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Posted on 05/29/2011 10:04:06 PM PDT by null and void
Wimmer wants to stop TSA searches
A Utah lawmaker is looking to follow the Texas State Legislature in proposing a law that bans searches by airport security officials on airline passengers.
Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, has opened a bill file that states Transportation Security Administration agents would not be exempt from the same requirements that a law enforcement official has when trying to perform a search on a person.
“It is a work in progress,” Wimmer said. “What it would do right now is simply say TSA agents are not exempt from the requirement of reasonable suspicion or probable cause to pat down a citizen.”
Wimmer’s bill initially is being modeled after a bill that was being considered in the Texas Legislature, House Bill 1937. That bill states it would be an offense to search a person without probable cause and if the person performing the search touches the sexual organs of the other person receiving the search.
The bill caused some controversy in Texas, as a U.S. attorney from San Antonio reportedly sent a letter to Texas lawmakers claiming the state had no authority to regulate federal agents and employees. The letter went on to say the federal government would seek to block the law if passed and that TSA would likely shut down any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.
The bill passed the House of Representatives in the Lone Star State but appears to have died on its Senate floor.
Wimmer says that the U.S. attorney is wrong in saying the federal government has supremacy in the matter.
“The absolute overbearing audacity of the federal government in threatening Texas while Texas is trying to protect their citizens should really offend any red-blooded American,” he said.
Wimmer says the issue has morphed from being a 4th Amendment issue — the amendment protecting citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures — and has become a 10th Amendment issue in protecting states’ rights.
Wimmer did say he is not opposed to a search of a person by a TSA agent as long as they fall under the same standards as a search by a law enforcement officer. Wimmer, who once was a full-time police officer, said that he had to follow a certain criteria before searching a person, and said the same should be expected of the airport agents. He went on to say that as he travels he has seen many law-abiding citizens subjected to a search for no reason and says it is time to look at changing that process.
“It does not feel like America when you are going through a TSA checkpoint at the airport,” he said.
The bill is still being drafted and won’t be up for consideration until the 2012 legislative session begins in January.
Yes, our “Republican” are nothing but a bunch of panty-waisted metrosexual girly boys.
It would have been awesome if TSA declared a no fly zone over Texas. Obama would have paid the price for that HARD. Everyone hates the new TSA politocally correct proceedures.
Texas should have stuck with it. Theres no way the feds could have won that. I bet it would have lasted 3 days before they had to back down.
Any word on Perry calling a special session to push the bill through?
As far as I know (which isn’t very far) As long as those mean old feds promise to leave them alone, Texans are perfectly happy to have bull dyke TSA agents feel up their 3 year old daughters.
I can’t wait until the muslims try a vagina bomb in this country.
I’m sure the resulting preflights will also be A-OK with Texans.
*sigh*
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It would be almost as easy for them to take a note from the drug dealers and ingest the bomb.
Sooner or later the TSA is going to have to break down and profile there is no way you can possibly screen everyone for every possible method of attack and as long as we are dealing with a clever and well invested enemy they will find away.
Grape ban?
Oh, grope.
.
Our cowardly politicians in Texas folded like a cheap suit when faced with a BS federal threat. The feds can’t shut down all flights in and out of Texas. Dallas and Houston are major hubs. Air travel all over the country would be thrown into a turmoil. The threat was hollow.
The TSA is a joke any way. It isn’t there to keep anyone safe. It is there to make the gullible feel safe. The people who think the TSA keeps them safe are the same people who think the “employees must wash hands” signs keep flecks of pee off their cheeseburgers.
For Texans to be unable to man-up is disappointing.
Recently on a trip overseas we had several valuable pieces of clothing and jewelry stolen from our luggage. The TSA has carte Blanche to your luggage and can X-ray for what they want take it. Beware!
Our politicians are frequently disappointing.
The Texas law does not go far enough. It should allow any family member to us all due force to prevent fondling by TSA agents, should prevent any TSA agent from suing anyone who protects himself or herself or a family member from suing for damages, and should exempt the person groped or the family member intervening from being charged with assault. It should also require any TSA agent charge with grouping to be listed as a level 3 sex offender.
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