Texas state capitol trooper confiscates woman’s Maxi-Pad, but guns are okay (video)

7/12/13 4:59pm by 291

It’s a horrible video. A woman was apparently waiting in line to go watch the Texas Senate debate and vote on new restrictions against abortion, and a state trooper searched her and confiscated her Maxi-Pads as being too dangerous to bring into the state senate visitors gallery.  He then started showing them to other people.

But guns are permitted into the state capitol.  Just not Maxi-Pads.

At the State Capitol here, a legal concealed gun is the equivalent of an E-ZPass.

To enter the sand-colored building, most people — schoolchildren on field trips, out-of-state tourists — must wait in line to pass through a security area outfitted with metal detectors and scanners. But those with state licenses to carry concealed firearms can enter in a matter of seconds. They simply hand their permit to a state trooper, who verifies its authenticity. No metal detector needed.

They also reportedly took away her diabetic supplies.  The woman, in the video below shortly after the incident, is in tears.

state-troopers-texas-abortion-maxi-pads

“In front of, all of these male troopers took away my maxi-pads, and made a huge deal out of flashing them around and showing… and then saying that I couldn’t go into the gallery, I couldn’t take maxi-pads into the gallery. I’ve never been… I’ve never been so humiliated in my life.”


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Follow me on Twitter: @aravosis | @americablog | @americabloggay | Facebook | Instagram | Google+ | LinkedIn. John Aravosis is the Executive Editor of AMERICAblog, which he founded in 2004. He has a joint law degree (JD) and masters in Foreign Service from Georgetown; and has worked in the US Senate, World Bank, Children's Defense Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, and as a stringer for the Economist. He is a frequent TV pundit, having appeared on the O'Reilly Factor, Hardball, World News Tonight, Nightline, AM Joy & Reliable Sources, among others. John lives in Washington, DC. .

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  • kcwookie

    Unfortunately Jedi, I disagree. Nothing much will change in 14 because the system has been engineered to protect the already elected. I doubt you will see any significant change in Texas. To get the changes that are needed and wanted, it will take much more than most in this country are willing to do.

  • Sweet Crabby

    Let me clear up a few things. One, there were no jars of urine or feces found. If there had been, the troopers would have known about it, and I spent a lot of time going around to the security checkpoints to ask the troopers there if they’d found any jars of body fluids. There were none. There were none in the secured area of the troopers space in the Capitol building. DPS put out an information release about these items, but no items exist and DPS has yet to explain the release, remove it from their page, or amend/correct it. I suspect that release was politically motivated, because with one exception, the troopers I met in the three weeks I was there were all very professional, very careful to remain separated from the issues being discussed, and careful, just careful. I learned that one box of tampons had been surrendered at the main entrance to the building. The troopers at the doors to the Senate chamber were forcing women to surrender the two or three tampons or pads that women normally carry when menstruating, not big boxes of projectile weapons.

    Now, about this video: When the woman came into the room, I thought she’d been physically injured, perhaps fallen onto the marble floors. It seemed at first that she couldn’t breathe. We got her calmed down a bit, seated on a couch, and I motioned to have someone get video of her statement, which is why we see it now. This sweet, kind, older lady was humiliated by this experience but she agreed in advance to have her story distributed. When she left the line, she was escorted to the elevator by another trooper who told her to leave the building. She came to us instead. Shortly afterwards we were told that a Senator had spoken to the DPS commander and that no more surrender of personal sanitary products would occur.

    Shortly before this forced surrender by the older lady, a younger woman had been told that after standing in line for six hours – SIX HOURS – she would either have to surrender her three Tampax Pearl tampons in their sealed packages, or step out of the line and forfeit her place. She was forced to step away from the space she thought she’d secured in the gallery.

    I use the word surrender deliberately. These were not items that were confiscated like the box of tampons taken at the entrance to the building. These were obviously personal, obviously medical, and obviously necessary. For troopers to assume that they had the right to force women to surrender anything at all is indicative of a huge problem. I am thankful for the women who told their stories, and especially to this lady, for sharing her story with us all.

    In Texas, what women do is presumed to be under the control of men. They assume. And we all know what happens to those who assume.

  • george jetson

    Krafty Karl Rove got Bill Clements elected in the late seventies and again in the eighties. First Republican governor in 100 years.

    As election day neared and things were looking dicey for Clements, Krafty Karl discovered a listening device hidden behind a painting in his office!

    He blamed it on the opposition, Clements pulled out a squeaker, and the DPS later determined that Rove had planted the bug himself.

    Karl also had a hand in unseating Jim Hightower as Ag. commissioner (Yeah, THAT Jim Hightower!) and replacing him with…… Rick Perry!!

    So basically, everything that is wrong with Texas can be traced back to…..

    http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-moore23mar23,0,4268248.story

  • Jkiel

    Heh — good one — but you are, of course, only reinforcing my point ;)

  • grandpamike

    While I appreciate your points, and Texas was a blue state many years ago, but unfortunately it is Red now. As far as registered voters not voting, that is a problem in all states, and restricting, or trying to restrict voters from not only registering to vote, but enacting laws that restrict them even if registered is another problem, but if you noticed, these were all done in states that have Republican legislatures. Now, obviously I am not a female, but have followed the legislation passed in many, again, Republican controlled legislatures, that severely restrict females from making decisions on their own and also passing draconian laws restricting that right, so I find it hard to understand how any woman or minority, or LBGT, can actually vote Republican, yet they do.

  • Half the Texas legislature isn’t sentient. They don’t need a criteria that complex.

  • Jkiel

    “Life” has far too broad of a definition to use in this situation. Is it “alive”? Sure, just as a plant, bacteria, or any other organism, is “alive”.

    Tell me, is this life sentient at conception?

  • KingCranky

    I’d suggest tick, a bloodsucking parasite whose only positive function is serving as food for birds.

  • Paula Alderson Beard

    She was wearing an orange shirt, part of the opposition to the restrictive abortion bill. That is the only reason this shameful behavior happened.

  • Paula Alderson Beard

    grandpamike, I appreciate your comments, and to the point, yes, these people were elected to office by those that went to the polls. My point is that low voter turnout is the cause of this result. Many Texans register and don’t vote, partly because we have had the oppressive GOP in power for so long, people don’t see the point in voting. What I am trying to do is convince those that aren’t registered or don’t vote that we CAN get these people out of office with our votes. We are working hard to get the word out about the upcoming elections and you simply can’t say that a majority of Texans approve of what happened in these Special Sessions. The whole state of Texas IS NOT regressive in nature and if you watched any of the news coverage of the thousands of women AND men that went to Austin to voice their opinions about abortion regulation, you would agree with me that the tide is turning.

  • jedi woman

    At what point do we stop believing that story without asking questions. Who stood to gain from that? Not the women. The pro-choice side was gaining popularity so why risk it?

    DPS, on the other hand, had PLENTY to gain by planting a story like this with a friendly reporter who they KNEW would report it as if it were fact.

    Viet Nam taught conservatives a very powerful lesson: they had to control the press if they were ever to gain control over public opinion. It is NO secret that you cannot have a healthy democracy without a free press. So the right and its corporate backers went about buying up every media outlet from coast to coast. They packed the FCC and changed the prohibitions against monopolies.

    The press once stood as the watchdog which monitored the abuse by powerful corporations. The press was once the “eyes and ears” of the voters and the consumer. NO MORE. Now the press and owned and operated by the very corporations the press was supposed to be watchful of.

    Any person with a modicum of respect for our civil liberties should be very very concerned about our democracy, our rights, and the so-called press. We are no longer a people informed – we are a people dumbed down and entertained.

    We are encouraged by our corporate masters to be at each other’s throats. Those with whom we have most in common – our neighbors – we have been skillfully conned into seeing as our enemies.

    And the real enemy – these corporations that control our bodies, pollute our water and our air – are NEVER held accountable. Ever wonder why?

  • jedi woman

    Where is the proof? That’s been used as an EXCUSE by DPS. I dunno, Shouldn’t REAL reporters put DPS’s feet to the fire and asked: When was this jar of feces confiscated?? From whom? Where is the record of arrest? Why haven’t we heard from the arresting officer? The protester who allegedly brought in the jar of shit?

    I’ve said it before: It is not uncommon for law enforcement to act heavy handedly and then plant a rumor to justify their unacceptable/unprofessional behavior. AS USUAL – the press just accepts the explanation as if it were true. And it is common practice for the right to discredit their opponents when public sentiment begins to shift against them.

    Why was this cock-and-bull story accepted on its face?? What did any of these women stand to gain from bringing in a jar of shit?? On the other hand, DPS stood to gain plenty from a claim such as that.

    The Republicans were getting very worried that Wendy Davis was enjoying nationwide popularity. As were the TX pro-choice women showing up and demanding answers. The anti-abortion crowd was starting to look like the laughable fringe lunatics they are in the eyes of the public.

    I’m sorry to be disrespectful to my pro-choice Republican brothers & sisters – but the right is FAMOUS for its use of dirty tricks. The jar of feces sounds very Karl Rove to me.

  • jedi woman

    I wish I could call it paranoia but, having defended people who’ve been arrested while peacefully protesting, I put nothing past conservative law enforcement today. Since 9/11, some cops assume they’re doing the right thing even if they frame innocent people bc they are “saving lives”. That’s an obvious fallacy and very dangerous to our individual liberties.

  • jedi woman

    If we wait a few years these racist inbeeds will die out. In 40 years or so, whites will be in the minority. Latinos can’t do any worse than we have.

  • jedi woman

    That shows how little you know about Jane Goodall. She was unapologetically PROCHOICE and believed that the root cause of environmental degradation is overpopulation.

    Note to RWNJ: I know it isn’t in your nature – but, next time to your homework before citing someone you know NOTHING about. It is a very unwise move to cite a scientist when virtually NONE share your political ideology. Unfortunately for you, I meticulously fact check people on the right bc lying is a national past time for conservatives.

  • jedi woman

    That’s why the right hates science. It blows away all of their myths.

  • jedi woman

    No, I am using SCIENCE. ELementary biology. A fertilized egg is a fertilized egg – whether it be fowl or human being. The point is that we never consider any fertilized egg as the complete being – bird or fowl – until it comes to telling women what to do with their bodies. Then, SUDDENLY – a zygote = a baby. It doesn’t. It is a potential human being – NOT a human being.

  • jedi woman

    In some instances it’s been done, in a way. Consider those men who knowingly go out to infect their sex partners with HIV. It’s only gotten by bc of homophobia and the misconception that HIV is a “gay” disease.

  • jedi woman

    Considering that Obama is the anti-Christ, gay, Muslim-brotherhood-spy, radical-left-wing-Methodist, pinko-communist, Hurricane-Sandy causin’, gubbermint lovin, Jesus-hatin’, librul, abotion-lovin’, baby killin’, spawn-of-the-devil, Gosnell-supporter, dontcha think he could pull this off??

  • jedi woman

    Or eating shellfish.

  • jedi woman

    She isn’t exactly a young woman. Women my age were not all raised to love their bodies. Please keep that in mind.

  • jedi woman

    Her age was my initial question but… It is rare, but some women don’t stop menstruating until their mid-fifties. Hormones can cause menstrual-like bleeding. But then, I thought: she could look older than she is OR she was too embarrassed to say her pads were for incontinence and used her period as a way to cover for her incontinence.

  • jedi woman

    At least you are open minded – typical of a left wing man.

  • jedi woman

    Actually – the tie to abortion is a stretch. Nerve damage leading to incontinence is common to people with diabetes.

  • jedi woman

    Pun intended?

  • jedi woman

    My momma used to say: “She who rocks the cradle rules the world.”

    Yo! Conservative, anti-choice, nutters: Women are watching and 2014 is coming!!

  • jedi woman

    Ahhhh, Texas!! Where the men are men, and the sheep are nervous!

  • jedi woman

    Even if so – hers were still in their wrappers. So your point is?????

  • BillFromDover

    I had to look up incontinence.

    I believe my ignorant comment is an example of a blatant case for why men – especially politicians – have no business regulating the bodies of woman.

    I stand corrected.

  • stormintheheartofthesun

    All I need is a pump and a whole bunch of tampons. TAMPON CANNON IS A GO. THEY WILL FEAR THE RAIN OF COTTONY FEMININITY. …also, some fake blood might be called for.

  • Laura

    Many woman and men are incontinent and find it quite embarrassing as it points out their utter lack of control over certain normal functions that they previously had no problems with. I used to work with the elderly and it is one of the most embarrassing things for them to face.

  • That’s why there needs to be science….

  • DPS did actually report that in their official press release, but offered no actual evidence of it. And I haven’t heard anyone actually say they saw someone, or heard of someone intending to try and cause such an incident.

  • Sheareader

    You pulled this threat of urine/feces out of your ass.

  • This situation is so maddening. The infantilization of grown Women makes my stomach turn.

    It puts adult females on the same level as dogs and leash laws.

  • Zorba

    Umm, another thing, though, Lin. You do realize that there is a profound difference between jars of urine/feces, and maxipads, tampons, and diabetic supplies? It didn’t happen to you. Maybe you would have been embarrassed, or maybe you would have been totally humiliated. You cannot really know. And, BTW, do you believe that tampons and maxipads are more of a danger to the legislators than concealed handguns, which people were allowed to bring in? Because, if you do think so, then very frankly, you are a total right-wing lunatic.

  • Lin

    Umm two things though. One, it doesn’t say anything about anyone being a democrat or republican. Two, people were coming with maxipads, tampons and jars of urine/feces to throw on the legislators so it wasn’t just a random thing. I would be very embarrassed if it happened to me but I’m just sayin a little perspective helps…

  • Jafafa Hots

    If you can put up with a grouch, ’cause the news these days makes me moody.

  • pszymeczek

    We keep regular soda – generally ginger ale – at home for that, too.

  • Yep, Texas manhood cowering before the mighty tampon.

  • You really, really, really like that feces and urine part, don’t ya sweet pea.

  • Deirdre

    Not all women use pads for the advertised reason, Bill…after a certain age many use them for incontinence, especially those who didn’t abort their pregnancies.

  • Lions and Tigers and jars of FECES oh my!

  • OMG you are funny. Obama’s war on pads.

  • It does, if not that then the mixed fibers would

  • Yep

  • Tarts are a way of life in texas

  • QuitBeingIdiotsNotAllsReal

    You people thought this was a real story? lol

  • BillFromDover

    Oh, c’mon… how long is it gonna take for (Christian) women to re-learn their place in a man’s world?

  • BillFromDover

    ” it is yours not theirs.”

    Yeah? Convince them!

  • BillFromDover

    Doesn’t the Christian Bible say something about stoning her to death for attempting to pull this bullshit while unclean?

  • BillFromDover

    And the glue was something called George Bush?

  • BillFromDover

    Not to mention that she looks like she passed by menopause at least 20 years ago.

    Is this something from the Onion?

  • Abra

    Oh, piss off. You know who’s making this state stupid? Fucking straight, godbothering, white, conservative men.

    Place used to belong to Mexico anyway.

  • BillFromDover

    Are Pop Tarts forbidden there, also?

  • Abra

    Hey. I live in Texas. The big cities are not in the least as you describe.

    Cut that shit out. Our lawmakers are not truly representative of us. We got gerrymandered like you wouldn’t believe back in ummm 2003? 2005?

    Go look up a map of Texas voting districts. There’s one that stretches across a couple of counties.

    TL;DR: not our fucking fault, and something like 48% of this state voted blue last election, so shut the fuck up please.

  • BillFromDover

    “You don’t want your beautiful state laughed at by the whole nation, do you???”

    Way too late!

  • Abra

    We’re taught from the day we can speak that being a woman is a horrible, shameful thing.

    I’m not going to get into a whole rant here, but seriously, men don’t have periods. We do. (apologies to the trans* out there*) And instead of it being just a normal thing, it’s this horrible nightmare of shame and secrecy.

    I’m not afraid to bleed, either, mister knowitall, but I’m guessing you are either male or had some superextraspecial upbringing. The rest of us were taught to hide our blood, lest we upset some very tough guy who would freak the fuck out.

  • The rot Texas politics actually started back in the 80s, with Tom Delay and crew. Rick Perry was just the opportunist in chief. He’s still outsmarted by Bevo the UT cow mascot.

  • Moms, don’t let your daughters grow up to be Texans.

  • Let’s go for weasel.

  • It must be incredibly frustrating. The days of Molly and Ann seem long gone.

  • Good for you sister….now get some power and make a difference.

  • Bingo!

  • My what an astute racist you are.

  • Almost, Kansas is right up there

  • Thank you Mam!!

  • “UNUSED Maxi-Pads are not human waste” But Honus is—-projection.

  • Up your Honus Textard!

  • KingCranky

    Nope, nothing there that specifically bans firearms from the Senate gallery, and seeing as how the Representatives and Senators themselves carry guns on the floor, during hearings and speeches, the law seems rather toothless.

    Just to bear out that assertion about legislators carrying during hearings and speeches, from the article John linked to regarding guns in the Texas lege

    “At recent hearings of the House Committee on County Affairs, Representative Jonathan Stickland sat listening to testimony while wearing a .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol.”

    And

    “When Gov. Rick Perry gave his State of the State speech in February 2011
    in the House chamber, he stood a short distance from Representative
    Chuck Hopson, who paid close attention with a .22-caliber five-shot
    revolver in his right boot and a .357 Magnum within arm’s reach in a
    drawer of his desk.”

    And, in the case of Democrat turned Republican…….

    “One recent morning, minutes before the House would officially convene for the day and beneath the august framed portraits of Francis R. Lubbock and other Texas figures, Mr. Hopson stood on the House floor at his old desk. Asked if he was armed at that moment, he replied, “I have a North American Arms .22 Magnum.” And was it loaded?

    “Of course,” he said. “What good are they if they’re not loaded?”

    So when does the “unlawful” part of that statute kick in?

    And how does your spin detract from the idiocy of confiscating feminine hygiene products while allowing firearms into the same gathering?

  • Yep, rapists should have their penises put down a garbage disposal.

  • Mr. Normal? ROTFL!!!!!!!

  • I bet most of them are small dick’d Nazi cops.

  • “I already have a few….” Let’s start with a tape measure and publish the results in the local newspaper.

  • These Texas morons are like brown shirt Nazi’s—-there I said it.

  • “These police officers should know better.” But this is Texas

  • Bingo

  • The rot starts at the top with Gov. Moron Rick Perry and de-evolves from there on the way down.

  • In Texas that is clearly the case.

  • The laughing has already commenced: Texas, the laughing stock of cattle country.

  • Mike_in_the_Tundra

    Sometimes my husband was in his own little word. We were at the Mall of America when I started a hypoglycemic episode. I’m normally very well controlled, but I wasn’t that day. My husband really didn’t know what to do. I had absolutely no glucose with me, so I told my husband to go to the food court to get me a Coke. He brought back a Diet Coke. I was in pretty bad shape by then, and a passing woman new immediately what was happening. She had some Starburst in her purse. She gave them to me, and I got back in working order very quickly. This is a rather long way of saying that Starbursts work too. Also, those glucose tablets are awful.

  • DogFreak

    @Jafafa…I love you. Will you marry me?

  • pszymeczek

    My husband carries LifeSavers candy or SweeTarts.. They work just as well as Glucose tablets.

  • pitbullgirl1965

    And still women vote Republican.

  • BusyTimmy

    Or they can finally decide to vote for their own interests. They’re enjoying their moral majority.

  • GingerMan512

    Have you been there? Yes if you have a CHL you can bypass the metal detector line to get into the BUILDING. There are separate metal detectors for the house and senate chambers.

    Oh… and this:

    PC §46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE
    HOLDER.

    (c) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder
    intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun under the
    authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless
    of whether the handgun is concealed, at any meeting of a governmental entity.

  • Coletta

    ALL women should leave Texas! Tell the Texas men, “No more sex for you! Go screw your horses or your dogs! Goodbye!” The women living around or near the border states should do the same thing if some of them come across the border for sex. If some men do get a lay, charge them 3X the going price!

  • Sophia Reid

    Obama? Thank Rick Perry, he’s the one who’s trying so hard to push this bill. Get your facts straight.

  • Cynthia dexter

    Throw Viagra pills at them

  • Nicole Lenz

    2014 is coming!

  • lynchie

    There is no extinction going on. In a few years you will be outnumbered by the latinos, mexicans and chinese. Texas number 1 in the world in stupidity. Number 1 in teen pregnancy (good job with that abstinence horseshit). Number 1 in people who don’t have health care. Oh hell the list is too long. You make my points for me.

  • lynchie

    Wrong

  • lynchie

    No need for abortion if you asshats would wear a condom. But no you believe your right is to spray your seed and impregnate all women even if rape is required. As far as being torn apart they don’t insert a blender to perform an abortion, though I can think of a good place to put one in you.

  • Barbara Nichols

    Her priorities are just fine. That was abusive to her civil liberty in all respects.

  • Barbara Nichols

    SPOT ON! Talk about restricting a person’s liberty! It’s disgraceful! What do you think would happen if the guards stopped the men to check their wallets for condoms and confiscated them? Do you honestly think THEY would stand for it. NOPE, as well they shouldn’t. UNSEAT your legislators! They are abusing your constitutional liberties!

  • lynchie

    The old “just following orders” defense.

  • lynchie

    In their view they are only “women” not recognized as good for anything but making babies, getting beer and cooking some large piece of meat. I agree with Julia L. women have to grow up and exercise their rights. Men just aren’t up to the task. As long as they can get away with shit like this with no push back they just get more emboldened.

  • Not to say it is a guarantee, but statistically speaking, an older white woman from Texas, it’s probably a safe bet she that is a Republican, even being pro-choice. Hopefully no longer.

  • keirmeister

    So you’re saying EVERY woman who enters the room to protest should have their maxi pads and medication confiscated? Does this sound like a reasonable response to an isolated report of someone bringing in jars of waste?

    And…although someone did indeed link to a story about these supposed jars of waste, are we actually supposed to believe this is true? The whole story reeks (hmm…just now realizing the pun) of Rovian tactics to me.

    Jars of waste at a protest. I dunno, that doesn’t pass the smell test.

    (sorry, I had to)

  • On top of rank incompetence, DPS has also been heavily politicized. So really, when not messing around like frat boys, they’re just doing what they’re told. If their orders include going out of their way to humiliate and intimidate as many pro-choice protesters at the Capitol, that’s what they do.

  • Julia L.

    All Texas women should leave the state and see how all those “macho” (NOT) men like their stupid, assinine rules!!! You know, it’s you women who helped get these jerks into office…vote them out the next time around!!!! You don’t want your beautiful state laughed at by the whole nation, do you???

  • Whitewitch

    Thanks Texas Granny – I am so happy to hear you are proud and willing to speak out. I have been to Texas and find Texans to be quite welcoming. I am sorry that you state and its citizens are being painted with such a wide brush of distaste when it is just a vocal group of haters. Take care!

  • Whitewitch

    P.S. It is now reported that there was no urine or feces confiscated…and an unused tampon is not feces…you know that right peyton….

  • Whitewitch

    A mann can’t tell the difference between a used pad/tampon and a unopened unused one…is that what you are saying. Cause then these men need to go to some kind of training. The more important fact is that they would allow guns, but not maxi-pads/tampons. What if a tampon hits a man he shrivels to nothing…I would be more afraid of the gun toters.

  • Whitewitch

    Nope…not all of us believe as you do. Imagine…people who believe differently than you. Shocking, but a reality. Get over it.

  • Whitewitch

    Many older women use pads for urine leakage which is a often a result of childbirth – MORON. When you have to endure the effects of having children then you can judge why an older woman might have such things in her purse. Probably why she was embarrassed as well dork. AND they are not babies while in the womb.

  • Jean Donahue

    Please, Ladies, have the last word at the ballot box.

  • Peyton

    Used ones Jezabelle. That was the ridiculous part that set off this whole situation

  • Whitewitch

    Based on her age I would say it is not about embarrassed about her normal functions, but the shame that has been allowed to be put on women for thousands of years for having such function – which by Christian tenants are punishment for original sin.

  • Mike_in_the_Tundra

    Well, technically sugar and yogurt aren’t medications, but any insulin dependent diabetic knows to carry some source of glucose. I carry a liquid form, and the TSA has never questioned it. These police officers should know better.

  • Whitewitch

    Shaming women is the lowest of the low. Don’t these men have any mothers? Would they like them treated this way.

  • Jill

    Ms Goodall would be bored with Texas…it is full of normal, freedom loving people, pursuing their happiness. She would be fastinated by all the uncivilized animals that live in our biggest metropolitan areas. The city animals assault and kill each other everyday. They are making themselves extinct by killing off their offspring before they are born. They destroy their own neighborhoods when they don’t get their way. Yes, she could write books about them.

  • KingCranky

    Every story I’ve read says that if the person has a concealed carry license, then it’s legal to take the firearm into the gallery.

    Now, if you can post any statute outlawing a CCL holder from taking their gun into the gallery, then post it.

  • Sheareader

    I propose that the women seeking entrance to the Texas State legislature wear necklaces made of tampons or carry maxi pads shaped into guns.

  • Malamute

    Are you nuts, what does President Obama have to do with Texas politics??? Your racist hatred is showing.

  • kevan_mericle

    The person who did this to this lady should be fired from his job, along with any other police officer or politician who watched this happen and did nothing!

  • Sheareader

    I don’t think she was embarrassed to have normal body functions–I think she had been shamed by the disgusting actions of the guards. I think your priorities are suspect.

  • jill

    Now that is an open-minded comment! LMAO!!

  • LiaMac

    Just another way to control women. Wonder what her political preference is?

  • Jill

    Really, you are comparing human beings to turkeys….a fertilized turkey egg is a dead turkey in an egg shaped box, yuck.
    I don’t understand everyone’s focus on the maxi-pads. The trooper clown took her diabetic medications!!!! This is the crime here!

  • ArthurH

    Just another sighting of the species Mental Midgitus Rex. In Texas the legislature tries to hold down costs so jobs like screeners go to people who may not have the smarts or disposition to be screeners but are willing to accept the low pay. So such behavior should not surprise. I even saw a screener with a metal-detecting wand to roll it continually under a well-endowed woman to delight his coworkers as it buzzed from the underwiring in her bra. The screener was lucky the woman didn’t have telekinetic powers because if she did, the look on her face indicated the screener could have evaporated right before our eyes.

  • Not afraid to bleed

    The fact that these trooper clowns took her medications is the real crime here. What self respecting woman is embarrassed by normal female functions? Does she send someone to the store to buy them for her, too. I don’t believe this propaganda.

  • jollyholly

    I just think it is curious that she is more embarrassed about normal female functions than the fact that they took her medications. Interesting priorities.

  • mdl62

    Thank you for demonstrating what it’s like to have arrogant males share their expertise with women on subjects they have no experience with.

  • mdl62

    Thank you Paula. You took the words right out of my mouth.

  • mdl62

    Because it wasn’t. Troopers confirmed that there were no jars of anything. Try getting the facts before spreading the lies.

  • mdl62

    Bet on it!

  • mdl62

    There were bus loads of paid out of staters brought in by the anti-choice side. You are spot on.

  • mdl62

    That is BS.

  • Vicky Johnson

    I don’t know about the pad thing, i think she should have used it first then let them take it,or just start peeing or bleeding all over the floor. What really bothers me is the way people in charge think they have the right to tell a woman what they can do with their own bodies. Men do not know what women go through or why they might have to do what they do. I would love to see a man switch places with a woman and see if they are strong enough to handle what they go though. I believe it is every woman’s right to do what they feel is necessary to them! just because you personally don’t believe in something does not mean others feel the same. I don’t care if you are a republican or democrat, no one should have the right to tell you what you can do with your body. it is yours not theirs.

  • This is the result of the Texas Tampon Massacre.

  • nc_mike

    We’re headed to a society where respectful political discourse is headed to violence in the streets soon. Everybody get your guns!

  • ComradeRutherford

    I think we should ban 30-round magazines on all assault tampon weapons.

  • ComradeRutherford

    Sorry, no, you can not be a police officer if you are a Democrat.

    And did you know that Republicans also are union members??? Astonishing how reality proves you wrong all the time…

  • nc_mike

    cells are cells. Exactly when they turn into life is highly debatable and a religious argument. This is why there needs to separation of church and state.

  • mdl62

    I call BS. Even the troopers said that was untrue. Get your facts straight instead of listening to your lying anti-choice friends.

  • nc_mike

    To all republican men, women are property.

  • nc_mike

    Need to declare a penis a weapon.

  • nc_mike

    And that’s all she wrote. Period.

  • JezabelleDisreali

    Sadly, I wouldn’t put it past them.

  • JezabelleDisreali

    Ridiculous for women to bring in necessary items? How dare those women!

  • jedi woman

    At what point will you people realize that this is a tactic often used by the right to discredit peaceful, non-violent protesters. It is used ALL THE TIME to discredit the anti-war movement. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if those who were supposedly carrying feces, etc were actually law enforcement moles trying to stir up trouble. Been there – seen it.

  • jedi woman

    That was an excuse. I wouldn’t put it past these people to have planted agitators in the pro-choice crowd just as they plant violent people in the
    anti-War crowd. It is a common tactic used by the right when they fear their opponents are garnering too much public approval.

  • jedi woman

    No, but PROUD, WHITE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS ARE!!!

  • jedi woman

    Um, excuse me, Anus – “This” is supposed to be behavior by professional law enforcement. It makes real sense to allow ppl to carry FIREARMS to the state house but not maxi pads!!

    Do me a favor – next time you agitate to secede – let me know where to send my check.

  • jedi woman

    Nope. Just as a fertilized turkey egg isn’t a turkey, a zygote isn’t a human being. Sorry – that’s just biology. Human potential begins at conception. Life as a “being” – a “separate & distinct human individual” begins when it is capable to survive as such.

  • jedi woman

    And it is not unusual for diabetics to suffer from incontinence secondary to nerve damage. I did see somewhere that she referred to having her period – but she mat have said that bc she was too embarrassed to admit incontinence.

  • jedi woman

    I hope you are being sarcastic… But, it’s more likely attributable to the usual: a conservative who can’t seem to mind his own business.

    If I invited you to a Thanksgiving dinner, yet served you one fertilized turkey egg – would you call that a turkey dinner? NOPE.

    A fertilized egg does not a turkey make, a fertilized ovum does not a baby make. GET IT??!!

  • jedi woman

    It isn’t Dems proposing these anti-choice laws! It is Republicans. (And cops are overwhelmingly conservative Repubs, not Dems. This woman’s humiliation is awful, I agree. But having to resort to a back alley abortion is MUCH WORSE – I assure you.

  • loona_c

    And that creates double the hurt for Texas Democrats. We don’t get any respect from our “representatives” and we don’t get any respect from the rest of the world. Sigh.

  • TonyT

    Thanks Obama!

  • Debra Diroll

    Not just the rest of the country, but the world.

  • Debra Diroll

    Check out Nina Turner (an Ohio Representative). She has bill that does just that!

  • Peyton

    At what point does common sense come into the picture for people not to bring used tampons and jars of FECES to the protests? The protesters are adults too. Stop trying to let them off the hook for their stupidity.

  • Ignatz

    “Somebody once did something bad, so we’re allowed to humiliate an old lady!”

    Does your dick get hard when you humiliate women, you piece of shit?

  • Ignatz

    Stop attacking American women, you freakish Fascist jerk.

  • grandpamike

    You are correct, and unfortunate for Texas, it will continue to be like this for the near future. Democratic gerrymandering also takes place when they hold the state houses, but are not as venal as Republicans are when they do. Yes, large, urbane, cities have gone for Democrats, but without gaining control of the State House, it will only get worse for Texans. I know I painted with a broad brush, but unfortunately, the world views Texas through their elected representatives, and so, all good people of Texas are viewed by that metric.

  • Suzie Nunnally Clary

    Houston, 1972. My dad was trying to run us off the road. Mom stopped car and we all got out. Dad came after us. Mom picks up big branch. Big police officer behind her. They put Mom and us 3 kids (I was 10yrs old; my humiliated oldest brother was 14) behind bars. They pulled off my mom’s wig. My dad played cards with them in their area. He was not a law officer. He was an alcoholic who worked for a pipe company. They purposely locked us up and humiliated my mom because she stood up to my dad.

  • Suzie Nunnally Clary

    Ditto

  • Suzie Nunnally Clary

    Most of us know life begins at conception. Viability is a way to think differently about it. But it doesn’t change the fact. Human beings begin at conception.

  • Suzie Nunnally Clary

    Women often wear them for minor incontinence.

  • Suzie Nunnally Clary

    It’s not Republicans. It’s Texas men, especially lawmen. They have abused and humiliated women for years. And I bet most of them are union Democrats.

  • You’re an idiot

    Congratulations on posting a link with a very vague amount of information because you know what, with the information those few paragraphs give us, it could be pro-choicers, pro-lifers, or even the members of the house that are squabbling at each other.

    Now, let me give you the same amount of respect, and give you a link as well.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_shock_syndrome

  • Andi

    AmericaBlog did not capture the video. @DissidentDelila did. Please credit accordingly.

  • Fuck You

    Okay, first of all, confiscating UNUSED feminine hygiene products is ridiculous when the state troopers are encouraging citizens with concealed weapons (and with permits, respectfully), but if a woman is on her period (which I don’t know if you noticed means a woman’s uterus is shredding its inner walls and leaving a bloody discharge), she can’t have anything with her to contain that? And also, I don’t know if you know this either, but if a woman is using a tampon and uses the same one for over a certain amount of time, she can go through toxic shock syndrome (go ahead and google that if you want more information, because maybe you wouldn’t be such a dumbass, unless you’re one of those people afraid of google tracking your searches) which can actually lead to death.

    So no, fuck you. And before you ask, yes I am on my period and yes, this pisses me off. If I was given shit about carrying unused feminine hygiene products with me, I would have raised hell and it really is an issue of human rights when you are denying the right to a woman’s sanitation.

  • Ruby Moon

    We need try a different approach…Getting pregnant is not all the females fault..so we to campaign about their penises…and now we need to make laws about the penis..I am serious!! I already have a few….

  • Ruby Moon

    LAdies..LAdies..LAdies…I wish I could be there for you..You should have not put them in yur purses..you should have worn them…then took them out….lets retry this…

  • texaswildflowers

    Steve, are you really that ignorant? Oh, never mind. I answered my own question by reading your post, again.

  • eahopp

    Do you think Jane Goodall would switch from studying chimpanzees to studying Texans?

  • starumbra

    The media has now reported that there containers of human waste.
    The circus continues; we shall see if folks can remain interested enough to vote in 18 months- is anyone taking bets?

  • eahopp

    She’s an old, gray-haired lady. That means she’s a terrorist! Her profile is on a wanted poster in all of the airport TSA offices, where competent TSA security officials are seriously protecting us patriotic, Christian, conservative, law-abiding, gun-toting-into-Texas-State-Capitol, citizens from the evil, maxi-pad weapons she’s hiding inside of her. She should have been stripped-searched! Who knows what else she’s hiding!

  • KG

    Dude, I am reaching 50. Was born when my mother was 44 and she had her little monthly visits until she was close to 70. So, you really cannot tell just by looking why a woman still needs to use pads and tampons.

  • KingCranky

    Funny how you left out a rather important part of the article.

    “All of these items – as well as significant quantities of feminine hygiene products, glitter and confetti possessed by individuals – were required to be discarded; otherwise those individuals were denied entry into the gallery.”

    A. Nothing got through, nothing was thrown.

    B. I’m guessing it was the anti-choicers who pulled this stunt, and since the article doesn’t clear up if anyone was arrested, my interpretation is just as valid as anyone claiming it was the pro-choice side which was disarmed of these jars.

    Now, if YOU have actual proof, such as arrest reports, showing it was, indeed, pro-choice advocates who had these jars confiscated, please do post it.

  • KingCranky

    Pigs are intelligent and likable.

    HamiltonIV, not so much.

  • ComradeRutherford

    “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life.”

    That is the whole point! The Republicans want ALL women humiliated at all times.

  • This qualifies as sexual harassment at the very least, and unprofessional behavior at best. Fire him, quickly.

  • ComradeRutherford

    Dos Equis guy: I don’t always carry concealed weapons, but when I do, I throw them at Texas Senators.

  • Mac

    Honus, that is an absolutely ridiculous response. “Don’t let people bring in tampons and pads because SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE used them offensively? So, can I assume then that, despite obviously not being liberal, and a proud Texan, that you want to ban guns, at least from the senate? Because I am pretty sure those posed more of a threat than feminine hygiene products.

  • Another FetusSniffer pervert enjoying its fantasy of children being torn apart. Not one of these zealots is sane. Not one.

  • Marlissa Doss

    Even thought maybe it was a maxi-pad for like…bladder leakage? They make the pad version of depends. And there is no tearing to pieces of babies anymore. Most often abortions are performed with a pill these days. Only the d&c (which is basically like scraping all the gunk out. Not a “baby” but the leftover stuff) is really necessarily surgical. And there are plenty of people who have to get d&cs because of problems with their menstruation, miscarriages, etc. And no “baby” that is capable of living outside of the womb can be aborted. So…it’s debatable if that’s a viable human life if it cannot sustain itself without being inside of another human being. I’m not saying that I think I’d ever make the choice, but I also don’t think that “Mr Normal” or anyone else gets the right to say that. Especially since you can never be put in that situation because you can’t get pregnant.

  • GingerMan512

    You should also know that guns are not allowed in the gallery and never have been. I suggest you edit your headline if you want to have any credibility.

  • I think the Twitter comment: “You’ll get my tampon when you pry it from my cold, dead vagina.” wins the internet for today.

  • loona_c

    The state is gerrymanded like crazy. That makes it hard to elect a democrat. In many elections there are NO democratic candidates. About all I can do is NOT vote for a republican. If you notice the large cities went for Obama.

  • grandpamike

    The people of Texas elect these morons, say like Rick Perry, Louis Gohmert, Joe Barton, Pete Sessions, Jeb Hensarling, Ted Poe, and many others who are representative of Texas’ political leanings. You live there, and these cretins represent you, so I would say that most Texans approve of the acts that these people commit against the people of Texas. Now you can say that you didn’t vote for these people, but the fact remains that most other Texans did, and that says a lot as to the prevailing
    political climate there. Of course you could not get a Constitutional Amendment, that was hyperbole, but the whole state of Texas is regressive in nature and always will be.

  • Open-minded

    Mr. Normal resembles the anal cavity. There are other uses for these, dumbazz

  • keirmeister

    “Both Sides”? Bullshit. At what point does common sense come into the picture as a law officer?

  • Mr Normal

    I don’t think any of these women are menstruating. It’s a stunt. And a silly fuss about nothing. All while babies are torn to pieces in the womb.

  • Peyton

    Well granted the reaction was an overreach, but it was ridiculous on both sides of the problem.

  • J John Styber

    Being a Texan is just as stupid as being a clown at the funeral. The biggest and the dumbest state in the Union.

  • HamiltonIV

    My father died in an accident when I was two years old; my older sister and I were reared (not raised; we’re not wheat) by my mother, a MA in English Lit., and her parents. My Grandfather was a WWII veteran (Purple Heart and (2) bronze Stars) who was a Land Developer. He later got his PhD in American History from UVA. My Grandmother was one of the first female Architects to finish at Ohio State. I teach Constitutional Law and my sister is a School Administrator the proud mother of two female OBGYN’s. And your damn ignorant ass?

  • steve

    why would anyone want to live in texas. it’s the laughing stock of the real world, everyone knows that texas hates women, anyone who isn’t white, education.. and loves guns, banging their siblings, and shivering in front of progress. let the state of texas devolve into the amusement park the rest of the world wants it to become and then we can all take vacations there and watch texas throw their feces at one another and try to make out with their immediate relatives.

  • no_comment

    UNUSED Maxi-Pads are not human waste.

  • JezabelleDisreali

    If that’s the case, then ok. But a great deal of those confiscated where still in their little pink wrappers. It is completely unreasonable, and ridiculous.

  • Peyton

    Why didn’t you report on the feces and urine being brought in?

  • Peyton

    They reportedly began confiscating them when used feminine care products were being brought in. They have since started re-allowing non used items.

  • JezabelleDisreali

    And how would you know? Menopause can start as early as the late 30’s or as late as the 60’s. She should be allowed to bring in her pads if she needs them, Hamilton.

  • Bill_Perdue

    This trooper has an unbelievable fetish problem.

  • JezabelleDisreali

    Alright, who told the guy our secrets?

  • JezabelleDisreali

    I’m pretty sure you have never had a menstrual cycle. A lot of women, conservative or otherwise, are upset about this. It not only is disrespectful in the extreme, but women actually use and need pads and tampons. By taking away the back up supply, a woman would have to get up, go outside or where ever these products can be obtained, return, replace the used product with the new, and then finally return to the gallery. All of that takes time, when something important may happen in the democratic process.

    By confiscating these products, the government is invalidating the opinion of women in its processes. Which is particularly damning in a debate about women’s right to choose. It really just enforces the idea that this ISN’T about women’s health or choices but about pushing them back where those in power think they belong.

  • stuckinflorida

    Right, because that elderly woman looked the type to fling human waste.

  • Paula Alderson Beard

    grandpamike, #1 You couldn’t get a Constitutional Amendment to do a freaking thing in this obstructionist government we currently have. #2 The liberals and progressives in Texas have no desire to leave the U.S. #3 If you can’t be supportive of those of us that are trying to change things in Texas (like this poor woman who happens to be pro-choice) then just STFU. I am sick of people lumping together everybody in my state and saying give them back to Mexico. I live in S. Texas on the coast. Our population is nearly half Hispanic. We get along just great. Our only problem is the Tea Party idiots in charge in Austin.

  • ClaireP

    Libtards? I’m more on the right (old school Reagan/Goldwater Republican thank you) than the left and I’m offended by this. We used to have respectful diversity in our politics, and the last decade or so has absolutely polarized it. I’m not up in arms about this because they took MaxiPads, tampons, etc. away – I’m up in arms because of the disrespectful treatment of this particular woman, and not to mention what appears to be the general dissing of my gender. I will defend to the teeth your right to disagree with me but I draw the line at abuse like this. Oh and yeah, I know how to handle and use firearms very well, thank you. Signed – a proud female Texan.

  • HamiltonIV

    http://m.ketknbc.com/w/main/story/95609804/

    This is the last I have seen on the matter. Kindly let me know your source so that I may be updated on any new info.

  • loona_c

    Women have been menstruating in the Capital since Texas was its own country too.

  • loona_c

    Vaginal, of course.

  • loona_c

    Thanks for doing the “research.” I’m sure you were able to do it without giggling like a school boy. Apparently unlike the security “officials.” But yes, they confiscated tampons too. I have friends there. Bullies and middle school boys in the Tx lege. Sigh

  • alleydog

    My 74 year old mother calls them pee-pads. She says they have changed her life. She can go to the stock car races now without having to worry about how long it will take to get to the restrooms. It broke my heart to see that picture. To think of some punk ass security guard waving them around like a trophy while Mama faces a humiliating ride home with wet pants makes me angry beyond words. Shame on you and your sorry narrow mind.

  • ClaireP

    I’m closer to 60 than 50, grey haired and yes everything is still working. The problem is that it’s working a little too well, and saying that maxi pads have to be changed frequently is an understatement. There will be puddles in the chairs in the gallery if this persists, and I trust you’d not want to sit there. If she needs them, I believe her.

  • Texas Granny

    What does being a liberal or a conservative have to do with this? I’m 82 years old and have used maxi pads for years because of a leakage problem. (Hope that’s blunt enough for you.) What the officer did to humiliate her is something I’m certain you wouldn’t want to happen to your mother or your wife or your sister or whatever woman you have in your life. I’m a native Texan and, so help me, I can’t believe a Texas man would do something like this. I am ashamed for him and for my State and for you for your comments. And what is it you’re so proud of, Proud Texan?

  • starumbra

    Women with bladder issues also use maxi-pads, HamiltonIV

  • starumbra

    THERE was no human waste- that’s a rumor. The troupers were asked about that and they said no, they had no knowledge of such things being confiscated. Check your facts, please

  • I wonder if these troopers have the ability to confiscate tampons with a str8 face or do they giggle like 12yr old boys.

  • KCIF

    You are part of why the rest of the country laughs at us.

  • Sherry Gray

    Which makes it all the more humiliating, because at her age, she is most likely worried about incontinence. Imagine how embarrasing it must be for the crowd to realize that you might pee when you sneeze, or not make it to the bathroom. And you really are an ignorant ass.

  • Honus

    It is amusing to watch the libtards get up in arms about this. This was in reaction to the pro-abortion people bringing human waste to disrupt the proceedings. Perhaps if they wouldn’t have tried that none of this would have happened.

    Signed – A proud Texan

  • Helen

    Laughing stock of the world, more like

  • Yes, it was a Maxi-Pad and not a tampon. I thought they were the same thing, asked some women on Facebook, and they explained :) (I have to say, googling didn’t help in this regard). Either way, doesn’t change the gravity of the story :)

  • colleen2

    Damn, who raised your ignorant ass?

  • Texas, once again, and again, and again—the laughing stock of the nation.

  • Yep, men should go through penis ultra sounds at security check points and the visuals be shown on a large public monitor. Those larger than two inches should be classified as a possible dangerous weapon.

  • Jafafa Hots

    Actually, as a man, I totally agree with you about this. It should be malpractice to provide those pills without a proper exam. Unlike birth control etc., the need for “boner pills” could signify serious illness that needs to be rule out – AND the boner pills KILL people.

    Every man getting them should have a full prostate exam, possibly with imaging, a cancer screening, STD testing and a cardiac stress test. I’m not kidding at all.

    These are far more dangerous drugs than bc pills, and they treat an actual illness – whereas menstruation is NOT an illness. Yet women getting reproductive health care typically get far more examination and care on their own initiative when visiting their dr.

    A forced exam for Viagra actually makes far MORE sense, medically.

  • Seriously, it doesn’t matter if she was using them to blow her nose with, or wearing them as hats. They had absolutely no reason to humiliate her by making a show of confiscating them.

  • Maurine

    Texas GOP has No Idea how a woman’s body works…Bloody Hell Men, Stop Already! I was born & raised in TX and the tampon/maxi pad ban is the just so embarrassing to think these senators were threatened by products made mostly of cotton…UGH!

  • Maybe Texas demands an ultra sound before passing security.

  • Jafafa Hots

    How many people have been killed by having a tampon thrown at them, dumbass?

  • Hamilton is the fourth moron in line of a family that has intermarried too often and has to sound out every comment—that takes too much time.

  • Jafafa Hots

    Well, it’s probably his “faith” that caused the problem in the first place, so…

  • That IV stands for your IQ, no?

  • Jeffrey

    I heard that tampons are the little cotton fingers of satan, developed for the SOLE purpose of giving a woman pleasure

  • Kimoco

    If this is true, why not just use common sense and collect anything like bottles of urine. I mean, there is no danger from tossing tampons or maxi pads, but I can see why no harmful items allowed.

    They need to use common sense here which the GOP has lost any semblance of it appears. Some people need items like candy for health reasons, why deny someone who tells you they are diabetic! Why flash someones pads around for others to see?

    This is the GOP leadership that did this. And they are going to regret it next election time!

  • grandpamike

    God, they are the worst state in the country, and that is saying a lot. Could we get a Constitutional Amendment to give them back to Mexico ?

  • So take her out back and shoot her, yes?

  • Mike_in_the_Tundra

    My mind always goes to politics. Many of the red states are running amok, and lately most of their mok as been aimed at women. This is a perfect example.

  • HamiltonIV
  • samizdat

    You are a pig.

  • I want to hear about a much needed reprimand of the officers involved actually. No offense, but Wendy’s run for governor is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment!

  • My mother-in-law spotted right up into her early 70s, and she said that thin pads were too uncomfortable and tampons unusable.

    Seriously, unless you’re a woman or a trained OB/GYN, you shouldn’t make assertions like this.

  • StraightGrandmother

    You are making a judgement call. Women can have their periods through their early 50’s. You are making a judgement call you have no right making.
    I guarantee you getting that many women together SOME of them have their period and NEED those supplies. How ridiculous!
    Do they have to go to a State Trooper and tell them that they have their period and may they please have a tampon? Like you ask you teacher in school, raise your hand and ask to go to the bathroom?

    This is a power play, men Lording themselves over women.
    I am so damned proud of these Texas women.

  • Older women sometimes use them for incontinence, particularly if they are diabetics. Also depends pads look almost identical to maxipads.

  • Mike_in_the_Tundra

    These actions are going to help Wendy should she run for governor.

  • Mike_in_the_Tundra

    Would you take a few minutes and read the comments of others. There are reasons to use a maxi-pad other than menstruation.

  • HamiltonIV

    It has been YEARS since she has needed a maxi-pad…

  • Thank you, Hamilton.

  • I want to read the follow up story after Wendy Davis hears their story!

  • StraightGrandmother

    You son of a gun, damn you are clever.

  • StraightGrandmother

    Yeah, let’s scope them penises!

  • HamiltonIV

  • I bet all those Texas legislators feel safer from Tamponado now.

  • Guest

    (sighs) and throw…. : /

  • Guest

    lol…. FACE. not faith : “>

  • Sue Anne Ward

    Me too grandma……….fucking unbelievable!!!!

  • Guest

    She should through a used one right at his faith. That is what that trash deserves.

  • TheOriginalLiz

    but … but … they have wings…

  • Really? Cite a single source for that unsubstantiated rumor please, and no — an unsourced link to some wingnut website reporting what they think they heard doesn’t count.

    Otherwise, this is a bullshit claim.

  • What I’ve been saying: Men should be required to undergo a full digital and ultrasound rectal prostate exam whenever they want a prescription for boner pills or those topical testosterone treatments that apparently can wreak havoc on women’s and children’s hormonal balance.

    And for every refill — another full prostate exam.

    Those medications can cause serious health problems, y’know, and how can we trust men to use them responsibly and safely?

  • So maybe you think that if pro-choice groups had made plans to all bring guns into the chamber and throw them at the lawmakers, that would be better? Hope you die lonely and single and alone, Derek, no woman should be forced to be near you.

  • Mike_in_the_Tundra

    You’re so correct. I’m type 1 and fortunately very stable, but I always carry rescue glucose with me. Although TSA agents can be pretty out of it, they understand that rescue glucose is necessary. I always carry bottles of rescue glucose and they never question it. It’s disturbing that the police don’t know that.

  • It was unconscionable, for sure. And quite possibly reckless endangerment.

  • It doesn’t matter what she was using them for. The very idea that they would be confiscated, and not just that, but paraded for everyone nearby to see, is a pathetic exercise in intimidation.

  • cole3244

    strip search texas neanderthal style.

  • AnitaMann

    Is the GOP really this hateful and stupid?

    Yes, it is. And every time I think, this has to be the high water mark, the flood worsens.

  • Jane

    oh and derek, just so you know…. there have been no reports of a tampon or maxipad thrown at anyone in the capitol building… but on a quick google search, i found atleast one gun fired
    at the building:

    http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/texas/shots-fired-at-texas-capitol-building

  • karendelandywalker

    Right!? If I tried to throw a pad at anyone it would probably flutter a bit before falling at my feet.

  • karendelandywalker

    The only reason they are confiscating maxi-pads and tampons from these women trying to go into gallery is because the republicans want to make sure there are no barriers to where they would like to stick their opinions.

  • condew

    The article says that if they had a concealed-carry permit, they would not even have been searched.

  • Zorba

    ^^This^^ Thank you, Sally. I would love to see this happen!

  • Zorba

    Yes. Although I tend to think that, because she is diabetic (and they also apparently took away her diabetic supplies!!!! What if she had suffered a diabetic emergency and needed those supplies???), the maxi-pads may well have been used for a mild case of urinary incontinence, which is associated with diabetes. For a mild case of incontinence, maxi-pads are a whole hell of a lot cheaper than the pads specifically marketed and sold for such mild urinary incontinence. In any case, what the Texas trooper did was unconscionable and totally inappropriate. Guns are okay, but maxi-pads and diabetic supplies aren’t? Really???

  • Jane

    there was not a plan to do anything of the sort.

    just so you know, there was a group fo pro-life teenagers overheard laughing and bragging that they were the ones who started the rumour.

    you should stop jumping to irrational conclusions.

  • RepubAnon

    So wait until they start throwing them, then arrest them? Preemptive seizure seems a bit extreme. Oh, and they ARE saying that the threat of someone throwing tampons is a bigger threat to these brave lawmakers than that posed by disgruntled people carrying firearms.

    Merciful heavens, I’d suggest that all political activists apply for concealed weapons permits and start taking firearms into the Capital. Would that add to the general decorum?

  • SierraTango

    So, what you’re basically saying is that the women should have brought guns instead?

  • MsSpentyouth

    Thanks for making the needed corrections in this article. Now we just have to make the needed corrections in our respective state governments! (There in Texas and here in North Carolina, which now features that much-vaunted #MotorcycleVagina bill that’s trending all over Twitter.)

  • SierraTango

    This is horrifying. My mother is diabetic and she typically carries a small packet of Skittles in her purse in case she has a low blood sugar attack. Why Skittles? That’s what her diabetes doctor and diabetes nurse practitioner recommend. She also carries a bottle of water with her wherever she goes in case she needs to take her pills.

    I am just astounded and disgusted at what this woman went through.

  • KingCranky

    Take your own advice about not “jumping to irrational conclusions”, there’s absolutely no way to justify what was done to this woman.

  • StraightGrandmother

    A tampon is not a maxi pad.
    In fact I would say that the maxi pads are even less “sinister” than a tampon.
    A tampon you could conceivably aim and throw, but you really can’t with a maxi pad.
    This is outrageous!

  • Sally

    The sad part is it’s not just Texas..NC, Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona, MI, WI, anywhere somewhat red is enacting these same idiotic laws, and then they hire Santorum to get in front of a mic and call them ‘love laws.’ I want to know when there’s a law requiring a man to have a penile scope before he gets his free Viagra, when he has to see video of STDs before he gets Viagra and finds a prostitute, and when he has to drive four hours to find a surgical clinic that can perform the necessary tests. You know, because we love men and want them to be safe.

  • Ceece

    Not to split hairs, but I think maybe those that took away a woman’s maxi pads were jumping to some irrational conclusions. What. the. hell. They completely humiliated that woman, which sucks. Show some respect.

  • StraightGrandmother

    This is un fucking believable. And I hardly ever use the full F word.
    This IS UNFUCKING-BELIEVABLE!!!

  • Ceece

    Holy cow. She looks like half of my relatives. I really bet that trooper’s mom is so proud of him. Way to go, making TX safe for non-bleeding democracy. Texas! What are you thinking?

  • Clint

    My God you are a dumb f’er.

  • Sally

    Golly gee, why do you think women are to the point of throwing paper products at their legislature? I mean, gee, what could those men have done to make women that upset? Any clue at all? And change the rules? How about Texas ignoring settled law regarding abortion rights, and changing THAT to ensure that women not only can’t get an abortion, even if medically needed to save her life, but she can’t get breast cancer screenings, PAP smears, contraceptive information or products…what are we women to do? Oh, I know, sit down, shut up, and spread our legs. Then when we can’t work because we have four preschoolers at home, and need food stamos because our spouse’s job is at one of your non-union places of business that refuses to pay a living wage or benefits, THEN you will call us lazy and ignorant.
    Is the GOP really this hateful and stupid?

  • Guess you don’t know much about us women and how our plumbing operates, do you?

    Ask your mom, son.

  • Derek

    They are not saying Tampons are dangerous. But pro-choice groups had made plans online and spread the word about how they should all bring tampons, maxi-pads, or condoms to the chamber and then throw them at lawmakers. Complete lack of decorum. That’s just as bad as them trying to change the rules on us in June. Have some respect without being so damn childish.

    Guns have been allowed in the Capitol since Texas was it’s own country. how many people have died because of it? Stop jumping to irrational conclusions.

  • MsSpentyouth

    And even when goes onto a woman’s panty. (Maxi-pads don’t go into vaginas.)

  • MsSpentyouth

    But in the video, the woman says nothing about tampons — the conversation is about the maxi-pads that were taken from her and waved around. Tampons are vastly different from maxi-pads.

  • MsSpentyouth

    Excellent post. HOWEVER, the woman is NOT in tears because they took TAMPONS but because they waved around her MAXI-PADS. Different critter altogether (men may not know that, but we women do.) Please correct the title and content. Thank you!!

  • Stacie Ford-Bonnelle

    what the fuck do you know if she’s still menstruating?

  • Gindy51

    Sorry to be sort of “graphic” but, she most likely uses them for incontinence. Some folks who don’t leak a lot of urine use maxi pads instead of Depends. My mom did.

  • FLL

    These state troopers are apparently claiming that you could use some nonexistent technology to make a pipe bomb out of a maxi pad. More likely, they got pissed off because the woman’s t-shirt seems to have some message printed on it—probably something related to justice for women—and they wanted to harass the woman in retaliation.

  • voltronforce

    The women pictures are too old to need tampons anyway

  • labman57

    Boy, those Texas legislators really do want to regulate what goes into a woman’s vagina …

  • S1AMER

    Some days you just shake your head and say, “Texas.” Some days you say it in anger. Some days you say it through tears. But on nearly all days you wonder why America has to have such parts as Texas. Why, America, why?

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