Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Arrested At TSA Checkpoint For Reciting Constitution
Disgusting, chilling. And more people should do what she's done.
Read the woman's whole story over at DailyKos. An excerpt:
I say that I never declined a physical search, it was never offered. My intent was to read the Constitution, while it was happening. He speaks to someone in the next room. I ask who he is talking to and Guy with a Tie emerges."You refused to talk to me."
"No, I refused to give you personal information you were not entitled to."
"You refused to be searched."
"I never refused. You never offered. You only offered to remove me from the area."
"You don't have a right to disrupt the screening."
"You disrupted the screening. I just read the Constitution."
Marty intervenes. Clearly, his job is to get this resolved today. He breaks us up and I ask him, "So next week, when I have to fly again, what's going to happen when I read the Constitution?"
I actually feel pity for the way he looks at me. I have just made his day a living hell and I really do feel sorry for him and for calling Jared a Brown Shirt.
"Let's just get through today," he says.
I agree to be searched and tell them I will read the Constitution in a normal voice while they do it. This is not good enough for Guy with a Tie. He says if I read the statement, I can't pay attention to what the frisking officer tells me. You know, how she is going to put her hands here and there and use the back of her hand to check my "sensitive areas". They tell me I need to listen to this, I kid you not, for my own safety. I say I will only read while she is not speaking. That won't do either, because I won't be concentrating on her instructions. Seriously, this was their rational explanation to me for continuing to violate my First and Fourth Amendment rights. I have to get home so I finally acquiesce.
Marty asks if I could be released and Jared lets me out. They give me back my shoes. Old Goat explains that I could await arraignment next Monday, or take the misdemeanor. I say I have already agreed to the misdemeanor.
"OK," he says, "then you need to wait 'til Monday." He leaves again.
"Wait a minute." I call after him, "I don't think I understood the options. Could you come back and explain them to me?" There is only silence. My heart is beating again.
"I said I was taking the misdemeanor. Did I not understand what that was?" Monday is a week away. My job and my husband will kill me.Jared comes to the rescue. He gets Old Goat to write up the misdemeanor charge and explains I have to appear before the judge here in New Mexico. That is going to be damned inconvenient, as I live in Northern California, but I agree.
via Lisa Simeone
Once Upon A Time I was a corrections officer in a county jail. Trust me when I tell you, I don't need to give someone instructions to do a quick pat down. All you need to do is stand still. If I had to wait until Some Bad Guy stopped running his mouth before I could do my search, I'd have made a million dollars in overtime.
Steve Daniels at October 19, 2011 8:51 AM
"I actually feel pity for the way he looks at me. I have just made his day a living hell and I really do feel sorry for him and for calling Jared a Brown Shirt"
Very naive Colonel. They won't have the same feelings for you in most cases. You called the guy what he was... the truth is the truth. If Jared can't handle it, maybe he can go get a job fondling subway customers and hawking a weight loss plan. $5 fondlings? Might end up with vice squad harassing him though.
Sio at October 19, 2011 9:17 AM
Wow! How much more out of control will things get before people revolt? I think time is NOT on our side.
Melody at October 19, 2011 9:30 AM
Sad story now that I've read the whole thing. I found her husband's reaction a bit funny with the "red neck state" since they're from Northern California. They're not far from a part of CA that attempted secession from Sacramento in 1941. A state that won't let them conceal carry or open carry firearms to defend themselves. I've been harassed in CA and Oregon by the TSA.
Sio at October 19, 2011 9:42 AM
I agree with Melody that people are getting very close to a revolt against these abuses. I just wrote both of my Senators and my Congressman to voice my disapproval of the TSA tactics. (I included a link to this story.) Will it do any good? I'm not sure. However, if everyone who took the time to comment on various blogs, would also take the time to write their elected officials, they may start to get the message. It's very easy to do, and I urge everyone to let Congress know how they feel about these abuses of our Constitutional rights.
Al at October 19, 2011 10:48 AM
But stuff like this is "keeping us safe"!
DrCos at October 19, 2011 4:21 PM
"They tell me I need to listen to this, I kid you not, for my own safety."
Well yeah. What if you have a bomb in your pants and you don't realize it? Ever thought of that, huh?
Cousin Dave at October 19, 2011 5:32 PM
He should have recited the TSA operations manual.
Andrew_M_Garland at October 19, 2011 6:07 PM
The entire scenario angered me, but the one thing that really sticks out to me is that someone in the crowd supposedly yelled for her to "shut up already." Wow, that made me mad. Not a single person backed her up. How pathetic is society? When you see something like this happening, how do you NOT stand up for the person being bullied?!
Angie at October 20, 2011 8:28 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/10/retired-air-for.html#comment-2673783">comment from AngieI'm with you, Angie!
Amy Alkon
at October 20, 2011 8:45 AM
Fear inducing. I shared this story on a social site, and 3 of my friends took the TSA's side. I may have posted a blistering response that might cost me some friends.
Their point? "We all have to put up with it, she should too." (Extreme metaphor alert!) See you guys at Auschwitz 2.0, then.
Give people authority, and they will do bad things to protect it.
Dangerboy at October 20, 2011 9:42 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/10/retired-air-for.html#comment-2674862">comment from DangerboyWow, Dangerboy. Truly disgusting, their response.
Amy Alkon
at October 20, 2011 10:04 AM
Does the TSA have sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired?
nonegiven at October 20, 2011 12:47 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/10/retired-air-for.html#comment-2677280">comment from nonegivenDoes the TSA have sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired?
I learned sign language to do volunteer work with deaf kids at one point. I forget the sign for "fuck" or "fucked" -- as in, "Your Constitutional rights are fucked."
Amy Alkon
at October 20, 2011 12:56 PM
Amy, ASL interpreter here. The sign for "fuck" is two V hands, base V-hand is palm up, action V-hand taps base-hand, palm down.
Patrick at October 20, 2011 1:22 PM
I have also lost a couple of Facebook friends for posting anti-TSA status updates and articles. One person said "I don't want to see that kind of thing or hear about it. I just don't think it's important. So please don't talk about it anymore and we can stay friends." Funny, haven't really felt much like talking to her since then.
Gail at October 23, 2011 1:30 PM
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