Submitted Comments
438 comments total, 371 to display, page 34 of 38, 10 at a time (most recent first)
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64. From Ben S, Madison, WI, 18 October 2004, 12:39:58 PM PST
Dear TSA:
Please register my strong opposition to the Secure Flight program.
Your record of supporting fairness, privacy, and compentent, well-managed airport security is poor.
http://www.reason.com/0402/fe.jb.dominate.shtml
Hence I am unenthusiastic about this new program.
1) Internal passports are contrary to our most deeply held rights and values.
2) TSA's current and past use of passenger lists is a gross invasion of privacy without just cause.
3) If you read national newspapers regularly, you will find reports of permeable airport security all over the country--it is too easy for investigators to bring weapons on inside their carry-on luggage. Secure Flight will not address this.
Please, please, please talk to other democractic countries, and find some creative, privacy-respecting solutions to the airport security problem. Have you reviewed the Israeli approach?
You can and must secure our airports while respecting our constitution, rights, and values.
62. 18 October 2004, 12:30:07 PM PST
I was never informed that my June 2004 flight information would be mined by the Federal Government and subcontracted out to a for-profit company who is not even incorporated in AMERICA.
I strongly protest this unconstitutional "data mining" action and wish my protest to be recorded.
To close, I quote a founding father as his words are as true today as they were the moment they were written.
"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home." James Madison
61. From Joshua M, Chatham, New York, 18 October 2004, 12:29:55 PM PST
Enough with the internal travel controls. In this country, people are presumed innocent and have a right to be free from this sort of thing. Spend TSA money on things that are actually useful.
60. From Thomas D, Silver Spring, Md, 18 October 2004, 12:19:43 PM PST
You don't want to spy on the American people. The only way that can be justified is if you have evidence of a specific crime having been committed by a specific person. If there is no such evidence - then all this searching and checking papers and submitting private data is not only wrong, not only unconstitutional, but it will breed more hatred and disrespect for government. That could have unintended consequences.
You don't need any more "law enforcement tools." We, the people need more tools to protect ourselves from the biggest threat to our security, which is our own government. One such tool is our Constitutional right to bear arms, which is a tool that Todd Beamer could have used on Sept. 11th. You are busy depriving us of our tools while adding to yours.
Stop it now.
59. From Gareth A, 18 October 2004, 12:18:23 PM PST
As structured, "Secure Flight" will pass confidential information to third-country nationals, who are frequently hired for TSA jobs. "Secure Flight" will create a greater security problem than it solves, as it opens an easy method for information-gathering on Americans to the intelligence services of other countries as well as to non-state actors. Foreign-country nationals already have ready access to personal and classified materials as they pass them through x-ray machines and personally search bags and persons. If the TSA workers are given the database "Secure Flight" would provide, including names, ticket numbers, flight histories, employers, etc., then agents and criminals among them could better identify intelligence and other targets in the baggage. If "Secure Flight" is enacted, airport screening will become the nation's weakest point, rolling out a red carpet for foreign intelligence-gathering. Worse than ineffective (terrorists will quickly learn how to game any algorithm), this program will endanger national as well as personal security. If you want the Kremlin (and a host of third-world hackers) to know who you are and what is in your bag before you arrive at the airport, "Secure Flight" is the best way to achieve this.
58. From Timothy P, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, 18 October 2004, 11:59:54 AM PST
Hello. I recently learned that flight information pertaining to my travel in June 2004 was in all likelihood provided to the TSA without my prior consent. Although I am a law-abiding citizen and have nothing to hide this does not mean I wish to share my personal travels with any US government agency. While this may be only a minimal invasion into my privacy, this is just another example of how indivdual freedoms can be taken away piecemeal and why should the general population care since they aren't affected. However, it is important to fight for one's privacy. Please stop encroahing on our individual rights and honor my right to live in peace.
57. From Shawn D, Mobile, AL, 18 October 2004, 11:55:33 AM PST
I am utterly apalled by your 'secure flight' initiative. If senator Kennedy can be stopped from flight because his name is similar to one on a watch list and had to use his connections in government to have the problem fixed then secure flight will cause an exponential increase in headaches for ALL travelers. What chance will they have to fix mistakes? Since you have made no easily accesible information on reporting complaints or errors the average traveler could potentially be barred from flight without notice and with no way to have the problem rectified. And that is only the issues envolving accidental problems imanating from 'secure flight'. There are many, many questions raised as to how many constitutional violations will come from the intiative. You should NOT have the right to control the ability of people to travel as they please without having any reason other than your personal suspicions. This country was built on FREEDOM (go check the definition in the dictionary since you aparently don't know it) and it's citizens will NOT sit by quietly while you inact procedures reminicent of communist states. I understand that you're trying in a misguided way to protect those you love and care about, but unfortunately these such measures beget abuse by those in power and cause more fear and paranoia, thereby helping rather than hindering those who would instill fear in American citizens. Furthermore is causes distrust for our own government and weakens our resolve as a whole. I understand that pivacy is not expressly provided as a right in the constitution, but the information you are seeking to obtain is obviously going to be used to violate rights that are protected otehrwise the information would be useless. Please think about the bigger picture. You are removing the very rights of the citizens you claim to be trying to protect. Where will it stop? Before or after you have eroded all of our rights that make us proud to be Americans?
56. From John F, Sf, Ca, 18 October 2004, 11:53:04 AM PST
The last time I flew I had long hair. I was singled out and sent to the butt search line. I was told, to remove my shoes, my belt, turn on my computer, ipod, cellphone and explain everything in my bag. Next I was told to wait for the "supervisor." When I commented, "I'll be late for my plane" they didn't care. I asked, "can I put my belt on." They told me no. "Can I put my shoes on?" Again. No. Then I asked, "can I have my rights back?"
55. From Gary M, Nashua, NH, 18 October 2004, 11:48:36 AM PST
It's a violation of the Constitution to issue a "bill of attainder," a law to punish specific persons. Legislation banning people from flying simply because they are on a list is an unconstitutional bill of attainder.
54. From STEVE E, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 18 October 2004, 11:41:23 AM PST
SECURE FLIGHT WOULD BE A GOOD TOOL IF IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH SECURE FLIGHT AND IF IT WERE IN THE HANDS OF HONORABLE, CONSTITUTION-RESPECTING, AND LAW ABIDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE AND THE GREATEST THREAT TO CIVIL AVIATION SECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY IS THE tsa.
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