THE BOTTOM LINE:
Once again Oklahoma is on the losing side of legislation, litigation and public opinion.
In 2005, the U.S. Congress passed H.R. 418 the REAL ID Act. The Act, “enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government ‘set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses.’” It “established minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards and prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.”
The measure was authored by Rep. Sensenbrenner (R) of Wisconsin and had 140 cosponsors in the House, 138 of which were Republican, two were Democrats.
The premise of the Act is very simple. While we are a nation of states, each with our laws, punishments and standards, there are times when we must function as a single nation. States don’t negotiate trade deals with foreign countries. They don’t go to war individually and they can’t fight terrorism alone.
While some may claim this is a trampling of states’ rights, the fact is most airplane flights begin in one state and end in another. Do you want to place your trust in the lawmakers in California or Texas? What about Kansas or Mississippi?
This Act allows you to have representation in the conversation for what is safe or not when it concerns air travel.
Isn’t it my right to be safe, flying at 31,000 feet?
Some of my most fervent conservative and libertarian friends cite an often-used quote from Benjamin Franklin in their diatribes against government overreach and states’ rights.
The now famous quote goes, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
The question for me is, am I giving up “essential liberty?”
Despite the claims of conspiracy theorists and professional Youtubers, REAL ID is not an effort to create a national database.
According to the Department of Homeland Security’s website, the law and pretty much anything and everything in a position of authority, “REAL ID is a national set of standards, not a national identification card.”
There is no mechanism, nor is there one in the works, that would create a national database of driver’s license.
So, with my liberty intact, I ask you if not now, when? Our nation is not closing in on itself. It isn’t likely that there will be less travelers from one state to another. Can we get on with making this nation more secure by making “our identity documents more consistent and secure.”
This law should not pit Republicans against Democrats or liberals against Democrats. It was authored by a Republican, signed into law by a Republican President, reaffirmed by a Democratic President and Administration and again reaffirmed by a third Administration (President Donald Trump’s).
While Oklahoma wasn’t the first state to oppose the law and might not be the last to implement it, the ship has sailed on whether or not the law will stand. The government has stated there will be no more extensions.
I urge you to ask our lawmakers to ensure that we stop the conspiracy theory fodder, fear-mongering hype and join the rest of the nation in securing our skies and federal institutions.