Free Republic

Security chief has no regrets about intrusive screenings. You should have seen the smile on Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole’s face at the Global Business Travel Association’s conference ... You know the drill: Either step into the machine that takes your naked picture and zaps you with unneeded doses of radiation, or have a friendly TSA officer touch your “junk.” ... Pistole, in case you’ve wondered, is proud of his name, which is pronounced just like the gun. And if you were to say his name at a TSA checkpoint, you could be charged with a felony. “As an...

No charges have been filed against a Colorado woman arrested on suspicion of groping a female Transportation Security Administration agent in Phoenix, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office says. After initially reviewing the case against 61-year-old Yukari Miyamae, the County Attorney determined the facts alleged did not rise to the level of a felony offense under state law and referred the matter to the Phoenix City Prosecutor for review and possible charging as a misdemeanor.

Special session to include debate on airport pat-downs By Peggy Fikac Updated 11:20 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2011 AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, under pressure from tea party activists, on Monday added to lawmakers' to-do list a ban on airport security searches considered intrusive without probable cause to believe someone has committed an offense. The measure died in the regular legislative session in the wake of warnings from federal officials that it would conflict with federal law and could force flight cancellations if the safety of passengers and crew couldn't be assured. “We can't let threats from the federal government...

Texas lawmakers may reconsider a bill to outlaw controversial airport pat-downs, the sponsor of legislation that was shelved recently said this week. Texas state Rep. David Simpson (R) said that Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst asked Gov. Rick Perry to include the measure in a special session of the Texas legislature. Dewhurst reported asked lawmakers to withdraw the bill when federal officials threatened to cancel flights to Texas if it passed. But he has since had a change of heart, Simpson told fans on his Facebook page. "The Lt. Gov. sent a letter to Gov. Perry asking him to include...