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Is TSA Going Too Far?Pat-Down Or Sexual Assault?Related Content ANCHORAGE—Nationwide, lawmakers are calling for changes to airport security procedures, just a week after Rep. Sharon Cissna (D-Anchorage) refused a pat-down at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport.
As Rep. Cissna works on an Alaska bill to change the way Transportation Security Administration screens passengers for safety, lawmakers in New Hampshire are pushing for a bill that would classify certain procedures as sexual assault and require security agents to register as sex offenders. “The pats are not pats,” Cissna said Tuesday morning. Cissna last Sunday refused a TSA pat-down after security x-rays apparently detected an irregularity from her mastectomy—the second time in the last few months the breast cancer survivor had been singled out for extra screening. Cissna refused and took a ferry back to Alaska in order to make the legislative session. “We have not heard that story out here,” said New Hampshire State Rep. George Lambert. “That's a great story.” Lambert is part of a group of New Hampshire lawmakers who filed months ago a bill that would essentially turn any security officer affiliated with a government agency into a sex offender if a person's private parts were touched or viewed “without probable cause.” “The TSA rules have increased to searches that included touching people, reaching up, touching their genitalia, touching people's breasts and really constituted a sexual assault that exceeds the mandate for an administrative search because you're not just looking for weapons,” Lambert said. Rep. Cissna said more than a thousand people have contacted her in the past week with similar stories. She said, judging from those stories, certain TSA pat-downs are similar to sexual assault. “Unfortunately, in our state, we lead the nation in abuse and to have those people having government humiliate that way most of the times in public it's really very frightening,” Cissna said. Cissna says her bill, though still in the works, will not look like that of New Hampshire but, she says, her experience has gotten Alaskans talking about how best to monitor safety for one of Alaska's only connections to the outside world. A TSA spokesperson said he is not allowed to comment on pending legislation but did say all TSA agents are required to treat each passenger with respect and to communicate with that passenger throughout the procedure. |
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Outraged Parent said on Sunday, Mar 6 at 12:03 PM
Thank you, Rep Cissna. I refuse to let some government clerk electronically strip search my teenage son and daughter and/or fondle their genitals so we can visit grandma and grandpa. We won't be getting on a plane again until Congress or the courts end this despicable practice.
62088072Rebecca said on Sunday, Mar 6 at 3:49 AM
Thank you, Rep. Cissna for going public with your story. The TSA and our gov't doesn't give a rat's patootie that many of us have been saying this for a long time, so it's vital with those with the appropriate platform stand up and take action. I'm sorry you had to go through this, but I thank you for standing up and using your position to shine a light on this unconstitutional behavior.
62064647drey said on Saturday, Mar 5 at 8:36 PM
Many Thanks Rep Cissna! Please protect women who travel from these kinds of abuses from the TSA!!
62055592Anonymous said on Friday, Mar 4 at 6:31 AM
they are not 'similar' to sexual assault. they are sexual assault plain and simple. they are also against child pornography laws
61929377Aris_A said on Thursday, Mar 3 at 3:24 PM
The TSA needs to stop sexually assaulting passengers. I am beyond outraged, I am incensed about these abhorrent genital exams and pornographic pictures. These filthy molesters have their hands in our pants and they're creating naked images of chldren! On exactly what planet is any of this acceptable?
618841381AK474U said on Thursday, Mar 3 at 2:42 PM
Don,t be a sheep. Don,t let TSA treat you like sheep
61880813Anonymous said on Thursday, Mar 3 at 2:41 PM
Don,t be sheep stand up and tell the TSA to stuff it we arn,t sheep
61880778Sue said on Thursday, Mar 3 at 11:04 AM
Rep. Cissna is GREAT, you go girl! We will not fly until someone does something about this abuse of power and our rights being trampled!! The US congress needs to curb this invasive, rights trampling Home Land Security. Another way to budget cut... cut Home land Security's budget... no more cancer causing xray's !!
61860147Dwayne said on Wednesday, Mar 2 at 7:36 PM
To the TSA spokeperson. All victims of any kind of assult are communicated with. the only differince is you work for the goverment and have a little power when its not used right its abuse! by the way I nerver seen respect with abuse.
61812016Stacey said on Wednesday, Mar 2 at 10:02 AM
Obama could put a stop to this as TSA is under the executive branch. Call your congressional reps and senators. TSA is now patting people down AFTER they get off Amtrak trains.
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