Freedom to Travel Event, Part 4

[Dreepa]

Seriously.. Pat I am getting pissed!!!!!!!

They are fucking with people's lives.
Take the freakin' blade and send the people on their way.

[Kat Kanning]

I found their address and phone number, if anyone wants to do something for these people.

[Russell Kanning]

Why did she go to jail if it was a "civil penalty"?

[Michael Fisher]

 

[FTL_Ian]

Scumbags.  Added to the show prep for Monday.. hope I can get to it.  Thanks for posting, Kat.

[Russell Kanning]

Tolstoy-
On this acceptance of the necessity and therefore immutability of the existing order, all who take part in acts of violence on the part of government base the argument always advanced in their justification. "Since the existing order is immutable," they say, "the refusal of a single individual to perform the duties laid upon him will effect no change in things, and will only mean that some other man will be put in his place who may do the work worse, that is to say, more cruelly, to the still greater injury of the victims of the act of violence."

[Michael Fisher]

Tolstoy-
On this acceptance of the necessity and therefore immutability of the existing order, all who take part in acts of violence on the part of government base the argument always advanced in their justification. "Since the existing order is immutable," they say, "the refusal of a single individual to perform the duties laid upon him will effect no change in things, and will only mean that some other man will be put in his place who may do the work worse, that is to say, more cruelly, to the still greater injury of the victims of the act of violence."

That's a very wordy way to say:

Since the government told us to do violence, if I don't do it, then someone else will do it anyways.

[JonM]

Ever watch Babylon 5?  When Londo refused to continue to do the bidding of the Shadows, Morden told him:
"Of course you will, Mollari. Because you're drawn to power, because you are my friend. Because you are afraid of what someone else might do in your place."

[TackleTheWorld]

I found their address and phone number, if anyone wants to do something for these people.

I'll call and ask about the date and time of the trial. Maybe they need a babysitter.

[TackleTheWorld]

I talked to Karen Lyons this morning. The hearing is not this week but was scheduled for last week.  The hearing was called off when the Lyons agreed to pay the reduced fine.  Karen wouldn't say the amount of the fine but the TSA reduced the fine substantially after the Becky Akers article was published.  Karen also said that she flew to a family event recently and being 7 months pregnant of course the TSA had to inflict a pat-down search on her.  She said her 3-year old son was screaming with dismay when they took her behind the partition, the little guy probably remembers seeing his mother being handcuffed and taken away in Feburary.

[Kat Kanning]

   That sucks.

[Russell Kanning]

Good to hear that they feel pressure from articles. I bet they could have backed them all the way down. I haven't even responded to my fine.

[Michael Fisher]

Good to hear that they feel pressure from articles. I bet they could have backed them all the way down. I haven't even responded to my fine.

[KBCraig]

There's no freedom to grope, apparently.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-11-02-airport-groping_x.htm

Woman spared prison in airport groping
By Andy Nelesen, Green Bay Press-Gazette
GREEN BAY, Wis. ? A 63-year-old Appleton woman convicted of grabbing an airport screener's breasts was spared prison time Tuesday but will spend the next year on federal probation.

A U.S. District Court jury in July convicted Phyllis Dintenfass of assault of a federal employee for the September 2004 incident. Dintenfass grabbed and pushed Transportation Safety Administration supervisor Anita Gostisha during a pat-down search at the Outagamie County Regional Airport.

Dintenfass' hairpins and pants button triggered an alert from a walk-through metal detector, prompting Gostisha to single out the retired technical college reading teacher for more extensive screening. When Gostisha placed the back of her hands under Dintenfass' breasts as part of the pat down search, Dintenfass lashed out.

Dintenfass, who said she did not expect to be touched in an intimate area during the screening, testified that she reacted out of instinct.

She grabbed Gostisha's breasts and shoved her into a glass partition.

Gostisha ordered Dintenfass to sit down and called for an Outagamie County Sheriff's deputy. The deputy issued Dintenfass a citation for disorderly conduct, but the ticket was later voided, and federal prosecutors filed charges.

During sentencing, Dintenfass said her actions that day were a momentary lapse of judgment.

"While I realize in the large scale of things, mine is a minor offense," Dintenfass said. "To me it is both monumental and terrifying.

"Not a day has gone by since Sept. 27, 2004 ? more than 13 months ago ? where the impact of what happened hasn't affected my life and that of my family."

Dintenfass offered an in-court apology to Gostisha.

"I know it was wrong to touch someone's breasts and I should not have done that to you," Dintenfass said. "It was a terrible moment for both of us. And I ask you for forgiveness."

Dintenfass asked U.S. District Court William Griesbach to look at the big picture when considering a sentence. Nearly 50 people sent Griesbach letters supporting Dintenfass and her efforts in the community. Dintenfass' lawyer, Nila Robinson, pointed out that Dintenfass' case has thrust her into a national spotlight ? even creating fodder for late-night talk show jokes.

"I beg you to look at my record of nearly 63 years and how I have lived and what I have done ? and know I have paid a very heavy price for my momentary loss of control," Dintenfass said.

In issuing his ruling, Griesbach said that he appreciated that this appeared to be a "split-second incident" with no planning or forethought. Considering this was Dintenfass' only blemish in an otherwise law-abiding life. He said this was clearly a case where prison was not appropriate.

However, "We are not here to recognize her for a good life," Griesbach said. "We're here because she committed a crime.

"The need to protect public employees ? is important."

Griesbach stopped short of ordering home monitoring, but ruled that any travel needed to be approved by Dintenfass' probation agent.

Griesbach also ordered Dintenfass to perform 100 hours of community service and pay a $2,000 fine.

After court, Dintenfass told a reporter that she appreciated Griesbach's compassion, but declined further comment.

Federal prosecutors said the sentence sent a message that it's not acceptable to attack a federal employee.

"I think the judge issued a fair and reasonable sentence," said Assistant U.S. District Attorney Tim Funnell.

###

It's a shame he doesn't feel the same about protecting the public from being groped by public employees.

[Russell Kanning]

Hey .... she is not in jail. Time to start pushing them back.