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Texas Rep. David Simpson Files Legislation to Penalize TSA Agents

By Aaron - March 5, 2011 at 9:32 PM
Filed under Civil Liberties , GOP Party , GOP Platform , Issues , News , RLC News , States , Technology , Texas

Earlier this week, freshman Texas state Representative David Simpson (R-Longview) has filed two bills to try to counter the threat of the TSA in Texas airports. One bill would ban airport body scanner in Texas. The legislation already has 18 co-sponsors from both parties. The other bill would make sexual contact with airline passengers by TSA agents a state felony.

David Simpson was endorsed by the RLC last year. He also spoke at a RLC meeting in November.

The bill, HB 1938, makes it a civil penalty for anyone working in a locally owned airport to install or operate whole-body imaging equipment — “including a device that uses backscatter x-rays or millimeter waves, that creates a visual image of a person’s unclothed body and is intended to detect concealed objects.” The penalty is capped at $1,000 per day per violation.

Simpson may also have the backing of U.S. Congressman John Carter of Texas, a member of the U.S. House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees. “On Thursday I met with U.S. Congressman John Carter to discuss strategies for stopping the federal Transportation Safety Administration’s implementation of unconstitutional and unreasonable searches of U.S. citizens as a condition of travel,” Simpson wrote in a blog post.

The bill is supported by the Travis County Republican Party, ACLU-Texas, and the Austin-based Texans for Accountable Government. Co-authors so far include: Reps. Jose Aliseda (R-Beeville), Leo Berman (R-Tyler), Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont), Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball), Dan Flynn (R-Vann), John V. Garza (R-San Antonio), Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock), Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City), Charlie Howard (R-Sugar Land), Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs), Jim Landtroop (R-Big Spring), Jodie Laubenberg (R-Rockwall), Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), Debbie Riddle (R-Houston), Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), and James White (R-Hillister).

http://www.greggcountygop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/DavidSimpsonLogo-699w378h.png

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect official positions of the RLC.
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3 Comments to “Texas Rep. David Simpson Files Legislation to Penalize TSA Agents”

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  1. Kenneth Pausewang said:
    On March 9th, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Dear Representative Simpson;
    Bill HB 1938 is great! and i support anyone that stands for truth, honesty, FREEDOM, and common sense. Full speed ahead. Thank You Sir, I’m with you, Ken

  2. Frank said:
    On March 23rd, 2011 at 5:28 am

    Congressman – I can’t believe it too so long for someone to try and stop the TSA from grouping us at the airport. I commend you and wholeheartedly agree. This is clearly an invasion of privacy and a violation of the Fourth Amendment but no one – aside from you – seems to think it is. We may come from two different parts of the country but I support what you are doing. Clearly the technology is out there to stop TSA agents from feeling us up or peeking under our clothes. Keep up the good work and press on!

  3. Hptcatwoman said:
    On May 25th, 2011 at 8:33 pm

    Dear Rep. Simpson, I applaud & commend you for having the GUTS to stand against this TYRANNY!!!!!!!!  I live in newport news VIRGINIA and heard you on INFOWARS.COM.  You have my total support for your bill1938 and any other that texas brings forth.  God bless you & TEXAS!!!!!!Never back down to the illegitimate FEDERAL GOV’T!!