Community | November 23, 2010 | 71 comments

Man Proves TSA Policies Are Unconstitutional

source: http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2010/11/man-proves-tsa-policies-are.html

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GLOBALPOLITICAL
Blogger Matt Kernan was able to bypass both the naked body scanner and invasive TSA pat down procedures during his return to the United States this past weekend, proving that both measures are completely unconstitutional and creating a precedent for a total shake-up of airport security.

Kernan, who documents the case on his website, was returning from a trip to Europe and was perturbed to see TSA workers making Americans who had already cleared security in their airport of origin go through backscatter x-ray machines and be groped simply to re-enter their own country.


“You see, it is official TSA policy that people (both citizens and non-citizens alike) from international flights are screened as they enter the airport, despite the fact that they have already flown,” writes Kernan. “Even before the new controversial security measures were put in place, I found this practice annoying. But now, as I looked past the 25 people waiting to get into their own country, I saw it: the dreaded Backscatter imaging machine.”

Having seen the plethora of cases in recent weeks of TSA thugs abusing and humiliating women and children, Kernan, who had no connecting flight and time to kill, decided to take a stand.

So begins Kernan’s description of his 2 and a half hour debate with TSA officials and airport police after he refused to go through the naked scanner or be groped.

After TSA workers laughed at Kernan for opting out of the radiation scanner, he politely informed them that if they touched his genitals he would consider it an assault.

With TSA officials repeating “policy” like a broken record, Kernan stated, “I am aware that it is policy, but I disagree with the policy, and I think that it is unconstitutional. As a U.S. citizen, I have the right to move freely within my country as long as I can demonstrate proof of citizenship and have demonstrated no reasonable cause to be detained.”

Soon after the TSA Supervisor, a Delta Airlines manager and the airport police were called and Kernan informed them that he was recording the audio of the exchange on his iPhone.

“I will not do anything that is not explicitly stated on recording as mandatory,” Kernan told them, as the police suggested they conduct the pat down instead of the TSA. However, the cops were forced to back down when they refused to state on record that Kernan would have to have his genitals touched in order to be free to go.

After a disagreement between the police and the TSA about who had jurisdiction to arrest Kernan, the police began to get frustrated with the TSA Supervisor for pawning off the responsibility on them. At this point, the Supervisor tried to involve the “Federal Security Director,” who was told that Kernan was being polite and citing his constitutional rights.

After more deliberation, Kernan was eventually escorted out of the airport without having to go through a naked body scanner or have his genitals groped.

“And then came the most ridiculous scene of which I’ve ever been a part. I gather my things – jacket, scarf, hat, briefcase, chocolates. We walk over to the staff entrance and he scans his badge to let me through. We walk down the long hallway that led back to the baggage claim area. We skip the escalators and moving walkways. As we walk, there are TSA officials stationed at apparent checkpoints along the route. As we pass them, they form part of the circle that is around me. By the end of the walk, I count 13 TSA officials and 2 uniformed police officers forming a circle around me.

Read More: http://globalpoliticalawakening.blogspot.com/2010/11/man-proves-tsa-policies-are...
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  2. tags:
    Activism,  TSA,  Air Travel,  Airport Security,  5 more
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71 comments // Man Proves TSA Policies Are Unconstitutional

  • CalgarC
  • Daniel_Summers
  • GLOBALPOLITICAL
  • CalgarC
  • crystalman
    • 0
      crystalman  
    • Image

    • This whole absurd TSA controversy has come about because of the government's refusal to admit the nature of the threat. If the TSA, and the DHS, and the State Department, and all the rest of them, acknowledged the reality of the Islamic jihad against the U.S. instead of ignoring and denying it, it would be possible to formulate some sensible screening policies. That is the easy solution to this problem, and one that will never be adopted.

      The TSA wastes huge amounts of time, money, and resources by pretending that everyone is an equal threat to launch a terror attack -- Baptist grandmothers in wheelchairs just as much as young Pakistani Muslim males. The only answer at this point, and even it is not perfect, would be to institute Israeli-style profiling of air passengers. The Israelis have run an efficient and terror-attack-free air service for years, without all these invasive security measures. But to emulate them, of course, would mean to recognize in an official way that Muslims are a greater risk to commit terror attacks than Methodists or Mennonites. And in today's politically correct environment, the Obama Administration and the TSA would rather see another jihad mass-murder of American citizens on the scale of 9/11 or worse than do anything to suggest that.

    • 1 year ago
  • BrushwithDeathToothpaste
    • +2
      BrushwithDeathToothpaste  
    • crystalman:

      Great idea. So should we make it mandatory that all Muslims have the word "Muslim" tattooed on their foreheads? Or should we just assume that all and only brown mid east type people are Muslims? After that we can send a formal request to the terrorists to only use Muslim looking people for their attacks. That should put a nice bow on it.

      Speaking for all mid eastern/black/asian looking people everywhere - why should my genitals be groped and not yours? Why should I be late for my plane and not you? If you love the techniques used in Israel so much then move there. From some of the crazy hate-filled shit that you have tossed around on the forums I would be more worried about boarding a plane with you than anyone who "looks" Muslim.

    • 1 year ago
  • Tyr
    • -1
      Tyr  

    • I'm interested in reading ideas for making air travel safe and secure, I'm not being contentious here, I'm sincere, since there is such opposition to the current methods of detection what do you who oppose these methods suggest as an alternative? Whats the answer for detection of non metallic explosive devices such as the underwear attempt?
      We can't use the Israeli method of questioning because there would be an uproar charging profiling or privacy invasion, so rather than just complaining field some workable alternatives.

    • 1 year ago
  • Kaotik
    • +1
      Kaotik  
    • Tyr:

      I honestly think that the original metal detectors and only allowing certain items were perfectly fine..... both shoe and underware bomber did not board the plane on US Soil.

    • 1 year ago
  • GLOBALPOLITICAL
  • tommic
    • +1
      tommic  

    • Lets just hope this never comes before a Roberts Supreme court. They will find no intrusion or will they find the searches an unreasonable search. Conservatives will take away far more tights of the United States citizen than a democrat ever would. And they say it's for security. What a laugh, the day is coming when a terrorist sticks a charger filled with plastique and a detonator up his rectum and explodes it in flight or a sympathetic surgeon in the middle east implants a bomb surgically into a terrorist and he gets on a plane and boom.
      This is all a facade that is so stupid as to be scary. Bombs will come and make it onto a plane and explode, it only a matter of time. The ultimate war of attrition, that is what the war on terror is.

    • 1 year ago
  • crystalman
  • YukiMBae
    • +1
      YukiMBae  

    • what is the REAL issue behind all of this ? some fat hog is getting paid to give out free hand jobs to travelers & collect their naked pictures in order to preserve safety ?

      times are mad, no doubt. it's like the matrix, humans are becoming the machines.

      all these insane-in-the-membrane inventions and social-networking internet zoos being mass-produced only to do one thing: turn off our brains' natural functions.

      like tariq of the legendary roots crew says, "everybody's got a sales pitch, but i'm not buying."

      is anybody noticing the deterioration of intelligence ?

      i don't watch television (maybe The Office), that shit is not amusing, it's fucking bizarre world - just ads for mood stabilizing pills, potions, candy, mcdonald's, and every other bull shit to kill our instincts.

      the issue is not the TSA ... the issue is Humans have forgotten how to be Human.

      stay human.

      peace & good spirits.

    • 1 year ago
  • frank_runyeon
  • dwb2585
  • Incredulous
    • +4
      Incredulous  

    • Woooo Hoooo....give that man a gold star....just don't try to put it on him anywhere.

      Man it's good to know we still have people around with brains and guts!

    • 1 year ago
  • jubal
    • +4
      jubal  

    • BTW has anybody noticed how airfares have dropped recently? I can't believe that at holiday time the fares are so low. Could it be that people are just simply opting out of flying all together?

    • 1 year ago
  • randallr01
  • jubal
  • hammywill
    • -1
      hammywill  
    • jubal:

      This only worked because he was not boarding a plane. This will result in an arrest if anyone tries it while BOARDING a plane. I am not saying don't do it...just want people to be aware of the circumstances of this particular situation and how they differ from what we commonly see on TV.

    • 1 year ago
  • Progresshiv
  • jubal
  • Dmerza1989
  • Tayllerand
    • +7
      Tayllerand  

    • Im sick and tired of listening people saying that what the TSA is doing is for our security and to keep us safe , are you out of your freaking mind?. There is no security with real terrorists, the underwear bomber was a joke :has no passport or visa , paid cash for one way ticket, no luggage and his father snitch on him with the US Embassy and on top of that he was put on the plane by the security of the airport. Why the security of the airport dont want to show the security tapes when the underwear bomber was put on the plane.How can you explain that?

    • 1 year ago
  • Debra_
    • -14
      Debra_  

    • Yet more reason to do away with the constitution. Its matter of public safety. If the constitution is going to be an obstacle to protecting our loves ones, is it really worth keeping just for sentimental value?

    • 1 year ago
  • hammywill
  • beautifulmiddlefinger
    • +4
      beautifulmiddlefinger  
    • Debra_:

      Take the constitution? Are you sick in the head?

      Its only sentimental value because we let it become that for not upholding it! Pathetic really, its about the last chance we have on freedom at this moment, and people like you are helping it decimate!

    • 1 year ago
  • jubal
  • Debra_
    • -4
      Debra_  
    • hammywill:

      It's strange how these young folks on this site are so quick to call someone a "troll," when they are too afraid or too stupid to argue against a point they don't agree with.

    • 1 year ago
  • Debra_
    • -3
      Debra_  
    • jubal:

      Logic and enlightened government for starters. I believe there is scientific developments and technology that could reshape, and restructure society and human interaction.

    • 1 year ago
  • jubal
    • +1
      jubal  
    • Debra_:

      Yes I agree that there is technology that could help immensely...but what would you do to put a bridle on corporate power, greed, and fascism?

    • 1 year ago
  • hammywill
  • Debra_
    • -5
      Debra_  
    • jubal:

      I believe microchip implants in peoples brains could eventually prevent them from engaging in Greed and other self-interested behavior that are destructive to the common fabric of society.

      They might actually be able to prevent those thoughts, or alternatively the microchips are off switch for the brain activity of anyone who acts like that. That would scare them from being ugly human beings, and get rid of those with no self-control.

    • 1 year ago
  • Debra_
  • hammywill
    • +2
      hammywill  
    • Debra_:

      Who decides who the brightest minds are? And they who decides that my "self interested" actions are so detrimental that my "brain switch" is turned off?

      You are assuming that acting in ones Self Interest is inherently negative. So I would be frightened if YOU were the one in control of such a switch...so again, how to we determine what self interest behavior is negative...how do we determine what IS negative? Since "negative" is a subjective concept.

    • 1 year ago
  • Incredulous
  • Debra_
  • hammywill
  • Varex_Sythe
    • +2
      Varex_Sythe  
    • Debra_:

      Debra_, that problem that you are not comprehending is that this body scan technology is not only an immense invasion of privacy, but it is hardly more effective than the classic metal detector for detecting dangerous objects. The only dangerous thing that the body scanners pick up that metal detectors don't are ceramic blades. They do not detect explosives, and ceramic blades are not a great weapon to use these days to highjack a plane. In fact a ceramic blade, or any blade for that matter, would be downright stupid. Any person who pulled such a stunt would be overwhelmed by frenzied passengers and most likely beaten to death before they managed to do any lasting harm. Meanwhile, explosive materials don't show up under the scanners, only triggering devices with metal would. And those same triggering devices would be picked up by a damn metal detector.

      This is not really classified knowledge. This is knowledge that anyone can find if they bother to attempt to look it up. So given how this information is fairly basic and/or common, yet you insist that for zero to minimal improvement in security we give up freedoms that we have had for a couple of centuries, it is fairly easy to see why someone would refer to you as a troll. I don't know if you are really trying to troll or if you are unaware of how ineffective body scanners are at detecting things that metal detectors can't, but your continuous and baffling insistence definitely makes it easy to see you as a troll.

    • 1 year ago
  • TeacherLady83
    • +2
      TeacherLady83  
    • Debra_:

      As an educator, I must practice patience when students say things I find lacking a knowledgeable base. However you are an adult and your constant contention that the constitution needs to be eradicated is mind-blowing. Trying to find a balance between security and the right to privacy is not why we need to get rid of the constitution, it is why we need to turn to it. If we did, then- before Article 1 is even read- it would be clear that domestic tranquility comes before common defense (and TSA has proven to be as common as defense comes). .

    • 1 year ago
  • TeacherLady83
  • EdJoyProductions
  • Debra_
  • hammywill
  • moodyblue
  • sgordy1
  • ghostofamerica
    • +1
      ghostofamerica  

    • intimidation is an old old trick that dishonest people use to keep honest people from questioning them. p.s. god bless ayipis, because he is retarded.

    • 1 year ago
  • Sean_Lake
  • kyackr
    • +3
      kyackr  

    • Did i read that right?.. it seems to state that TSA is requiring x-ray scanning and pat downs after you have arrived to the US .. just to leave the airport? isn't it supposed to be security before you board a plane to somewhere?

      I have returned from international flights in the past and did not have to pass security checkpoints? is this new?

    • 1 year ago
  • ayipis
  • BoB__Yandenberlom
  • indecisiveh
  • Varex_Sythe
    • +2
      Varex_Sythe  
    • ayipis:

      So you're not inconvenienced, offended or distraught being either exposed to x-ray radiation, viewed clearly naked, or patted down in a manner that can qualify as sexual harassment...

      That says a lot about you.

    • 1 year ago
  • CalgarC
  • BoB__Yandenberlom
  • Amber_Taylor
  • EdJoyProductions
  • TomTucker
    • +10
      TomTucker  

    • They should put a scanner in Congress and make every congress memeber go through a scanner and the pat down before every session of congress.

    • 1 year ago
  • Sean_Lake
    • -2
      Sean_Lake  

    • I can see this from both sides though. Honestly, I want to do what is necessary to protect others on the flight. However, I do see, that when you give an inch, others will take a mile. This fear that continues to grapple the US, has got to stop. Realistically, other would give up their freedoms, just to feel safe, and that can be an issue. Movies do tend to show us the extreme so that we can see what is possible when we give up our rights. The scanner, that is fine by me, I'd much rather though that the image machine to not show my privates however for everyone to see, but then some terrorists could do something down there because they have no shame.
      This is a tough call. Personally, just do the scan, but no pat down. They cant have it both ways. If the terrorists cause us to fear to the point we have to get naked at the checkout, then no one will fly and then the terrorists would be the only ones flying LOL.

    • 1 year ago
  • GLOBALPOLITICAL
    • +1
      GLOBALPOLITICAL  
    • Sean_Lake:

      The only side of the issue which has any merit is the side which refuses to allow a tyrannical government to usurp liberty! The same people installing the naked body scanners and molesting children and adults are raping and pillaging the U.S. Economy leaving people homeless on the continent our fathers founded.

      It is time to Wake Up! The District of Criminals via the Federal Reserve does not want to protect you from a terrorist. They are the terrorists!

    • 1 year ago
  • jubal
  • rebel_scum
    • +2
      rebel_scum  

    • "By the end of the walk, I count 13 TSA officials and 2 uniformed police officers forming a circle around me."

      To block paparazzi? Or to intimidate anyone else from pulling the same stunt?

    • 1 year ago
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