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TSA forces Richmond airport to issue access badge to convicted felon
In today's episode of "what did the TSA do this time?", the agency is under fire for not only hiring a convicted felon, but demanding that his assigned airport issue him an access badge. The unidentified TSA employee was hired by the agency after passing their background checks - but when he applied for his airport badge, Richmond airport turned him down, citing a conviction for robbery when he was 18.
When the airport denied the badge application, the TSA demanded that they reconsider, citing "unspecified consequences" if they refused. To me, this sounds an awful lot like blackmail.
The employee had not mentioned the conviction on his TSA application, and it doesn't look like it it would have mattered, because the TSA claims he actually committed the crime when he was 17, and that they don't really care about a conviction at that age.
The airport access badge is required to obtain access to the "sterile" area of the airport, including the baggage sorting areas and airline parking spots. Of course, the job of a TSA agent also includes passenger and luggage screening - something convicted felons should not be allowed to do if you ask me.
Politicians are now getting involved, and U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor has asked the TSA to clarify their actions. Given the recent bad press for the TSA, it never ceases to amaze me how they continue to screw up, creating even more bad PR. Lesson to be learned? If you are a criminal planning to protect our skies, make sure you don't commit any crimes after your 18th birthday.
What do you think?
| Yes - assuming they paid their price to society | |
|---|---|
| No way - these people are in charge of our security |
Filed under: North America, United States, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 6)
Ron Feb 7th 2010 11:02AM
It's sad that a person that has made a mistake in their lives can be labeled a felon and denied basic rights when our justice system is no longer about justice or right or wrong. It is a corrupt system that daily sends people to prison and label them , many of which are not even guilty anymore. Perhaps we should make those in authority hold the same standards we put on the average person and accountable for their actions. There'd be less felons we'd have to make ourselves afraid of. Those of you who live in fear of someones past, who believe in a system that no longer represents anything except the selfish interests of those who operate it deserve to be caught up in it yourselves to know it is wrong. You know nothing about the person except the label put on him by this so called justice system yet you fear him. The real enemy to you and what you should fear is your government and your own ignorance. Keeping people denied the right to have jobs because they have been labeled not only serves to make sure they can never have a normal responsible life but insures that they most likely will tire of being punished for no reason and become what you fear them to be. Once a person has payed society for whatever crime he [or she] committed you no longer have the right to continue to punish them. It is self rightous people like you that should be feared the most. How much damage to society does your stupidity cause?
Noel Feb 7th 2010 10:53AM
I have to say that this angers me beyond belief. I was hired by TSA to work in the Newark, NJ Airport in 2002 as a screeener. I was there for many months and doing a great job when I was approached by a supervisor and advised that my background check revealed that my credit was bad and that I was being fired. I left a job as a correctional officer to take this job and was never told during the hiring process that I had to have good credit. I was a single mother at the time and this just destroyed us. I have a spotless record and 17 years in private Law Enforcement. This is just unfair. I deserve to have my job back if he can have his with a criminal record. JERKS
Wayne Lippincott Feb 7th 2010 10:58AM
A convicted felony has lost certain rights and until this rights have been restored,
there are jobs they are not eligible for, unless you are a pro sports player, where, it seems the law does not apply.
Willsr Feb 7th 2010 6:44PM
How many do you know that have their rights restored ??? Only lawyers/politicians and famous people! The average Joe will never get their rights restored after being convicted of a felony!
Noel Feb 7th 2010 10:56AM
Hey Mike,
Just wondering if they now warn you about having a certain credit score to get hired? I was fired after they found out that my credit was bad in 2002. Thank you
SP Feb 7th 2010 1:06PM
The kid was 17yrs old, who hasnt made a dumb decision at that age, or should I say most have but some got caught and some didnt. So you will never know what someone is capable of. It is very well that he learned his lesson and if he never had any run into the law after, why not hire him? Everyday someone is fired ffrom a bank, an airport, a child care center due to their illegal actions; all of which passed their "background" checks. It's just a risk you will take regardless. So unless their background check is extensive and repetitive of crimes, I don't think it should play a part in the hiring process. Unfortunately our gov't is designed for you to fail the moment you make a misake in your life. You break the law, you serve your time. You look for a job.. you cant find one unless you have a connection or start your own buiness or you are willing to accept minimum wage jobs (cannot live off that let alone feed a family). Then everyone looks down on you for not having a good job, then the person's only options after desparation results in another criminal act... and the cycle repeats itself. So who is at fault, the person or our more than flawed gov't? Tthere are many grants and programs to assist convicted felons, but most dont know about them.
Charles Queen Feb 7th 2010 11:08AM
No they should not.As with any government job that requires any type of security they have stringent rules one of which is that they cannot hire felons,period.Much as the military is suppose to not be doing as well but still are as far as I know and also needs to be put to a halt
Brian Feb 7th 2010 11:29AM
women ruin evreyting
manual labor Feb 7th 2010 11:52AM
Yep, it's another Obama initiative to have criminals run the country with him since he too is a criminal!!! I would hope that things like this will start to wake up the idiots whom voted for this arogant unethical nightmare and start to see just where he is really trying to take this country!!! I cannot believe there is strongarm tatics being waved around by the government so blatently but there again if you look thoroughly at the moron in charge it becomes so much clearer......he is a natural born terrorist and his beliefs will bring TOTAL ERADICATION to our freedom!!!! Let's just hope it is not already too late!!!!!!!!!!!
pete Feb 7th 2010 12:00PM
ANY organization entrusted with the security of our citizens or of the country is no more secure or dependable than it's lowest rated employee.
If they would wave a crime for one, they would wave crimes for all. There are tens of millions of people unemployed at this time who have never considered committing a crime, and the capo de tuti capo at TSA chooses to hire a convicted felon.
That pretty much sums up the current administration's attitude toward the honest, hard working, tax paying citizens of the country.
SYL Feb 7th 2010 11:25AM
Brian, Brian, Brian.....What is your problem????Do you not know that IF IT WAS'NT FOR A "WOMAN" YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE>>>> Your Mother the last I checked was and still is a WOMAN....AND what does being a woman have to do with the topic....Come on now...Be a MAN and apologize for that negative comment.
brooks Feb 7th 2010 11:27AM
why? aren't there any other qualified people for the job, with unemployment at 15% on an average what's going on what's the real reason this felon must have the job?
pete Feb 7th 2010 11:58AM
You want competent TSA people? Hire HONORABLY DISCHARGED retired and disabled veterans and don't mess with their retirement or disability benefits. There are millions of us out here, we've proven ourselves thru honorable service. Many of us are capable, willing and able to do the job, and are only holding back because the government will alter or deny altogether our retriement and disability benefits - which we have already EARNED or pay for on a daily basis in pain and suffering.
cynthia Feb 8th 2010 7:12PM
I think the word felon should apply to the politicians who have ripped us off for years and most importantly, child molesters, rapist and murders, these are crimes in which you cannot be rehabilitaed. Not every first timer has a criminal record and to hold someone accountable for the rest of their lifes for a "non-violent" misdemeanor will cause people to do drastic things to protect and provide for their families.
mijey Feb 7th 2010 11:52AM
Welcome to America..land of the stool brains.
Jon Feb 7th 2010 11:57AM
What is this country doing! What are all you stone throwing, lying morons babbling about now. the person was a kid and committed a crime. Is there really anyone out there who can say they have not done something criminal at some point in their life! Just because someone paid the due, changed their lives, learned..... no way, fry 'em all! That's what I'm hearing ... oh, or was that Jesus Christ impersonating a poster.....
AT fifty three I have come to hate the country I once loved and fought for because of this 'holier than anyone' crap I'm reading here, and yet you fools keep voting liars, molesters, thieves and God only knows what other kinds of filth into public office.
You are all, to the last single soul out there... lying, cheating, murdering morons ... just like me. WE are all human, and until you understand the reality of how low you really are, this world is just gonna continue to stymie you because you're so vain your totally blind to reality.
patman Feb 7th 2010 11:51AM
All other arguments aside; the guy lied on his application which shows he can't be trusted. what happens when he is dealing with the public or is approached by someone with the opportunity to do something illegal? Rules and laws are there for a reason. Keep political correctness out of it.
Hardtimes Feb 7th 2010 11:55AM
I'm a 52 year old man, who when I was about 18 did some things that got me arrested to. It wasnt as bad as robbery but I still got put in jail. I couldnt even get a job as a security officer gaurding a costruction site a few years back because of it, It was 30 years ago. I understood why, so there's noway this guy should get clearance to work at our airports.
Colin Feb 7th 2010 11:58AM
Mr. Obama was right when he made the statement, "This is no-longer a Christian Nation." As Christians we are taught to forgive one's debt when one has made restitution. When somebody commits a crime here in America, they spend time in jail, loose a great big piece of their life and then, are never allowed to have a decent job again as long as they live here in America. Exudus 22 gives mankind the best rules to live by and we used to be that way in this country. People used to just let it go once they paid for there crimes. Of course prison was much more harsh and one taste of it (if you survived) was enough!
I long for a "Just" society. BUT NOT AN ISLAMIC ONE.
Chris Feb 7th 2010 12:47PM
Simple solution...Allow people to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights everywhere and there won't be a need for a TSA. The government would save billions in security costs. Besides, TSA violates your constitutional rights through unreasonable search and seizure every time you board a commercial flight. I can't recall the last time an elderly woman or a six year old cub scout hijacked a plane so why are they put through the same scrutiny as you would put a 18-45 year old middle eastern male? Hmmmm.....