[MineralMan]

"Law enforcment officers — and that's what these TSA screeners are — are not allowed to take enforcement action for speech as long as there is no breach of the peace, and the peace of a law-enforcement officer cannot be breached by mere words."

Can the TSA folks take action if someone leaves a bag unattended? Seems to me that they can, since there's an announcement about it every 30 seconds over the PA? You may have been a cop, but that doesn't mean you know all the regs involved with airport security. Try saying the word bomb, really quietly, to a screener. See how long it takes you to get out of the back room.

Sorry, but you're wrong, in this case. They didn't do a darned thing out of the ordinary to this guy until he stupidly left his bag sitting there while he went for coffee. He's an idiot, and is very lucky he made his flight.

"Please step over here, sir. Now, follow this officer; We have some questions to ask you."

Know what? You're going to have to follow the nice officer and answer his questions at the airport. It's the law.

[quidnunc]

A law enforcement officer cannot use his office to retaliate against somebody under the color of law.

This constitutes official misconduct and is a crime in itself.

Maliciously misinterpretation either of laws or of a persons action in order to harrass him or her is official misconduct.

The court test of whether an officer has acted properly is whether his actions are those of a reasonable and prudent man.

Unless he can articulate reasonable suspicions why a target of enforcement action has broken a law or otherwise constitutes a danger then such enforcement action will in all probability be deemed illegal.

The provisions of the Constitution, statute law and case law are not suspended the moment one steps into an airport.