OpEdNews - Diary: Wednesday, November 24, 2010 is NATIONAL OPT-OUT DAY!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 is NATIONAL OPT-OUT DAY! You should never have to explain to your children, "Remember that no stranger can touch or see your private area, unless it's a government employee, then it's OK."

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 is NATIONAL OPT-OUT DAY!

It's the day ordinary citizens stand up for their rights, stand up for liberty, and protest the federal government's desire to virtually strip us naked or submit to an "enhanced pat down" that touches people's breasts and genitals in an aggressive manner. You should never have to explain to your children, "Remember that no stranger can touch or see your private area, unless it's a government employee, then it's OK."

The goal of National Opt Out Day is to send a message to our lawmakers that we demand change. We have a right to privacy and buying a plane ticket should not mean that we're guilty until proven innocent. This day is needed because many people do not understand what they consent to when choosing to fly.

Here are the details:

Who?

You, your family and friends traveling by air on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Remember too, as the TSA says, "Everyday is opt-out day." That is, you can opt out any time you fly.

What?

National Opt-Out Day. You have the right to opt-out of the naked body scanner machines (AIT, or Advance Imaging Technology, as the government calls it). All you have to do is say "I opt out" when they tell you to go through one of the machines. You will then be given an "enhanced" pat down. This is a right given to you by the TSA.

Where?

At an airport near you!

When?

Wednesday, November 24, 2010. We want families to sit around the dinner table, eating turkey, talking about their experience - what constitutes an unreasonable search, how forceful of a pat down will we allow on certain areas of our body, and that of our children, and how much privacy are we will to give up for flying? We hope the experience then propels people to write their Member of Congress and the airlines to demand change.

Why?

The government should not have the ability to virtually strip search anyone it wants without cause. The problem has been compounded in that if you do not want to go through the body scanner, the TSA has made the alternative perhaps even worse by instituting "enhanced" pat downs. There are reports from travelers across the country about how the TSA now touches the genitals and private areas of men, women and children in a much more aggressive manner. We do not believe the government has a right to see you naked or aggressively touch you just because you bought an airline ticket.

How?

By saying "I opt out" when told to go through the bodying imaging machines and submitting to a pat down. Also, be sure to have your pat down by TSA in full public - do not go to the back room when asked. Every citizen must see for themselves how the TSA treats law-abiding citizens.

If you have experienced a problem with TSA when flying, use the Electronic Privacy Information Center's incident report to lodge your complaint:

http://epic.org/bodyscanner/incident_report/

***ALERT***

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation will hold a
Transportation Security Administration oversight hearing Wednesday NOV 17. See this link for more information: http://bit.ly/bICXfJ

Please forward this information as widely as possible, and be sure to call your Senators, no matter who they are, but especially if they sit on this Committee. The only way to change the system is by legislation through Congress. The Administration doesn't seem to want to budge.

Senate Subcommittee Meeting info:

Jena Longo - Democratic Deputy Communications Director, (202) 224-8374
Nov 17 2010 10:00 AM
Russell Senate Office Building - 253

Contact the communications director to find out more information about the meeting. You may also call the office of the Committee majority (Democrats) at 202-224-0411. The minority (Republicans) Committee office number is 202-224-1251.

Regardless of your home state, call the Committee chair to ask whether recent TSA abuses are on the agenda for the oversight hearing. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) chairs the committee. His office number is 202-224-6472.

Here is a list of Committee members and phone number. If one of these people is your Senator, please phone them, either at the number below or look online to find their nearest local office - you can even visit in person (though please call their office first if stopping by). TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! CALL NOW!

FULL LIST OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Majority Members

Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV West Virginia 202-224-6472

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Hawaii 202-224-3934

Senator John F. Kerry Massachusetts 202-224-2742

Senator Byron L. Dorgan North Dakota 202-224-2551

Senator Barbara Boxer California 202-224-3553

Senator Bill Nelson Florida 202-224-5274

Senator Maria Cantwell Washington 202-224-3441

Senator Frank R. Lautenberg New Jersey 202-224-3224

Senator Mark Pryor Arkansas 202-224-2353

Senator Claire McCaskill Missouri 202-224-6154