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December 21, 2011

Travel is a Human Right

Quote of the Day: “The right to travel enables the free exercise of the other rights we most cherish. We should not have to check our constitutional freedoms at the curb simply because we decide to leave the house. Sadly, freedom of movement has been one of the most disparaged rights throughout human history, and our country is no exception. If we are ever to be truly free, then we must possess an absolute, uninhibited right to travel throughout America and the world free from interference by government.” – Judge Andrew Napolitano

This holiday season, countless innocent air travelers will be screened, patted-down, and interrogated by the TSA.

Let’s make next Christmas merrier for them. Tell Congress to abolish the Transportation Security Agency.

You may borrow from or copy this letter…

The TSA has helped make air travel so miserable that a travel industry survey shows 39% would prefer taking the bus. The travel industry also estimates that reducing the hassles would cause Americans to fly two or three more times per year. (http://bit.ly/tTUT6J)

While TSA procedures are humiliating and maddening, “reforming” them won’t address the core problem. The TSA’s very existence is the problem, because it violates our right to travel.

The right to travel is a basic human right. Think who is NOT allowed to travel:

* Prisoners
* People living under despotic regimes
* Slaves

Judge Andrew Napolitano says, “the right to travel is not only essential to, but directly symbolizes our freedom.” (http://reason.com/archives/2011/12/19/restraining-orders)

And the Supreme Court has said, “The right to travel is a part of the liberty of which the citizen cannot be deprived without due process of law under the 5th Amendment.” (Kent v. Dulles, 357 US 116, 125.)

Are not “no-fly lists” a direct deprivation of liberty without due process of law? If the people on the list are so dangerous that they’re not allowed to fly, why aren’t they arrested and charged with a crime?

And aren’t TSA procedures tantamount to the Feds saying, “You’re not allowed to travel without our permission?”

Do we need permission to exercise a human right?

Each airport and airline has an interest in safety and security. They should be free to set their own security rules and procedures. As a customer, I should be free to pick and choose among the alternatives. The Federal State has no constitutional authority to stop me from traveling as I see fit.

Abolish the TSA as soon as possible. Allow airports and airlines freedom and flexibility in providing air security. That will make airline travel a more pleasant experience again.

END LETTER

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Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

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