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)
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keep Transportation Security Administration officials from treating travelers like criminals, though the measure may be superseded by federal law.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.
357 Comments
Can the state prosecute federal government employees who are doing their jobs?
It may apply if TSA employees are private sector, buit this all sounds more like grnadstanding by the GOP to me.
The real solution, don’t fly take a bus or train. Amtrak and Grey Hound should be jumping all over this one as a better way to travle.
I was singled out every time I wnet through the airport in Midland. I just thought it was because the TSA guy there may have been bored. Do I like the inconvenience, NO, bu it is a necesary evil nowdays if I want to travel by plane.
it doesnt matter the TSA goons are already at the train and bus stations groping and fondling little children and old people in wheelchairs anyway
Time to support this:
http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/doherty/tsa-petition/sign-the-petition-help-stop-invasive-tsa-screening/7149
They did it at the superbowl this year. Soon they will do it at all athletic events.
Which is why I support this:
http://www.senatenj.com/index.php/doherty/tsa-petition/sign-the-petition-help-stop-invasive-tsa-screening/7149
Yes – way to kow-tow to the terrorists – Americans loose their right to fly and effectively do interstate commerce – because the pc police will not do effective profiling.
In dc – going through Reagan airport.
Woman – mid 40′s, white, DHS employee still wearing her DHS badge from work. TSA pulls her out (random count) wands her. Then they say take off your belr. She lifts her shirt a little and says “I am not wearing a belt” (btw the wand did not alarm). TSA -”then UNDO YOUR PANTS”.
Not bad enough…. the woman next to her in line was a young (20′s) woman covered in a hijab (scarves) and get this – carrying Salman Rushdie’s”SATANIC VERSES” yes a muslim woman carrying the book that muslim cleric’s called for the death of the author over…. and she is not scrunitized, but the white mid-40;s cleared DHS employee is.
Anyone think this would be effective for anything ?
That’s exactly the problem. I’m south-asian and look middle-eastern but not once was I ever patted down. I think it’s the stupidest thing to not scrutinize people who actually need scrutinizing. PC will destroy America.
You haven’t lost your right to fly, unless you are on the no-fly list
I believe any federal employee may be prosecuted by the State in any performance of their duties…especially when our rights are violated.
T its
S crotum
A ss
Some People will Enjoy the Search, but it is totally Useless for Preventing Terrorism, TSA, was created so that you could Feel Good and Safe when Traveling (In More ways than One). If Terrorist get serious about this, they have access to Shoulder Fired missiles for just at $15,000. on the Black Market (South America, Hugo Chvez, the Zetas Cartel, etc etc.) Go Ahead and Feel Safe with TSA…Blessed Be. Ryan Santos, American
Praise Allah!
Now all Mooslims put special things in anoos and bootocks and filthy organ of procreation and also in big turban. Special provision so no discriminate against Mooslims so TSA no touch my turban!
Ha ha… great victory for Religions of Peace!
People like you are the root of the problem…And NO, “don’t fly” is not the “real solution.”
Amtrak and Greyhound do not cross oceans….
If HSR ever gets funded, there will be TSA-like security there too. Especially now that they have Bin Laden’s rail terrorist plot…
It is not needed. If the Pilots of the hijacked aircraft were armed on 911 the story would have ended differently and we wouldn’t be having stup discussions about our right to privacy.
It’s about time.
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.
The rervolt against tyranny has begun
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!
Well said, and I read every word.
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
Very well stated 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.
I meant to say painful instead of painless. My typo totally reversed the point I was trying to make. Lol.
I agree with you 100%, but that would have been way easier to read if you had made it in paragraphs.. just sayin…
Blessed Be…Ryan Santos, American
THANK GOD- i only hope that ALL the other states follow their lead
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.
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?
…..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.
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.
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.
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.
What happened to the 10th amendment? Seems the states were suppose to supersede the feds.
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.