TSA: calling Kip Hawley an idiot is not allowed

A flier in the Milwaukee airport wrote "[TSA secretary] Kip Hawley is an idiot" on the clear plastic bag that he was ordered to put his liquids into, and ran it through the x-ray machine. The TSA goon working the machine detained him for 25 minutes, telling him that the First Amendment didn't apply in airport security. Does anyone seriously think that calling the head of the TSA an idiot endangers airplanes? Or that terrorists would call attention to themselves by writing inflammatory things about the TSA Obergruppenfuhrer on their carry-on luggage?

The TSA then confiscated the baggie and the traveller's liquids, took his picture, and "filed a report" on him.

He grabbed the baggie as it came out of the X-ray and asked if it was mine. After responding yes, he pointed at my comment and demanded to know "What is this supposed to mean?" "It could me a lot of things, it happens to be an opinion on mine." "You can't write things like this" he said, "You mean my First Amendment right to freedom of speech doesn't apply here?" "Out there (pointing pass the id checkers) not while in here (pointing down) was his response."

At this point I chuckled, just looking at him wondering if he just realized how foolish that comment was, but I think my laugh pushed him over the edge as he got really angry at this point. A Milwaukee County Sheriffs deputy was summoned – I would have left at this point, but he had my quart bag with my toothpaste and hair gel.

When the deputy got over the TSA supervisor showed him the bag and told him what had happened to that point. After he had finished I started to remind him he had left out his statement that my First Amendment rights didn't apply "here" but was cut off by the deputy who demanding my ID. I asked if I was under arrest, and his response was "Right now you are not under arrest, you are being detained." I produced my passport and he walked off with it and called in my name to see if I had any outstanding warrants, etc. The TSA supervisor picked up the phone about 20 feet away and called someone? At this point two more officers were near by and I struck up a conversation with the female officer who was making sure I kept put. I explained to her who Kip Hawley was, why I though he was an idiot, and my surprise that the TSA Supervisor felt my First Amendment rights didn't' apply at the TSA checkpoint. She didn't say much.

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