Articles: TSA Now Storming Public Places 8,000 Times a Year

We are only one small step away from having an Internal Security Force performing random stops to make sure that our papers are in order. When I went though Penn Station a few weeks ago it was the TSA in their blue shirts doing random bags checks not the NYPD. I understand the need for security but allowing the Federal government to control the process will result in the loss of our civil rights.

Americans must decide if, in the name of homeland security, they are willing to allow TSA operatives to storm public places in their communities with no warning, pat them down, and search their bags.  And they better decide quickly.

Bus travelers were shocked when jackbooted TSA officers in black SWAT-style uniforms descended unannounced upon the Tampa Greyhound bus station in April with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and federal bureaucrats in tow.

A news report by ABC Action News in Tampa showed passengers being given the signature pat downs Americans are used to watching the Transportation Security Administration screeners perform at our airports. Canine teams sniffed their bags and the buses they rode. Immigration officials hunted for large sums of cash as part of an anti-smuggling initiative.

The TSA clearly intends for these out-of-nowhere swarms by its officers at community transit centers, bus stops and public events to become a routine and accepted part of American life.

The TSA has conducted 8,000 of these security sweeps across the country in the past year alone, TSA chief John Pistole told a Senate committee June 14.  They are part of its VIPR (Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response) program, which targets public transit related places.

All of which is enough to make you wonder if we are watching the formation of the "civilian national security force" President Obama called for on the campaign trail "that is just as powerful, just as strong and just as well funded" as the military.

The VIPR swarm on Wednesday, the TSA's largest so far, was such a shocking display of the agency's power that it set the blogosphere abuzz.

In a massive flex of muscle most people didn't know the TSA had, the agency led dozens of federal and state law enforcement agencies in a VIPR exercise that covered three states and 5,000 square miles. According to the Marietta Times, the sweep used reconnaissance aircraft and "multiple airborne assets, including Blackhawk helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as well as waterborne and surface teams."

Articles: TSA Now Storming Public Places 8,000 Times a Year

Remy: Do the TSA Pokey Pokey

BBCW: Video Update Tammy Banovac Who Was Denied by the TSA: Shows Up Twice in Bra and Panties at TSA Checkpoint at Will Rogers World Airport

These TSA stories keep getting stranger and stranger each day.

Adam Savage says "WTF, TSA?"

More proof that the TSA really sucks at doing their jobs.

Egotistical TSA vs Passenger Satire

TSA Screening Flight Crew

Mother Kept In “Glass Cage” For Almost An Hour By TSA For Resisting Over Breast Milk

After watching this video I urge you to contact your Congressmen and Senators because the harassment of law abiding American citizens by the TSA must stop now!!

Young Boy strip searched by TSA (Original w/ Full Story Description)

TSA keeping us safe everyday from little white kids.


Thank you for all you do to help protect us but would you mind not stealing our stuff we would really appreciate it.




Newark airport security officer is charged with stealing laptops from lost and found

A federal airline security officer was charged today with stealing laptop computers from a lost and found at Newark Liberty International Airport, authorities said.

Jennifer Steplight, of Bayonne, surrendered to authorities and is scheduled to appear today before a federal judge in Newark.

Steplight, 40, worked for the Transportation Security Administration and was responsible for maintaining records for the lost and found. Authorities say she stole four laptops between December and January 2010, then falsified forms to conceal the alleged thefts.

She is charged with embezzlement by a government employee and making false statements. If convicted, Steplight faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

PS- We would also really appreciate it if you would stop announcing to the whole world when an Air Marshall is going through screening because unlike you they are there to protect us from terrorists and it kind of defeats the purpose of them being undercover if you tell everyone.

PJTV: Don't Touch My Junk: Napolitano Turns TSA into Department of T&A

TSA "My Ding-a-Ling" Sing-Along

Via Red State- Another TSA Outrage

If you are one of the few Americans that belief that the TSA is actually protecting Americans I think you will change your mind after reading this article.

Another TSA Outrage

 By Erick Erickson

A friend of mine sent me this about his TSA experience. He, unlike most of us, was coming back into the country from Afghanistan on a military charter.

——–

As the Chalk Leader for my flight home from Afghanistan, I witnessed the following:

When we were on our way back from Afghanistan, we flew out of Baghram Air Field. We went through customs at BAF, full body scanners (no groping), had all of our bags searched, the whole nine yards.

Our first stop was Shannon, Ireland to refuel. After that, we had to stop at Indianapolis, Indiana to drop off about 100 folks from the Indiana National Guard. That’s where the stupid started.

First, everyone was forced to get off the plane–even though the plane wasn’t refueling again. All 330 people got off that plane, rather than let the 100 people from the ING get off. We were filed from the plane to a holding area. No vending machines, no means of escape. Only a male/female latrine.

It’s probably important to mention that we were ALL carrying weapons. Everyone was carrying an M4 Carbine (rifle) and some, like me, were also carrying an M9 pistol. Oh, and our gunners had M-240B machine guns. Of course, the weapons weren’t loaded. And we had been cleared of all ammo well before we even got to customs at Baghram, then AGAIN at customs.

The TSA personnel at the airport seriously considered making us unload all of the baggage from the SECURE cargo hold to have it reinspected. Keep in mind, this cargo had been unpacked, inspected piece by piece by U.S. Customs officials, resealed and had bomb-sniffing dogs give it a one-hour run through. After two hours of sitting in this holding area, the TSA decided not to reinspect our Cargo–just to inspect us again: Soldiers on the way home from war, who had already been inspected, reinspected and kept in a SECURE holding area for 2 hours. Ok, whatever. So we lined up to go through security AGAIN.

This is probably another good time to remind you all that all of us were carrying actual assault rifles, and some of us were also carrying pistols.

So we’re in line, going through one at a time. One of our Soldiers had his Gerber multi-tool. TSA confiscated it. Kind of ridiculous, but it gets better. A few minutes later, a guy empties his pockets and has a pair of nail clippers. Nail clippers. TSA informs the Soldier that they’re going to confiscate his nail clippers. The conversation went something like this:

TSA Guy: You can’t take those on the plane.

Soldier: What? I’ve had them since we left country.

TSA Guy: You’re not suppose to have them.

Soldier: Why?

TSA Guy: They can be used as a weapon.

Soldier: [touches butt stock of the rifle] But this actually is a weapon. And I’m allowed to take it on.

TSA Guy: Yeah but you can’t use it to take over the plane. You don’t have bullets.

Soldier: And I can take over the plane with nail clippers?

TSA Guy: [awkward silence]

Me: Dude, just give him your damn nail clippers so we can get the f**k out of here. I’ll buy you a new set.

Soldier: [hands nail clippers to TSA guy, makes it through security]

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns–but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.

We entrust these highly trained soldiers with assault rifles and machine guns, albeit unloaded, but a pair of nail clippers is dangerous to the safety of the plane? The TSA is obviously full of morons and incompetents but we are told by our government that we must allow them to fondle our wives and children? I say no way in Hell will I allow that to ever happen to my family.