Do you feel that the TSA patdowns are over the top? Or that the x-ray machines are a bit much? Are you one of the people that adheres to the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin's words, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”?
One aspect of freedom most Americans take for granted is the freedom to choose how and why another person puts their hands on them, with some parts of our anatomy reserved for the touch of lovers and doctors only. And we pretty much all agree that no adult should be allowed to touch our children except in casual contact without finding themselves in a jail cell.
However, according to our government that freedom is one which must be sacrificed if we wish to fly on a plane. With the alternative being the option to go through a backscatter x-ray machine which some medical professionals have determined could be dangerous, especially to pregnant women and young children and which gives TSA a look at your naked body. In other words there is no option remaining for those who neither want strangers feeling them up nor strangers seeing them naked to travel by plane in this country. Where is freedom in that?
Granted, some would say it is worth it to be safe on the plane and know that 9-11 won't be copied. But, are these procedures certain to stop another attack from happening? Maybe, maybe not. Each time we upgrade airport security they find a way around it, and though no one else has been able to successfully bring down another plane that is more because of the passengers on the planes, than from the TSA screening procedures.
However, if you believe that these procedures need to be stopped, and a more effective method of security put in place, then you will love David Simpson's HB 1937 and HB 1938. These bills put an end to the intrusive tactics of the TSA. Granted they only protect you here in Texas but it is a step in the right direction and with luck other states will follow suit.
The only problem there is that both of these bills are stuck in committee. HB 1937 is pending in Criminal Jurisprudence as it has been since March 22nd, and HB 1938 is pending in Transportation as it has been since April 6th.
If you wish to see these bills get out of committee and onto the House floor, contact the committee Members who are listed below.
Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
Rep. Pete Gallago, Chair
Rep. Will Hartnet, Vice Chair
Rep. Jose Aliseda
Rep. Cindy Burkett
Rep. Stefani Carter
Rep. Wayne Christian
Rep. Yvonne Davis
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez
Rep. Bill Zedler
Transportation Committee
Rep. Larry Phillips, Chair
Rep. Drew Darby, Vice Chair
Rep. Dennis Bonnen
Rep. Yvonne Davis
Rep. Allan Fletcher
Rep. Linda Harper-Brown
Rep. George Lavender
Rep. Armando Martinez
Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon
Rep. Joseph Pickett
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez
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