Not Funny: The Erosion Of Our Civil Liberties
A tweet by reason's @MikeRiggs:
P.A. at Houston-Bush Intl: "Please know that any inappropriate jokes or remarks about airport security may result in your arrest."
@TedFrank pointed out:
That rule dates back to the 1970s.
Joking "There's a bomb in my pants!", yes. But, "inappropriate remarks"? What are inappropriate remarks? Is "I see this as a violation of my Fourth Amendment rights"? "I think it's disgusting that you earn a living violating people's rights"?
Here's a sign in Denver that also puts a chill on free speech.
If you don't know what you can be arrested for, you're less likely to speak up at all.
"inappropriate remarks"?
Do these jeans make my balls feel fat?
Steve Daniels at May 7, 2012 8:36 AM
"Just don't finger me or anything" is probably inappropriate. But it just kind of slipped out.
This weekend I flew to Denver to visit my boyfriend. I flew from Spokane, WA, a relatively small airport with low traffic flow. Another older, non-conspicuous-looking woman and I were the only two people in line. First they had us go through the x-ray scanner (I just wanted to get though as quickly as possible), then decided that each of us had something hidden in our pants (my crotch-length Daisy Dukes and her ass-hugging spandex yoga pants) even after I turned my pockets inside out. I wanted to protest but I also wanted to make my flight, as I hadn't seen my boyfriend in over a month, and won't see him again for another month after this weekend. The TSA "Officer" then had me stand with my feet apart out in the middle of the security area and asked me "Are there any areas of sensitivity or places you feel uncomfortable being touched?" I replied "Uh, well, YEAH. Don't finger me or anything." She then placed one hand on the outside of my right thigh and one on the inside and moved her hands ROUGHLY AND BRUSQUELY upwards, hitting my vulva. She repeated the procedure on the other leg. It was like a public shaming.
I looked around after I regathered the pieces of my broken dignity and luggage from the conveyor belt, and the male workers were obviously entertained. The TSA "Officer" had repeated the same embarrassing ritual on the woman in line behind me, and as we walked toward our separate terminals, we awkwardly exchanged comments about what had just happened.
It was a horrible experience, and I think it was completely unnecessary. I had unclaimed scissors, shaving razors and liquids in my carry-on, for God's sake! And they thought I was hiding something in my fucking SHORTS?!
Kyrstin Vens at May 7, 2012 11:05 AM
I won't comment other than to say I sent my usual post to Sen. Rand Paul directly tonight.
I'll let you know the response.
Jim P. at May 7, 2012 9:17 PM
Kristin, they knew you weren't hiding anything in your shorts. They just wanted to do that to you, probably for the purpose of causing the effect that it had on you. "Screening" was only pretext.
Ken R at May 7, 2012 10:55 PM
Please don't grope my balls. I have an uncontrollable reflex to punch the groper in the face, unless we're lying down.
Is that 'inappropriate'? Tough shit. Shitting all over the 4th Amendment is even more so.
DrCos at May 8, 2012 3:54 AM
Sounds like Kristyn got a little uppity by answering in the affirmative when they asked her if she had places where she felt uncomfortable being touched. The little fuckers had to show her who was boss.
Bastards.
mpetrie98 at May 10, 2012 11:09 AM
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