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Texas Government, Threatened by TSA, Backs Down
...House members quickly informed the shouting group that it was the Senate that had failed to take action late Tuesday on House Bill 1937, which would have made it a crime for security checkpoint screeners to handle the private parts of anyone they screened... (www.statesman.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Given the choice between having a TSA screener brush my private parts with the back of his hand (yep, that is what I have found to be the case), or having some nut job carry a few sticks of C4 in his underwear, to be detonated somewhere over Nebraska, I will gladly let them grope me until the proverbial cows come home. Seems as though the majority of Texans feel differently. Hell, just let them pass their bill and then deny boarding to anyone who objects to a hand search.
The entire procedure is plainly ridiculous and very unnecessary. But the bigger problem is not that TSA and the US Government overreaches. Its that people who do not understand counterterrorism techniques believe that this is fine as long as a "few sticks" of C4 do not get on board an aircraft. Forget the fact that C4 does not come in the form of sticks and C4 should be an easy intercept without a pat down. Ignorance will be our destruction as a Nation. Not terrorism....
What difference does it make whether C4 comes in sticks? What difference does it make if C4 should have been discovered prior to a pat down? The basic issue is that TSA was created to protect the flying public from those who would do us harm. I applaud their efforts, even if they are less than perfect, after all, they are human. Learning how to intercept terrorists is a steep learning curve and rather than trying to stop them from doing their job, lets make their job a little easier. When was the last time you actually thanked a TSA worker for doing their job? When did you last tell them you appreciate their efforts?
It makes a big difference. You clearly missed the point Jim Smart was making.
If you are afraid to fly because of a "nut job carry(ing) a few sticks of C4 in his underwear" then are you afraid of riding the bus, or the train? How about going to concerts, working in tall buildings, or living in high density residential areas? The "nut job" and "his underwear" could be there as well.
Most citizens are not afraid of any of these things because we pay a lot of money and can afford to have a strong military, CIA, and FBI that prevent these "nut jobs" from ever getting their hands on C4 to begin with. What US citizens don't want is a Homeland Security force coming into our lives, touching our genitals, and assuming everyone is a terrorist until proven otherwise.
Any person who touches genitals and intimidates US Citizens (either purposefully or not) is not worthy of our applause, thanks, or appreciation.
If you are afraid to fly because of a "nut job carry(ing) a few sticks of C4 in his underwear" then are you afraid of riding the bus, or the train? How about going to concerts, working in tall buildings, or living in high density residential areas? The "nut job" and "his underwear" could be there as well.
Most citizens are not afraid of any of these things because we pay a lot of money and can afford to have a strong military, CIA, and FBI that prevent these "nut jobs" from ever getting their hands on C4 to begin with. What US citizens don't want is a Homeland Security force coming into our lives, touching our genitals, and assuming everyone is a terrorist until proven otherwise.
Any person who touches genitals and intimidates US Citizens (either purposefully or not) is not worthy of our applause, thanks, or appreciation.
I agree with Jim and cmp5n.
Wesley: Why would a terrorist blow up a plane at altitude and kille say 150-200 people and POSSIBLY hit some people on the ground, when he could just go to Grand Central, or some other large gathering of people (Like Atocha in Madrid 2004)?
Serious question. Someone with a stick of C4 isn't going to hijack a plane and crash into buildings ala 9/11, he will blow up the plane and that is a seriously small amount of damage compared to what he could do in the actual airport itself or anywhere else with a high density of people.
If you want to lose your privacy because you think it'll make you safer, be my guest; "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
Wesley: Why would a terrorist blow up a plane at altitude and kille say 150-200 people and POSSIBLY hit some people on the ground, when he could just go to Grand Central, or some other large gathering of people (Like Atocha in Madrid 2004)?
Serious question. Someone with a stick of C4 isn't going to hijack a plane and crash into buildings ala 9/11, he will blow up the plane and that is a seriously small amount of damage compared to what he could do in the actual airport itself or anywhere else with a high density of people.
If you want to lose your privacy because you think it'll make you safer, be my guest; "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
Whatever happened to innoncent until proven guilty? It seems that the TSA has that one backwards.
I don't know if there is any recorded evidence of the TSA apprehending a terrorist at airport security checkpoints. If there is, I'd love to see it. However, there is countless numbers of cases of the TSA being overzealous with the common citizen, turning their lives into nightmares.
As to airport security, I agree with Felipe. Why would terrorists focus on killing 150-200 people in a plane, when they could go to some concert or sporting event and be a lot more destructive? The events of 9/11 were focused on, not body count onboard, but destruction of American icons.
I don't know if there is any recorded evidence of the TSA apprehending a terrorist at airport security checkpoints. If there is, I'd love to see it. However, there is countless numbers of cases of the TSA being overzealous with the common citizen, turning their lives into nightmares.
As to airport security, I agree with Felipe. Why would terrorists focus on killing 150-200 people in a plane, when they could go to some concert or sporting event and be a lot more destructive? The events of 9/11 were focused on, not body count onboard, but destruction of American icons.