Commenters attack snarky TSA blogger

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Thank you Aaron for including my comments and for your kind words. I feel like a celebrity.

To Emma Leigh & Eva,

Before the new forced ID verification policy, a passenger had the option to refuse to show ID. If the passenger refused to show ID they were subjected to a more strenuous screening for weapons, explosives and incendiaries, a policy that was both reasonable and legal.

The reasons for the fuss and why so many are adamant against the new policy is multi fold. First, the constitutional issue of the right of free travel. Since the Articles of the Confederation, free travel has been a bedrock right of an American. The forced ID verification is contrary to the historical court affirmations of this right as it can unduly restrict free travel at a TSO's whim.

Secondly, the new forced ID policy is illegal. The legislative branch of our Government is comprised mostly of lawyers, I have full confidence that Congress can write a law to say exactly what they mean. In this case I have not found any law that allows the TSA to force an ID verification. No matter how well intended, willfully breaking the law is not proper for any Government entity.

Third, the new forced ID verification is a waste of scarce resources. By the TSA's own admission approximately 300 people a day, out of 2,000,000 per day were without ID or refused to show it. That is less than one person per airport with a TSA presence. The cost of just up to date data from private companies is enormous, ask anyone that sends junk mail. The TSA can't buy a targeted list but has to purchase data on every person living in America. Why spend that kind of money on such a minuscule subset of passengers when you can simply give them a more thorough search and stay within the bounds of the law. The TSA is opening themselves up to a costly court challenge on not only the statutory validity of the policy but also the constitutional validity.

The forced ID verification does not increase security, it is illegal, and it is costly. Remember the money they waste is yours.

I hope that cleared things up.

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