Pirate's Cove

With all the issues going on regarding the Transportation Security Administration, you just knew someone had to come up with some sort of legislation. And the winner is…..RON PAUL!

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation to protect Americans from physical and emotional abuse by federal Transportation Security Administration employees conducting screenings at the nation’s airports. We have seen the videos of terrified children being grabbed and probed by airport screeners. We have read the stories of Americans being subjected to humiliating body imaging machines and/or forced to have the most intimate parts of their bodies poked and fondled. We do not know the potentially harmful effects of the radiation emitted by the new millimeter wave machines.

In one recent well-publicized case, a TSA official is recorded during an attempted body search saying, “By buying your ticket you gave up a lot of rights.” I strongly disagree and am sure I am not alone in believing that we Americans should never give up our rights in order to travel. As our Declaration of Independence states, our rights are inalienable. This TSA version of our rights looks more like the “rights” granted in the old Soviet Constitutions, where freedoms were granted to Soviet citizens — right up to the moment the state decided to remove those freedoms. (snip)

My legislation is simple. It establishes that airport security screeners are not immune from any US law regarding physical contact with another person, making images of another person, or causing physical harm through the use of radiation-emitting machinery on another person. It means they are subject to the same laws as the rest of us.

Ron goes on to discuss putting security in the hands of the private sector, because, really, the airlines have an immense interest in protecting their passengers, which I heartedly agree with, though, I do think, based on some of the actions of the airlines, such as barely having enough fuel for the flight and attempting to discipline pilots for landing early when they feel that there is some sort of problem, that there does need to either be some minimal government oversight, or the security agencies need to be given enough autonomy to do their jobs.

Ron isn’t kidding about it being simple. It might be to simple and short for many Democrats to understand. The bill is H.R. 6416

A BILL

To ensure that certain Federal employees cannot hide behind immunity.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `American Traveller Dignity Act of 2010′.

SEC. 2. NO IMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN AIRPORT SCREENING METHODS.

No law of the United States shall be construed to confer any immunity for a Federal employee or agency or any individual or entity that receives Federal funds, who subjects an individual to any physical contact (including contact with any clothing the individual is wearing), x-rays, or millimeter waves, or aids in the creation of or views a representation of any part of a individual’s body covered by clothing as a condition for such individual to be in an airport or to fly in an aircraft. The preceding sentence shall apply even if the individual or the individual’s parent, guardian, or any other individual gives consent.

That’s it. So far, there are only two co-sponsors. I should hope that a) many more sign on and b) a vote is held quickly on this legislation. Write/email your House and Senate critters. Tweet them. Go here for their contact info.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU. sit back and Relax. we’ll dRive!