Newest GOP Red Herring: Airports Can Opt-Out of TSA

[Dale00]

Mica is the Chuck Shumer of TSA. He has a HUGE hardon for TSA and actively hopes for TSA to fail every day. What he fails to mention to everyone is that all airports that opt out of TSA screening will still be required to conduct each screening requirement EXACTLY like TSA does currently. This is a congressionally mandated requirement. When you see something stupid, it's because congress wanted it that way. The reason there have been no more airports to opt out since 2002 is because each airport looked at the opt out program and saw no benefit to opting out.

Disclaimer: I have had zero problems with OKC or Tulsa TSA and have no gripe locally. It's the national picture that is bad. Of course, the local OKC/Tulsa picture could change for the worst at almost any time.

Name calling against Mica doesn't carry any weight. I know nothing about him except he is soon to be in a position to help resist TSA's infringement of our 4th amendment rights. So I tend to view him in a positive light.

I get the point that TSA is the creation of Congress and see a bit of irony there. Congress needs to struggle mightily to undo their error of putting the illusion of security ahead of our freedom.

 

[Cue]

Disclaimer: I have had zero problems with OKC or Tulsa TSA and have no gripe locally. It's the national picture that is bad. Of course, the local OKC/Tulsa picture could change for the worst at almost any time.

Name calling against Mica doesn't carry any weight. I know nothing about him except he is soon to be in a position to help resist TSA's infringement of our 4th amendment rights. So I tend to view him in a positive light.

I get the point that TSA is the creation of Congress and see a bit of irony there. Congress needs to struggle mightily to undo their error of putting the illusion of security ahead of our freedom.

This is all the typical GOP money making scheme. They bash the government and say outsourcing can do it better. When all they are doing is taking people that answer directly to the government away. These same people pass an FBI cavity search of their entire family to get hired. Which the private security firms will not. They will hire people at minimum wage to stand around a look busy.

I am all for the TSA employees in the field. I think the bigger issue are the decision making employees that have their pockets padded to purchase stupid machines that do no better that what the previous machines do. Then they want to get their pockets padded again by private security firms to continue sucking the tit of america. They see their time is running out in Iraq, so they are looking for new ways to stay on the tit,.

 

[Glocktogo]

Name calling against Mica doesn't carry any weight. I know nothing about him except he is soon to be in a position to help resist TSA's infringement of our 4th amendment rights. So I tend to view him in a positive light.

If you knew anything about him you'd understand. The courts have already carved out the 4th Amendment rights exceptions for sterile areas boarding Part 121 flights. This was done before TSA ever came into existence. All Mica will try to do is privatize the exact same screening, so that the contractors who contribute to him can win the bids.

 

[Dale00]

Have you read the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA)? Have you read the Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act? Do you know the difference between TSA/Homeland Security and Congress? You know, the branch of government that tells TSA/Homeland Security exactly what to do? Do you have a clue what you're talking about besides what you feel?

Do us all a favor, get educated before spouting off about things which you know nothing of, please!

http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/Aviation_and_Transportation_Security_Act_ATSA_Public_Law_107_1771.pdf

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h108-2115

Yes, I believe I do understand the difference between Congress and TSA and Homeland Security.
Please read the third post in http://www.okshooters.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1368310#post1368310

In essence, government has gotten so large and complex that the Congress has been rubber stamping whatever TSA wants.

I will attempt to read and understand the two documents for which you have provided links. Thank you.

 

[vvvvvvv]

Yes, I believe I do understand the difference between Congress and TSA and Homeland Security.
Please read the third post in http://www.okshooters.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1368310#post1368310

In essence, government has gotten so large and complex that the Congress has been rubber stamping whatever TSA wants.

I will attempt to read and understand the two documents for which you have provided links. Thank you.

No rubber stamping necessary.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode49/usc_sec_49_00040113----000-.html

 

[Shriner]

So Glock2 you smart carry your glock and see if any of the nirods find it ?

 

[Glocktogo]

So Glock2 you smart carry your glock and see if any of the nirods find it ?

No, I set other people up with stuff and send them through. Most of them enjoy it.

 

[Dale00]

Have you read the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA)? Have you read the Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act? Do you know the difference between TSA/Homeland Security and Congress? You know, the branch of government that tells TSA/Homeland Security exactly what to do? Do you have a clue what you're talking about besides what you feel?

Do us all a favor, get educated before spouting off about things which you know nothing of, please!

http://www.tsa.gov/assets/pdf/Aviation_and_Transportation_Security_Act_ATSA_Public_Law_107_1771.pdf

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h108-2115

OK, I've waded through the two documents you recommended as best I could. Please tell me if I have missed anything important to the discussion or misunderstood anything. Here is what jumped out at me as being important:

Aviation Security Act of Nov 19, 2001 (2 months, 7 days after World Trade Center attack)
TSA established under the Department of Transportation
Purpose includes gathering intelligence, assessing threats, developing policies, strategies and plans to deal with threats to transportation security.

Provisions for

• Federal Air Marshals
• Improved flight deck security
• Improved airport perimeter access security
  
• Airports can opt out of TSA but private security must still be supervised by TSA
• Improved screening of passengers and cargo
• When explosive detection sysatems are not yet available alternate means can be employed - all bags must be matched to a passenger on aircraft, manual search, explosive sniffing dogs, others means approved by the head of TSA
• No fly lists
• Screener qualifications (rather low - HS diploma or GED or whatever seems enough)
• Assaulting anyone at the airport charged with security - punishment fine and or prison up to 10 years. If dangerous weapon is used in the assault then up to life in prison.
• Weapons for flight crew - less than lethal only

HR 2115, Vision 100 - Aviation Reauthorization Action, 2003 -2004 Congress

• Secretary of Transportation shall cooperate with Sec of Homeland Security to administer the Airport Security program.
• Arming of flight crew with firearms or tazers
• Removal of cap on TSA staffing

I do not think I ever said or meant to imply that that TSA was acting without the authorization of Congress. Congress acted in haste to strengthen air travel security immediately after the World Trade Center. Just as after Pearl Harbor, little or no thought was given to the rights of citizens. We are now at the point where we must insist on our rights to be secure in our persons etc or we will lose them.

GTG I believe I agree with you that Congress may be about to make a whipping boy out of TSA. I'll go further to say that the fault for screening excesses should be laid at the foot of Congress which gave TSA too much discretionary power resulting in the current outrages.

 

[Glocktogo]

OK, I've waded through the two documents you recommended as best I could. Please tell me if I have missed anything important to the discussion or misunderstood anything. Here is what jumped out at me as being important:

Aviation Security Act of Nov 19, 2001 (2 months, 7 days after World Trade Center attack)
TSA established under the Department of Transportation
Purpose includes gathering intelligence, assessing threats, developing policies, strategies and plans to deal with threats to transportation security.

Provisions for

• Federal Air Marshals
• Improved flight deck security
• Improved airport perimeter access security
  
• Airports can opt out of TSA but private security must still be supervised by TSA
• Improved screening of passengers and cargo
• When explosive detection sysatems are not yet available alternate means can be employed - all bags must be matched to a passenger on aircraft, manual search, explosive sniffing dogs, others means approved by the head of TSA
• No fly lists
• Screener qualifications (rather low - HS diploma or GED or whatever seems enough)
• Assaulting anyone at the airport charged with security - punishment fine and or prison up to 10 years. If dangerous weapon is used in the assault then up to life in prison.
• Weapons for flight crew - less than lethal only

HR 2115, Vision 100 - Aviation Reauthorization Action, 2003 -2004 Congress

• Secretary of Transportation shall cooperate with Sec of Homeland Security to administer the Airport Security program.
• Arming of flight crew with firearms or tazers
• Removal of cap on TSA staffing

I do not think I ever said or meant to imply that that TSA was acting without the authorization of Congress. Congress acted in haste to strengthen air travel security immediately after the World Trade Center. Just as after Pearl Harbor, little or no thought was given to the rights of citizens. We are now at the point where we must insist on our rights to be secure in our persons etc or we will lose them.

GTG I believe I agree with you that Congress may be about to make a whipping boy out of TSA. I'll go further to say that the fault for screening excesses should be laid at the foot of Congress which gave TSA too much discretionary power resulting in the current outrages.

I think you pretty much have it figured out. TSA answers on average about one Congressional inquiry per day. A few of those inquiries are about TSA going too far, but the vast majority of them are why hasn't TSA done more. Thanks for reading that dry, boring stuff that no one bothers with before slamming us.