Ron Paul proposes the “American Traveler Dignity Act”

by McLean Robbins on

Yesterday, Texas Representative Ron Paul introduced H.R. 6416, the American Traveler Dignity Act.

Said Paul in a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday:

“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.”

Despite security risks referenced by Paul – like last Christmas’ underwear bomber – the Representative speaks out against the Advanced Imaging Technology machines, calling them a violation of personal privacy, questioning the harmful effects of radiation and referring to recent press reports that question the efficacy of the machines.

He also rails against the TSA itself, calling it an organization created “in a simple-minded and unprincipled attempt to appease public passion in the wake of 9-11.”

“The 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,” said Paul.

Paul has also expressed his support for National Opt Ot Day, taking place this coming Wednesday, which is encouraging travelers to “opt out” of enhanced security screenings from Advanced Imaging Technology machines.

Click below to see a video of Paul discussing the American Traveler Dignity Act:

Full-body scanner / pat-down controversy gets the cartoon treatment

by Leigh Caldwell on

Taiwan’s Next Media Animation has turned the spreading controversy over airport full-body scanners and pat-downs into a cartoon.

The animation house releases news videos each day on YouTube and provides English translations for some of the videos.

The animation summarizes – and mocks – the recent incidents in the United States when air passengers have refused full-body scans and pat-downs – the Travel Security Administration’s recently released enhanced security measures.

Among the scenes in the video:

  • A cross-dressing male passenger fights off a TSA agent’s advances and reveals undergarments with explosives and a tag reading “Osama’s Secret”
  • Protestors wave signs that read “Don’t Touch My Junk”
  • The name of the full-body scanner manufacturer is “RapeScan Systems.”
  • Naked passengers take over a plane on Nov. 24, which protestors have deemed National Opt-Out Day.
  • A female passenger requests that her pat-down be done in private, and is taken to a room with a king-size bed and a seductively dancing TSA agent.

Every Move You Make: TSA is Watching You

by Catherine Bodry on

Feeling antsy as you stand in that airport security line? Nervous you might miss your flight? Worried about that meeting tomorrow?

Even if you’re unaware that you’re giving off nervous vibes, the Transportation Security Administration might notice. The TSA has trained 2,000 of its employees to “replace hunches” with behavior psychology pioneered by Israeli airport security.

Specially-trained “behavior-detective officers” observe the security line and pluck suspicious travelers from the line for questioning. Then the officers chat the passenger up, all the while paying close attention to the passenger’s face, body language, and speech.

So far the TSA has made 278 arrests based on behavior detection. None were terror-related.

Read the full article at USA Today.