A CRIME TO PARODY TSA

HR 3011 the Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act of 2011, a bill introduced in late September by Rep Michael Rodgers (R-AL) contains an ominous passage buried within:

"Whoever, except with the written permission of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Security (or the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service for issues involving the Federal Air Marshal Service), knowingly uses the words ‘Transportation Security Administration’, ‘United States Transportation Security Administration’, ‘Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘United States Federal Air Marshal Service’, ‘Federal Air Marshals’, the initials ‘T.S.A.’, ‘F.A.M.S.’, ‘F.A.M.’, or any colorable imitation of such words or initials, or the likeness of a Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service badge, logo, or insignia on any item of apparel, in connection with any advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or with any play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, in a matter that is reasonably calculated to convey the impression that the wearer of the item of apparel is acting pursuant to the legal authority of the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service, or to convey the impression that such advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, software, or other publication, or such play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Transportation Security Administration or Federal Air Marshal Service."

In other words, if you happen to be wearing clothing that contains a logo with some type of parody or satire regarding the Department of Fondling, Groping and Federally Sanctioned Molestation (read TSA), you can be arrested for impersonation. Be it they, the Federal Air Marshall's Service or some similar federal thug type organization.

Now, how anyone who is mocking or making fun of these organizations by wearing a T-shirt or other form of clothing, can be confused with "conveying the impression that the wearer of the item of apparel is acting pursuant to the legal authority..." is beyond me. Personally, when I'm deriding or mocking an organization, I can be confused as many things, but being part of that group is NOT one of them.

Since September 11, 2001, the US Constitution has been under constant attack by the federal government. Americans First Amendment right to Free Speech is being eroded at an alarming rate, as evidenced by the above bill; as have Fourth Amendment rights to the protection of unlawful search and seizure, by DHS and TSA. All being done under the guise of keeping the homeland safe.

Bullshit. Most Americans sit idly back and sheepishly accept the abuses being heaped upon them with little or no complaint; accepting without question the GWOT and "We're keeping you safe" drivel that pours out of Washington. All the while, much like the frog, they are ignorant to the fact that the pot of water is slowly coming to a boil.

Bills such as HR 3011 must be rewritten or defeated. Americans must stand up and say ENOUGH! We must defend the rights guaranteed to us by the Founding Fathers. I fear, if there are not more citizens who do so, as time goes by, the end result may lead to open revolt. If it comes to that, sadly, we are too late.