts were to rule in favor of the Feds, then there’s something wrong. The Constitution clearly gives the State the authority on this matter.

Babylonian

It is both a matter of interstate commerce and national security, both of which are powers granted to the Federal Gov. in the constitution

Cowboy

Airlines may or may not be interstate commerce.

Security is not interstate unless it is proven that there has been a violation across state lines.

American Fatty

How so? Unless you are talking about an airport where 100% of the flights depart and arrive within the same state, an airport is undeniably involved in interstate commerce, which the US Constitution gives the federal government clear authority to regulate.
Cowboy

States have rights from federal intervention under the Constitution.

SCOTUS and federal courts are part of the federal government.

How can part of the federal government dictate that the states must acquiesce to such federal regulation that is not statutory law???

James Cagney

Remember when TSA molesters felt up Miss USA, and that big black TSA agent also felt up and molested that 6 year old girl saying her hair was pretty.
They should get their teeth kicked in. at the least.
Now President maggot boy is playing the race card with his moat comment and he still won’t protect our borders or grill terrorist for questioning
http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Ex-Miss-USA-felt-molested-and-violated-after-TSA/VLcZxfOU0kWAAYdeCaZQ_g.cspx

Hazmat77

What was racist about his moat comment? I thought of and dismissed that idea many years ago …. it was a logical but impractical answer to the problem … but I don’t get the racism you see?
Eric

You are aware, of course, that everything about how one gets to Guantanamo Bay is against our own laws (you know, that pesky trial thing), and that many innocent people have been held there for years without a shred of evidence?

But yes, by all means, torture all of them, I’m sure they deserve it. Now, if you were to say that only those who were proven guilty in a court of law should be up for possible “enhanced interrogation”, then I might agree, as those people are enemies of the state.

Vaughn Ohlman

To say that ‘Federal Law supersedes local law in this case’ would imply that there is some federal law which allows this, which claims to supersede local law. To the best of my knowledge the TSA is just an agency, and congress has written no law (and is not likely to write a law) to specifically allow groping by federal officials of whatever stripe.
Pepper Hahn

“They who can give up essential LIBERTY to obtain a little temporary SAFETY, deserve neither LIBERTY nor SAFETY.”- Benjamin Franklin
Ben Franklin

“Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security”
violet

If you think that these TSA practices have kept anyone safer, grow up. Cargo isn’t screened, and neither are the airport workers who put it on the planes. Oh, and when those who want to harm us use internal explosives, I guess you’ll be ok with having to bend over if the government tells you to. Take a train? Yeah, that worked pretty well in recent history, didn’t it? And if you think it’s ok for any person to touch you or your children, without just cause, then you don’t deserve to live under the freedoms enumerated in the Constitution.
Heino

Darn. Where am I going to go now for my free sphincter tickling with happy ending? Guess I’ll have to shell out $150 at a Korean bath house on Harry Hines now.
ednyc

Way to go Texas! At least someone still believes in the forth ammendment and natural decency. And security is just “theater” for stupid people – morons who think they are “safe” if someone molests them!
Ben Franklin

The federal gov’t does not have the authority granted to it by the constitution so they can go pound sand, or better yet spend some time in a pound ing the @ss federal prison.
Joe Konopka

This is one of those small steps that will eventually lead to an acceptable solution to the problem. I understand there were proposed alternative to the pat-downs but they were ignored due the fact that HS is now wedded to current policy.
Jamie2

Jamie, maybe you are right. We’ll divide the country in to two. Those who wish to be free and those who want the government in their lives 24/7
mike-in-nevada

I agree with the Texas bill. Being politically correct has gone way overboard in that “profiling”, the best identifier of possible terrorists, is sooooooo offensive. The TSA and Janet Napolitano would rather offend millions of fliers rather than possibly offend those few who are most likely to be terrorists. Now, having said that, I would agree to be patted down every time I fly if Napalitano and the TSA big shots would agree to be patted down every time THEY fly.

Earl

Omamas remark about the world being safer after osama was killed must be a halucination of some kind…..or maybe he needs to change the brand of beer he drinks. Osama was replaced the minute the terrorists found out he was dead. How about the eighty some people just got killed by osamas people??? I thought the world was much safer now. That was about as stupid a remark as naplitano’s statement about Az being safer than it has been in 20 years. I have a little message for obama and napolitano …prove to us people that you two really think borders are safe. Take tents, the wives and kids and go to AZ border…about 10 ft from it…camp out for a week…then tell us how safe it is. That would be my challenge to those two. I will bet any amount of money that there isn’t a single news reporter at the white house news breifing…dems or republicans…. will ever dream of asking obama about the “safe world” we have now. There isn’t a single politician that has the guts to ask obama about it anytime.

Sam

Well if this law goes into effect (which it won’t) I know where terrorists will try to sneak their IED’s through.

Don’tTouchMyJunk

As someone with knowledge and experience in this field, I can assure you that the scans and pat downs are not protecting you from IEDs on an airplane.
clickron

Man up Sam, stop being a wimp and making us all pay hundreds of billions to fat cat contractors and a police state. Somebody hold Sam’s hand next time he flies please.