Go Texas

[wingnut]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/03/07 ... s-pat.html

A bipartisan group of more than 20 state lawmakers have signed on in support of measures to ban the TSA from using controversial screening procedures in Texas airports.

State Reps. David Simpson, R-Longview, and Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, have gotten about 20 fellow legislators to co-author bills the pair filed last week banning the use of full-body scanners and invasive pat-down searches on fliers.

The supporters include lawmakers on opposite ends of the political spectrum, including Fort Worth Democrat Lon Burnam, one of the most liberal members of the Legislature, and Tyler Republican Leo Berman, a staunch social conservative.

"You've got civil libertarians. You've got conservative Christians," Simpson said. "One fellow legislator told me, 'If this doesn't fly out of committee, I don't know what will.'"

One of the bills would ban "body imaging scanning equipment" from being installed or operated in any airport in Texas.

The other bill would add any TSA-style pat-down used "to grant access to a publicly accessible building or form of transportation" to the description of "sexual assault" in the state's penal code.

Controversy erupted late last year when the TSA rolled out the full-body scanners at airports around the country. Those who refuse full-body scans are subject to a pat-down search that can include the crotch and chest.

Currently, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport has 15 advanced imaging machines in operation at checkpoints at all five of its terminals. Dallas Love Field does not have any scanners but the TSA expects to begin installing them there this year.

The TSA said it does not comment on pending legislation.

However, there is some question about whether the Legislature can regulate federal activities in Texas airports, particularly activities of the TSA.

Simpson believes the state can.

"Texas regulates municipal, county and regional airports. They determine what equipment goes in them," Simpson said.

Burnam said he backed the bills because he wants a "public discussion" about airport security but that he isn't convinced the TSA would comply if the measures passed.

"Frankly there'd be no legal way to enforce that," Burnam said.

D/FW Airport spokesman David Magaña declined to comment on the legal issues surrounding the bills, saying only that "we're monitoring it."

During the controversy last year, some airports decided to look at hiring a private firm to provide airport security as San Francisco's airport currently does. But even private security firms must abide by TSA mandates and protocols that include body scans and pat-down searches.

Similar bills banning the scanners and intrusive searches have been filed in other states, including New Hampshire.

Simpson said he experienced the new security procedures on a trip to Canada.

"We're terrorizing innocent travelers to save us from terrorism," Simpson said. "We've lost the battle if we continue to do that."

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I experienced the full body scanner for the first time in Houston TX returning from the mid-year board meeting. I was not impressed. In Houston at this scanner at this time you had to remove EVERYTHING from you pockets. Piece of paper. REMOVE IT and hold it in your hand. Stepped into the scanner and stood on the painted feet on the floor. Noticed a sign saying to hold my hands up above my head so I did that. After what seemed like 30 seconds with nothing happening I took my hands down. Hadn't held them up that long since being punished during hazing at Army flight school.

There was no instruction from anyone and I thought maybe I should hold my hands up again. Then the scanner bar which can't be seen at rest, moved left and right. You don't know it it is done or not till someone motions for you to exit. Then a male TSA person stopped me by blocking my exit down the path. He did not say anything to me because he was to busy flirting with a female TSA person. I stood there uncomfortably for about 30 seconds it seemed wondering what was going on when the TSA person blocking my way stepped aside and said OK.

That is when I realized that my bag, wallet, computer and shoes were sitting UNATTENDED and OUT OF MY EYE SITE for the last 2 minutes at least in the gray trays. ANYONE could have taken them or fooled with them. I did not like it at all.

So I wonder, if these scanners are so good why would a single sheet of paper in your pocket be a problem?

[jrenwick]

"Security theater." Congress should start working on what they're trying to do in Texas!

[GAHorn]

... Then a male TSA person stopped me by blocking my exit down the path. He did not say anything to me because he was to busy flirting with a female TSA person. I stood there uncomfortably for about 30 seconds it seemed wondering what was going on when the TSA person blocking my way stepped aside and said OK....

He had told her he was better endowed than you....She was comparing you two guys in the scanner....You won, so he had to let you pass.

[3958v]

Bruce All that harasment is one of the reasons my wife feels that if we can't get there in the 170 we don't need to go. I often wonder if people had a choice of flying with no security or the present system how many would opt for no security. Probably would be direcly related to how long it had been since there was a problem. Bill K