State Legislatures Attempt To Limit TSA Searches

OverTheGeicoE writes "Here's a familiar story: a breast cancer survivor's mastectomy scars showed up on a TSA scan, which forced a horrifying pat-down ('feel-up' in her words) of the affected area. The woman decided that she would not subject herself to that again, and was barred from a later flight from Seattle to Juneau for that reason. But now the story takes an interesting turn: the woman is Alaska State Rep. Sharon Cissna, and once she finally made it back to Alaska she started sponsoring legislation to restrict TSA searches. Her many bills, if passed, would criminalize both pat-downs and 'naked scanning,' as well as require better health warnings for X-ray scanners and even studies of airport screenings' physical and psychological effects. Other states, including Utah and Texas, are considering similar legislation. For example, Texas State Rep. David Simpson is preparing to reintroduce his Traveler Dignity Act again in 2013 if he is re-elected. The last time that bill was being considered the Federal government threatened to turn all of Texas into a 'no-fly zone'."

Comments

Re:Supremacy Clause

[mcgrew]

I'm beginning to think people like the IRS more than the TSA.

The IRS has a useful purpose. The TSA does nothing but waste of tax dollars ogling and feeling up innocent Americans to produce the illusion of safety. The IRS, hated though it is, is completely necessary. The TSA is not.

Re:Supremacy Clause

[gd2shoe]

You know, as someone who lost someone on 9/11, I disagree with your generalization that the TSA isn't viewed as having a purpose. Their skill and efficacy may be in question, but their purpose is to keep idiots from using our airlines as missiles again.

I do not intend any offense to you AC, but IMHO, your contention that we need TSA in order "to keep idiots from using our airlines as missiles again" is an incredibly offensive insult to the crew and passengers of Flight-93. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_93)

And flights 11, 77, and 175? 3 out of 4 isn't bad... Well, actually it's quite evil, but you get my point. Flight 93 is irrelevant to the security theater excuses that we're seeing.

Frankly, I don't think he insulted 93. If anything, he insulted the other 3 flights. (No offence intended on my part.)