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Ron Paul introduced legislation to protect Americans from physical and emotional abuse by federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees conducting screenings at the nation’s airports:
A BILL – HR 6416
To ensure that certain Federal employees cannot hide behind immunity.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NO IMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN AIRPORT SCREENING METHODS.
No law of the United States shall be construed to confer any immunity for a Federal employee or agency or any individual or entity that receives Federal funds, who subjects an individual to any physical contact (including contact with any clothing the individual is wearing), x-rays, or millimeter waves, or aids in the creation of or views a representation of any part of a individual’s body covered by clothing as a condition for such individual to be in an airport or to fly in an aircraft. The preceding sentence shall apply even if the individual or the individual’s parent, guardian, or any other individual gives consent.
Ron Paul introduced the “American Traveler Dignity Act” (HR 6416) with the following words. (This is a transcript of his actual speech.)
Ron Paul: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise this evening to announce that I introduced some legislation today dealing with the calamity that we have found at our airports with TSA. Something has to be done. Everybody is fed up. The people are fed up, the pilots are fed up, I’m fed up.You know, I’ve come to this floor many times over the past many years and complained about the terrible foreign policy we’ve had, the terrible monetary policy we’ve had, the excessive spending and the debt and also the tax policy. But what we’re doing and what we’re accepting in putting up with at this airport is so symbolic of us just not standing up and saying, “Enough is enough”.
I know the American people are starting to wake up, but our government, those in charge – Congress as well as the executive branch – are doing nothing. Yes, they’re talking about maybe backing off and allowing the pilots to go through. But can you think how silly the whole thing is? The pilot has a gun in the cockpit, and he’s managing this aircraft, which is a missile, and we make him go through this groping x-ray exercise, having people feeling their underwear. It’s absurd, and it’s time we wake up.
The bill I’ve introduced will take care of this. But we have to realize that the real problem is that the American people have been too submissive, we have been too submissive. It’s been going on for a long time, and this was to be expected even from the beginning of the TSA and it’s deeply flawed. Private property should be protected by private individuals, not bureaucrats.
But the bill that I’ve introduced will take care of it. It’s very simple, it’s one paragraph long. It removes the immunity from anybody in the federal government that does anything that you or I can’t do. If you can’t grope another person and if you can’t x-ray people and endanger them with possible x-rays, you can’t take nude photographs of individuals, why do we allow the government to do it? We would go to jail. He’d be immediately arrested if an individual citizen went out and did these things, and yet we just sit there calmly and say, “Oh, they’re making us safe”.
And, besides, the argument from the executive branch is that when you buy a ticket, you have sacrificed your rights, and it is the duty of the government to make us safe. That isn’t the case. You never have to sacrifice your rights. The duty of the government is to protect our rights, not to abuse them and do what they have been doing to us. The pilots hopefully will be exempted from this.
But another suggestion I have that might help us: let’s make sure that every member of Congress goes through this. Get the x-ray and make them look at the pictures, and then go through one of those groping pat downs. And then I think there will be a difference. Have everybody in the executive branch, anybody who is a cabinet member, make them go through it and look at it. Maybe they would pay more attention.
But this doesn’t work, this is not what makes us safer, this is preposterous to think that the TSA has made us safer.
You know, when you think about it, if you look at what’s happened over the past 10 years, during this last decade, we lost 3000 on a terrible, terrible day for America. But since that time in this last decade, we have also lost 6,000 of our military personnel going over there and trying to rectify this problem. We have lost 400,000 people on our government-run highways. We have lost 150,000 individuals from homicides. So I think there’s reason to be concerned, reason to deal with this problem. We’re not dealing with it the right way, we’re doing the wrong thing, and groping people at the airport doesn’t solve our problems.
What has solved our problems, basically, has been that they put a good lock on the door and they put a gun inside the cockpit. That’s been the greatest boon to our safety. Safety should be the responsibility of the individual and the private property owner. But right now, we assume the government’s always going to take care of us and we’re supposed to sacrifice our liberties. I say that is wrong, we are not safer and we also know there are individuals who are making money of this. Michael Chertoff; I mean, here’s a guy who was the head of the TSA – selling the equipment. And the equipment is questionable; we don’t even know if it works, and it may well be dangerous to our health.
You know, the way I see this; if this doesn’t change, I see what has happened to the American people is we have accepted the notion that we should be treated like cattle. “Make us safe, make us secure, put us into barbed wire, feed us, fatten us up”, and then they’ll eat us. And we’re a bunch of cattle if we have to wait and say, “We’ve had it”. I think this whole idea of an opt-out day is just great. We ought to opt-out and make the point, get somebody to watch it and take a camera, it’s time for the American people to stand up, shrug off the shackles of our government and TSA at the airport.
These are Ron Paul’s prepared remarks:
Ron Paul: Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation to protect Americans from physical and emotional abuse by federal Transportation Security Administration employees conducting screenings at the nation’s airports. We have seen the videos of terrified children being grabbed and probed by airport screeners. We have read the stories of Americans being subjected to humiliating body imaging machines and/or forced to have the most intimate parts of their bodies poked and fondled. We do not know the potentially harmful effects of the radiation emitted by the new millimeter wave machines.
In one recent well-publicized case, a TSA official is recorded during an attempted body search saying, “By buying your ticket you gave up a lot of rights.” I strongly disagree and am sure I am not alone in believing that we Americans should never give up our rights in order to travel. As our Declaration of Independence states, our rights are inalienable. This TSA version of our rights looks more like the “rights” granted in the old Soviet Constitutions, where freedoms were granted to Soviet citizens — right up to the moment the state decided to remove those freedoms.
The incident of the so-called “underwear bomber” last Christmas is given as justification for the billions of dollars the federal government is spending on the new full-body imaging machines, but a Government Accountability Office study earlier this year concluded that had these scanners been in use they may not have detected the explosive material that was allegedly brought onto the airplane. Additionally, there have been recent press reports calling into question the accuracy and adequacy of these potentially dangerous machines.
My legislation is simple. It establishes that airport security screeners are not immune from any US law regarding physical contact with another person, making images of another person, or causing physical harm through the use of radiation-emitting machinery on another person. It means they are subject to the same laws as the rest of us.
Imagine if the political elites in our country were forced to endure the same conditions at the airport as business travelers, families, senior citizens, and the rest of us. Perhaps this problem could be quickly resolved if every cabinet secretary, every member of Congress, and every department head in the Obama administration were forced to submit to the same degrading screening process as the people who pay their salaries.
I warned at the time of the creation of the TSA that an unaccountable government entity in control of airport security would provide neither security nor defend our basic freedom to travel. Yet the vast majority of both Republicans and Democrats then in Congress willingly voted to create another unaccountable, bullying agency– in a simple-minded and unprincipled attempt to appease public passion in the wake of 9-11. Sadly, as we see with the steady TSA encroachment on our freedom and dignity, my fears in 2001 were justified.
The solution to the need for security at US airports is not a government bureaucracy. The solution is to allow the private sector, preferably the airlines themselves, to provide for the security of their property. As a recent article in Forbes magazine eloquently stated, “The airlines have enormous sums of money riding on passenger safety, and the notion that a government bureaucracy has better incentives to provide safe travels than airlines with billions of dollars worth of capital and goodwill on the line strains credibility.” In the meantime, I hope we can pass this legislation and protect Americans from harm and humiliation when they choose to travel.
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WTF why is this man not the President of the United States????
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TRUE AMERICAN IS A TRUE AMERICAN, HERE or IN THE MOON or MARS. Well said Ron Paul.
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Dear Ron Paul,
My name is Hunter Coleman, an American citizen, and residing in the Republic of Texas (though that doesn’t exist, to me it does). I want you to know that this Act is very vitally important to pass!
I have checked online at govtrack.us and the status of this bill has relatively very little supporters (at best 2 co-sponsors) and have not been referred to the Committee.
I noticed this is a House bill. Have you decided to pass it through the Senate as well? Here’s why I am asking you today in 2012 instead of 2010. I have checked on YouTube.com and have found many videos about Americans who were being fondled, groped, and even literally manhandled and held down like they were under arrest for a crime they have not committed.
I know that you are very knowledgeable about the law and the U.S. Constitution and it is very important to stress that our Amendments are being eroded by the very people in power who no longer believe nor accept the roots of America: the patriotism of our freedom from the British and from all domestic and foreign oppression!
Mr. Ron Paul, please do email me as I have left you the email address and let me know why this bill has not been referred and passed. If I were a Representative or a Senator, I would be up alongside you to pass this bill and many countless others to safely guard and preserve the freedom of the American people over
‘false securities’ that the government falsely promises!
Thank you.
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Call Ron Paul what you want to, but I think he is correct about the TSA.
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I am not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic.
I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this information for my mission.
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Homeland security is not about protecting American citizens, but about controlling them.
Our government is not concerned with global threats to our sovereignty. Our government is seeking to give up our sovereignty and join the “global” community.
We never gave up our inalienable rights to human dignity to this government. Indeed, they cannot be taken away, because they come from God. A government that thinks it can dictate what our “rights” are, telling us we don’t have the right to pray in public, is a government that needs to go. Is it any surprise that this government thinks we have no protection against ill treatment at its hands?
We’re supposed to think our government is wiser than we are, wiser even than God, actually, because God has been put in a corner and told not to come out in public in America. Government wants you to think it is your parent, and to abandon the Lord your Father. Yeah, that’s exactly what the government wants.
You can’t fool me into thinking our government is benign. When has human government been benign? Get God in government and throw the godless humans out. We need Americans in government — Americans who respect God, liberty, and justice — not “global” community lovers who tell us what our rights are.
I have the right to obey God rather than men, and I have the right to petition Him for redress against our government, just as our American founders did. I have the right to have an American government — a truly American government, under God, our King — not a foreign-loving secular entity that oppresses me and tells me the “global” issues of the day matter, while America doesn’t. I have the right to an American government that celebrates Christmas instead of legislating Christ out of it. I have the right to an American government that bows before God.
Don’t have that kind of government? Then it’s not American, and it needs to be discarded.
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No. Something has to be done, but 9/11 was legit. Stop.
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9/11 was a false flag. Watch Fable Enemies on utube that should wake u up.
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Schools shouldn’t be able to do that either, it’s against the constitution. We have given up too much of our liberty for false security. Schools stripping down girls for advil, and the Supreme court said that it was constitutional due to safety. The supreme court in this era is bullshit and the justices need to be replaced.
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Hmmm, can we not launch a class action suit against this. And because 9/11 was an inside job ” Say’s who? is this nessisary? The lieing cheating media and government. Wake up ye citizens common sence should prevail it is you that has enable this to occur due to unsubstantiated fear by your dishonest media and government, that does not give a rats butt about you. Ron Paul will set things right, Ron Paul will right the wrongs of they’re deception.
“President Paul!” “President Paul!” “President Paul!” NOW!
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Yeah, something have to be done. Investigate 9/11.
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Thank you for telling the truth Dr. Ron Paul!
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I like Ron Paul, too, but he opposed the Civil Rights Act …
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A true American patriot.
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Dumb Americans are allowing this leader to slip through their hands. YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE!!!!
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I’ll be writing Ron Paul’s name on my ballot, just like I did in 2008.
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Ditto!
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Thank you Congressman Paul for telling the truth!!!!! God Bless you and God Bless America!!!!
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It passed the Texas House, but failed in the Senate. It failed because the U.S. Department of Justice threaten to make Texas a no-fly zone if it passed!
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I was at DFW last week and I didn’t see no TSA people!
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The American Traveler Dignity Act was only introduced, it has not made itself to the house or senate yet! This bill needs to be passed!
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Are you serious? We as Americans should NEVER sacrifice any freedom for security.The TSA is made up of cooperate tools.I am sick of positions and the TSA using the 9/11 excuse to take away our freedoms.Unfortunately were not getting any security the TSA hasn’t prevented one attack.Also the TSA wants bus station check points to that shit is straight up from Nazi Germany and fascist Russia.
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After 9/11 … it’s for our own good… some rights are lost in order to preserve the freedoms we can have… Sadly this is one we must compromise… keep in mind that the TSA is made up of U.S. Citizens. Not people brainwashed into serving the government. I dont see how you could stand so bitterly on this issue. It shouldnt even be one.
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Do your research buddy. Or are you working for them as well? People need to realize that 9/11 was an inside job, a cover-up, so the US could invade the accused “terrorist” countries for their natural resources as well as giving them “reason” to spy on our own US citizens… TSA, patriot act, which Obama reinstated after Bush was out of office. This country was built on lies, and the presidents who really cared about doing good for our country (Lincoln & JFK) were assassinated and made examples of! BLESS RON PAUL <3 You are the man.
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For our own good??!! HOW? Sounds like YOU have already been brainwashed. Why should ordinary people be treated like criminals just to get on a plane? Because of one whacko with matches in his shoe? Get real. All this TSA crap does is embarass, humiliate and inconvenience people. I refuse to fly until I can get on a plane again without taking off my shoes or being strip-searched or X-rayed. But you go ahead and drink the kool-aid. You need it.
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Oops, didn’t mean to post twice. My computer froze and I thought the first reply didn’t go through. Sorry, folks.
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I have had it with these motherfuckin’ snakes on this motherfuckin’ plane!
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I have had it with these motherfuckin’ snakes on this motherfuckin’ plane!
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GO RON PAUL! END THE FED! You are fighting the BANKSTERS, keep it up!
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GO RON PAUL! END THE FED! You are fighting the BANKSTERS, keep it up!
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Make this video viral. Ron Paul is exactly what we need right now and our government is doing everything they can to get any puppet in office. Yes the two-party system is a scam. They both have one goal and I think everybody knows where im going with this. Ron Paul will not be another puppet I can guarantee that. Our founding fathers were libertarians. Its time to revive our ALREADY PAYED FOR traditional freedom
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Make this video viral. Ron Paul is exactly what we need right now and our government is doing everything they can to get any puppet in office. Yes the two-party system is a scam. They both have one goal and I think everybody knows where im going with this. Ron Paul will not be another puppet I can guarantee that. Our founding fathers were libertarians. Its time to revive our ALREADY PAYED FOR traditional freedom
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If I could’ve agreed with him on just a few more issues I’d have voted for him in the primaries. I wish more politicians felt the way he does about the TSA. I LOVED it when he suggested they all go through airport security and have an honest look at it. That, imo, is exactly why TSA has been allowed to get so bad; our elected representatives don’t have to deal with them.
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People who vote against Ron Paul are just as bad as the terrorists for allowing American values to deteriorate to this madness!
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I was very happy to locate this site on bing.I wanted to say thank you to you with regard to this fantastic read!! I certainlyloved every little bit of it and I’ve you bookmarked to have a look at new stuff you post.
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Fuck the TSA! Those assholes groped my sister and harassed her needlessly. She was 22 years-old, a model and spokesperson for NFL Films. What the hell kind of threat to national security is she? Ron Paul is right.
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I refused a “thorough pat down” and was threatened with being detained and was being pulled to the back room till I exercised my rights and threatened a lawsuit, and legal action. Our 4th Amendment and 1st allow us to stand up against the TSA. OTHERS NEED TO WAKE UP!
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