Eight Republican senators oppose ‘no-fly’ list for unruly passengers because it would equate mask opponents to ‘terrorists’

GOP senators want the DOJ to block the no-fly list.

A group of Republican senators are against the creation of a blacklist of violent and disruptive passengers.

The no-fly list for unruly passengers opposed to onboard mask mandates would seem to equate them to terrorists, according to the group.

The eight senators wrote a letter to the US Attorney General saying it would be unfair to punish them for their beliefs since almost 75% of the incidents aboard flights last year were related to the federal mask mandate.

While we strongly condemn any violence towards airline workers, there is significant uncertainty around the efficacy of this mandate, as highlighted by the CEO of Southwest Airlines during a recent Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing.

The creation of a federal no-fly list for unruly passengers who are skeptical of this mandate would seem to equate them to terrorists who want to kill Americans.

The Transportation Security Administration was created in the wake of 9/11 to protect Americans from future attacks, not to regulate human behavior onboard flights.

The letter was signed by eight Republicans, including Cynthia M. Lummis (Wyo.), Mike Lee (Utah), James Lankford (Okla.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Kevin Cramer (N.D.), Ted Cruz (Tex.), and John Hoeven (N

Over 500 unruly passenger incidents have been reported in the first six weeks of the year, for a total of more than 6,400 since the beginning of the year.

The unions representing airline workers argue that a centralized list is necessary because a passenger banned from one airline can simply book a flight on another.

In a statement Tuesday, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA called the eight senators' letter irresponsible and political brinkmanship that puts our economic security at risk right along with our lives.

Sara Nelson said that homeland security is homeland security.

The flights are being attacked by a small number of people and it has to stop. Either you are against or for protecting crew and passengers from these attacks.