Joseph, yes you can refuse them and then be held for law enforcement to come and interrogate you and face fines for refusal.
Doug, you are correct and that makes my point the government has implemented the Patriot Act which in turn brought about the TSA which is an enforcement arm of the government.
Clatty Mary
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Well yes,...but I blame the PEOPLE.
If you don't stand up and DEMAND the Constitution be respected ie; by voting ONLY for those candidates who will uphold the oath and voting OUT anyone who agrees with these transgressions.
Failing that, get out on to the streets!!
The United States Constitution and Bill of RIGHTS has been under attack for decades now by successive administrations and what do the People do?
They keep on voting for the same old same old, Democrat or Republicans!
It's time for ALL AMERICANS to WAKE UP!
This is the truth.
Anonymous
I assume you are referring to the airport screenings. As despicable--and useless--as they are, I think since airlines are privately owned, they can have these rules and you can simply choose not to fly. On the other hand, a private company cannot have rules that are unconstitutional.
I think you make a good point, and perhaps someone will bring a case before the Supreme Court. That would be interesting.
Doug makes a good point; the Patriot Act has already seriously infringed on the 1st Amendment.
doug4jets
Yes, but it was the Patriot Act, not the TSA which did it. The TSA is just following normal progression from horrible legislation.
Anonymous
@Joseph............"a violation of the 4th Amendment would be a government search you cannot deny"
Threatening you with a lawsuit and $10,000 fine and claiming non-compliance is not an option would seem to indicate they [the TSA] are not going to let you get away with turning down a scan and patdown.
?
No. The 4th and 14th Amendments would only be "effectively done away with" if the government consistently violated the amendments with no repercussions at all. Whenever some violations occur, it doesn't mean that the amendments are "effectively" gone. Please stop talking like Chicken Little and please say realistic things.