Grope This, TSA: Ron Paul Introduces American Traveler Dignity Act

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul on Thursday introduced legislation he said would "protect Americans from physical and emotional abuse by federal Transportation Security Administration employees."

The measure states that "any federal employee or agency or any individual or entity that receives federal funds is not immune from any U.S. law regarding physical contact with another person, making images of another person, or causing physical harm through the use of radiation-emitting machinery on another person."

Declaring that Americans "are giving up their liberties and not receiving security in return," Paul, R-Texas, cited a litany of TSA horror stories.

"Just recently we read of a Nigerian immigrant breezing through TSA security checks to board a flight from New York to L.A. -- with a stolen, expired boarding pass and an out-of-date student ID as his sole identification. We should not be surprised to find government ineptitude and indifference at the TSA, however.

"What we ultimately need is real privatization of security, but not phony privatization with the same TSA screeners in private security firm uniforms still operating under the 'guidance' of the federal government. Real security will be achieved when the airlines are once again in charge of protecting their property and their passengers," said Paul, who is running for the Republican nomination for president.

Read Paul's full statement here.