TSA Could Ban Flights From Texas If State Passes Anti-Patdown Law

[Kandahar]

The Department of Justice has sent a letter to Texas legislative leaders warning that the rule would run counter to federal laws, and could cause the Transportation Security Administration to "cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of passengers and crew."

TSA Could Ban Flights From Texas If State Passes Anti-Patdown Law - The Consumerist

I call bull****. There is no way the TSA is going to cancel every flight originating from Texas. To even issue this kind of empty threat is beyond retarded. Hopefully Texas passes their law and tells the TSA to go **** themselves.

 

[Henrin]

I call bull****. There is no way the TSA is going to cancel every flight originating from Texas. To even issue this kind of empty threat is beyond retarded. Hopefully Texas passes their law and tells the TSA to go **** themselves.

Aren't they a federal agency? Don't most people that support federal government overreaching powers not support states passing laws to bypass laws by the federal government? This view that the TSA is different seems hysterical to me.

 

[ludahai]

I call bull****. There is no way the TSA is going to cancel every flight originating from Texas. To even issue this kind of empty threat is beyond retarded. Hopefully Texas passes their law and tells the TSA to go **** themselves.

Totally with you on this one. NH also considered it, but with a veto threat from the governor. However, with only one significant airport, the state doesn't have much leverage. TX is much larger with many more significant airport...

 

[Sgt Meowenstein]

If TX passes the law, I hope the TSA does ban flights to TX. **** Perry and that assbackwards state.

 

[Temporal]

I support Texas. The TSA powers are overreaching and they've been uselessly expanding for a long time now, with NO major improvements in security. Flying is not a right but reasonable search still applies. Now if only other states would join this effort, then the TSA would be really screwed.

 

[Redress]

This striked me as Texas saying "hey, TSA is going overboard, so we will too". It's stupid what Texas is doing.

Texas legislators say the rule is needed because existing laws "let government employees fondle innocent women, children and men."

By this logic, police should only be able to search convicted people.

If you oppose something, oppose it like adults, and work to change it. Don't get in pissing matches and be a bunch of dicks. If Texas was going to court to get the searches declared illegal, that would be sensible and a proper reaction. Making stupid laws and using overblown rhetoric is stupid.

 

[Jetboogieman]

I dont get what everyones so upset about?

I love a good feeling up now and then

 

[SmokeAndMirrors]

I never thought I'd say this, but... go Texas. Yee-ha.

The TSA is hugely over-stepping. They should not be able to grope people for practically no reason. These "safety" measures don't work, and they're abusive. Same with the body scanner that renders a friggin' naked image of you.

I know it has some practical impediments, but look to Israel for a system that works. And they don't have to strip or grope anyone. It's basically a system of interaction and judging normal levels of suspect behavior. It works incredibly well - Israel has some of the best airport security in the world - and it doesn't require them to strip and prod people. A copy-cat of their system won't quite work here, but it's an excellent model. We should take a good long look at it, and figure out how to make it work here.

In the mean time, for once, I support Texas. The TSA can shove it.

 

[Kandahar]

By this logic, police should only be able to search convicted people.

No, they should be able to search people with probable cause...which they do not have, in 99.9% of the cases at airports.

 

[Redress]

No, they should be able to search people with probable cause...which they do not have, in 99.9% of the cases at airports.

That is not what he said. Further, the place to work on changing TSA regulations is not by making a law to start a pissing match. Take it to court.

 

[AGENT J]

LMAO!

I hope they do but they dont have too, all they have to do is keep doing what they are doing, if a person cant participate in the rules they simply dont get to fly, its always been their own choice.:shrug:

 

[PeteEU]

I call bull****. There is no way the TSA is going to cancel every flight originating from Texas. To even issue this kind of empty threat is beyond retarded. Hopefully Texas passes their law and tells the TSA to go **** themselves.

I hope they do... that way we can contain Texans in Texas!

 

[Utility Man]

 

[Kandahar]

That is not what he said. Further, the place to work on changing TSA regulations is not by making a law to start a pissing match. Take it to court.

Why? What makes the courts the sole decision-maker here? As long as the Texas law doesn't violate the Constitution (and I see no reason why it would), they are free to make their own laws. Yes, the federal courts should also be involved, and rule the TSA security procedures unconstitutional...but there's no reason that states can't or shouldn't act on their own until that happens.

On the contrary, "making a law to start a pissing match" should be a very effective way to get these silly security procedures reversed. The TSA claims that they won't allow any flights without these invasive security procedures. Let's let Texas call their bluff and see if the TSA is so dedicated to touching people's junk that they're really willing to ground every single flight in Texas.

 

[AGENT J]

wow thats one of the dumbest videos ive seen on here in a while, thats was damn funny, LMAO talk about being dramatic LOL

 

[DemonMyst]

Personally.. I think Texas's attempt at solving the problem was rather stupid.. Banning pat downs isn't going to solve anything except make more problems.. What really needs to happen is the airlines to come together and demand change for their customers.. This isn't a state problem.. This a customer service business issue..

I think TSA needs some serious regulations.. But let's also no forget why they there.. On a nice summer day almost 10 years ago exactly.. 4 planes crashed in a single day.. 2 in the WTC, one into the Pentagon, and the last into a field.. A lot of people died that day.. Since then we have had the shoe bomber and a few other attempts at blowing up planes..

So while we may not like them, and here lots of stories of them frisking children or young women or people with medical conditions.. They are there for a reason.. I would rather myself or someone else gets a pat down, than to find out there is a would be suicide bomber on board.. What about the rest of you?? Pat down or share a plane with a terrorist??

 

[Kandahar]

So while we may not like them, and here lots of stories of them frisking children or young women or people with medical conditions.. They are there for a reason.. I would rather myself or someone else gets a pat down, than to find out there is a would be suicide bomber on board.. What about the rest of you?? Pat down or share a plane with a terrorist??

I'd rather acknowledge that the TSA security theater is an incredibly poor value proposition to save lives (compared to, say, investments in heart disease or cancer research), accept the risk of the occasional bomb on a plane, and trust the passengers to prevent their plane from being hijacked.

 

[AGENT J]

Personally.. I think Texas's attempt at solving the problem was rather stupid.. Banning pat downs isn't going to solve anything except make more problems.. What really needs to happen is the airlines to come together and demand change for their customers.. This isn't a state problem.. This a customer service business issue..

I think TSA needs some serious regulations.. But let's also no forget why they there.. On a nice summer day almost 10 years ago exactly.. 4 planes crashed in a single day.. 2 in the WTC, one into the Pentagon, and the last into a field.. A lot of people died that day.. Since then we have had the shoe bomber and a few other attempts at blowing up planes..

So while we may not like them, and here lots of stories of them frisking children or young women or people with medical conditions.. They are there for a reason.. I would rather myself or someone else gets a pat down, than to find out there is a would be suicide bomber on board.. What about the rest of you?? Pat down or share a plane with a terrorist??

thats what people just dont get, its fine not to like it, I can Im not a fan but when people are just being dramatic crybabies about it and just saying nonsense like its porno, sexual assult, rape and violates the constitution etc etc is all counterproductive and laughable LOL

 

[Deuce]

Yes, the TSA could and will absolutely stop all flights out of Texas if this goes into effect. They could even shutdown all air carrier operations within Texas because the national airspace system is under the control of the FAA.

It's not a bluff. This is the federal government. They have certain mandates and they do not see things in shades of grey. I am as much against the TSA grope procedure as anyone, but Texas simply doesn't have the authority to do this.

 

[Kandahar]

Yes, the TSA could and will absolutely stop all flights out of Texas if this goes into effect. They could even shutdown all air carrier operations within Texas because the national airspace system is under the control of the FAA.

It's not a bluff. This is the federal government. They have certain mandates and they do not see things in shades of grey.

The people who are actually calling the shots are smart enough to realize that grounding every flight from Texas would be devastating to the economy, to transportation, and to people's schedules. And if they aren't, then their superiors will replace them.

I am as much against the TSA grope procedure as anyone, but Texas simply doesn't have the authority to do this.

Why not? There is no federal law that mandates junk-touching at the airports, that's just a TSA regulation which can be reversed at any time. Furthermore, federal agents do not have immunity from state laws. And in any case, the Texas law does not contradict the TSA regulation. The Texas law bans invasive searches without probable cause, and the TSA regulation mandates it and/or requires the TSA to ground the flight if they can't provide security. So there is a legal way out that complies with both laws: Ground every flight in Texas.

Let's see if the TSA has the balls to pull that trigger, and then explain to the American people that it was necessary because Texas wouldn't let them invasively probe people without probable cause. We'll just see how long the American people tolerate this, and which side comes out on top in public opinion.

 

[AGENT J]

The people who are actually calling the shots are smart enough to realize that grounding every flight from Texas would be devastating to the economy, to transportation, and to people's schedules. And if they aren't, then their superiors will replace them.



Why not? There is no federal law that mandates junk-touching at the airports, that's just a TSA regulation which can be reversed at any time. Furthermore, federal agents do not have immunity from state laws. And in any case, the Texas law does not contradict the TSA regulation. The Texas law bans invasive searches without probable cause, and the TSA regulation mandates it and/or requires the TSA to ground the flight if they can't provide security. So there is a legal way out that complies with both laws: Ground every flight in Texas.

Let's see if the TSA has the balls to pull that trigger, and then explain to the American people that it was necessary because Texas wouldn't let them invasively probe people without probable cause. We'll just see how long the American people tolerate this, and which side comes out on top in public opinion.

Id laugh if they do ground all flights because of this stupidity, or if the FBI gets involved and sends those state boys packing LOL

but not to mention that in reality the state law technically has nothing to do with the fed law, if the troopers show up at the airport looking for invasive searches without probably cause they wont find any.

 

[empireofreason]

I think they should offer full naked body massages before entry. Oil everyone down and slap their butt through. This playful little pat down just isn't satisfying these Texans.

Seriously, Texas has got the right idea. Keep your hands to yourself. I'm glad they are stepping up on this. Nice to see some people show some leadership on violation of our privacy. These people are patting down or kids, running their hands up our privates and everything. What pervert wouldn't want this job? It's time to put our foot down. The machines will do fine.

I thought this was really only necessary with a search warrant anyway, and could only be done by an official of law for such criminal suspicion.

 

[Gargantuan]

Sorry Texas... TSA will continue to enforce federal law no matter what you try to do.

 

[O_Guru]

Can't wait for the TSA either to ground all flights, introduce the state troopers to the FBI or simply not allow any crybaby that cries about the rules access to fly.

 

[O_Guru]

I think they should offer full naked body massages before entry. Oil everyone down and slap their butt through. This playful little pat down just isn't satisfying these Texans.

Seriously, Texas has got the right idea. Keep your hands to yourself. I'm glad they are stepping up on this. Nice to see some people show some leadership on violation of our privacy. These people are patting down or kids, running their hands up our privates and everything. What pervert wouldn't want this job? It's time to put our foot down. The machines will do fine.

I thought this was really only necessary with a search warrant anyway, and could only be done by an official of law for such criminal suspicion.

Theres no violation of privacy.