Thursday, May 26, 2011

Texas Blinked

You may wonder what I mean when I say, "Texas blinked." Texas had a bill that passed the House and moved to the Senate that would make it illegal for TSA officers to grope people while they are (unconstitutionally) patting them down in airports (for now) and possibly in train stations in the near future.

Shortly after the bill was sent to the Texas Senate, U.S. Attorney John Murphy sent a letter to the Senate that said that if the bill were to pass and if Governor Perry were to sign it into law, the federal government would seek to have an "emergency injunction" on the law to keep it from going into effect. Before the injunction were imposed, the TSA would cancel all flights in and out of Texas and impose a "No fly zone" over Texas. The reasoning for this? The TSA claims that it couldn't ensure the safety of the passengers or flight crews if they didn't go through the "screening" process. Under this faulty logic, no flights should enter U.S. airspace from any foreign nation because the TSA didn't screen those passengers or flight crews. Of course we know that this isn't the case but why let the facts get in the way.

In the offending letter, Mr. Murphy claimed, "Texas has no authority to regulate federal agents and employees in the performance of their federal duties or to pass a statute that conflicts with federal law."

First of all, the States created the federal government and nowhere in the Constitution is there a provision for the TSA. Federal laws are not supreme regardless of what unelected judges say. Federal law is only supreme when the federal law carries out a constitutionally enumerated power, see the previous sentence.

If the previous paragraph is rejected, which it will be by most federal officials and those who buy into the "supremacy clause" of the Constitution, the fourth amendment dictates searches of people and property conducted by federal officers and employees. "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." Before a TSA thug gropes a passenger is a warrant served? Of course not, therefore, when a TSA thug gropes a passenger, they are breaking the law. If a passenger objects to the unconstitutional grope, they are forbidden from boarding their flight and in some cases, they are questioned by law enforcement.

Back to the Texas story. Shortly after the letter was sent to the Texas Senate, the bill was pulled and will not be voted on. This is why I say that Texas blinked. Texas said that the TSA couldn't grope their citizens anymore and the federal government said, "Yes we can. What are you going to do about it?" Texas wet their pants and begged the feds to forgive them for acting out.

What is the difference between us and 1937 Germany? Nothing. When does this stop? Do you take the train or drive instead? What will you do when this starts taking place at train stations and bus depots? When the TSA expands to trains and buses will you stand up and tell them to back off or will you take it like a sheeple? How long can you expect to be "free" if you refuse to stand up for your freedom now? Wake up and smell the tyranny.