Alaska Bill Would Criminalize Invasive TSA Pat Downs
Rep. Sharon Cissnas legislation would also ban body scanners that produce naked images
A bill introduced by Alaska lawmaker and TSA grope victim Rep. Sharon Cissna would criminalize both invasive pat downs and body scans that produce naked images conducted by the federal agency, setting the stage for another states rights battle with the government.
When Texas lawmakers tried to pass a similar law last year, the federal government threatened to enforce a no fly zone over the lone star state, and the measure was eventually defeated after a lengthy legislative struggle.
Cissna was barred from flying by the TSA after an incident at SEA-TAC International Airport last year during which she refused to undergo an intrusive pat down after she had already passed through a naked body scanner. The scan results showed scars from her breast cancer surgery, prompting TSA officials to insist she underwent secondary screening.
Facing the agent I began to remember what my husband and Id decided after the previous intensive physical search. That I never had to submit to that horror again! she said. It would be difficult, we agreed, but I had the choice to say no, this twisted policy did not have to be the price of flying to Juneau.
The bill introduced by Cissna, HB 262, states;
A person commits the offense of interference with access to public buildings or transportation facilities if the person, as a condition for access to a public building or transportation facility, requires another person to consent or otherwise submit to
(1) physical contact by any person touching directly or through clothing the genitals, buttocks, or female breast of the person seeking access; or
(2) any electronic process that produces an electronic image of the genitals, anus, or female breast or otherwise creates an electronic image of the person seeking access that exposes or reveals a physical characteristic that is normally hidden by clothing and is not normally visible to the public.
Cissnas legislation goes further than the Texas bill in that it bans body scanners that produce naked images. The abuse of such technology was in the news again this week after the TSA forced a woman to go through a body scanner three times at DFW International Airport so TSA screeners in a back room could get a good look at her cute figure.
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Comment: Good for them I hope they get it passed and thumb their nose at the Police State being issued via DHS and TSA