TSA Enhanced Pat Downs : The Screeners Point Of View

In the past few weeks since the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implemented its new “enhanced” pat down procedures there has been considerable backlash from the traveling public. This backlash has been loud and angry … but what is not heard or seen in the media is the quiet resentment of this new policy within the TSA.

A few days ago I contacted 20 TSA Transportation Security Officers (TSO) to ask their opinions of the new “enhanced” pat downs. Of the 20 I reached out to, 17 responded. All 17 who responded are at airports where the new “enhanced” pat down is in place … and the responses were all the same, that front line TSOs do not like the new pat downs and that they do not want to perform them.  I expected most to not like the pat downs … but what I didn’t expect was that all 17 mentioned their morale being broken down.

Each of the 17 TSA TSOs that responded to me detailed their personal discomfort in conducting the new pat downs, with more than one stating that it is likely they are more uncomfortable performing the pat down than passengers are receiving them.

Some comments from these TSOs include:

It is not comfortable to come to work knowing full well that my hands will be feeling another man’s private parts, their butt, their inner thigh. Even worse is having to try and feel inside the flab rolls of obese passengers and we seem to get a lot of obese passengers!”

Do you think I want to go to work and place my hands between women’s legs and touch their breasts for a few hours? For starters, I am attracted to men, not women and if I was attracted to women, it would not be the large number of passengers I handle daily that have a problem understanding what personal hygiene is.”

Yesterday a passenger told me to keep my hands off his penis or he’d scream. Is this how a 40 year old man in business attire acts? He’ll scream? My 3 year old can get away with saying he’ll scream, but a 40 something business man? I am a professional doing my job, whether I agree with this current policy or not, I am doing my job.  I do not want to be here all day touching penises.”

Being a TSO means often being verbally abused, you let the comments roll off and check the next person, however when a woman refuses the scanner then comes to me and tells me that she feels like I am molesting her, that is beyond verbal abuse.  I asked the woman if she thought I like touching other women all day and she told me that I probably did or I wouldn’t be with the TSA. I just want to tell these people that I feel disgusted feeling other peoples private parts, but I cannot because I am a professional.”

I was asked by some guy if I got excited touching scrotums at the airport and if it gave me a power thrill. I felt like vomiting when he asked that. This is not a turn on for me to touch me it is in fact a huge turn off. There is a big difference between how I pat passengers down and a molester molesting people.”

Aside from the issue of TSA TSOs being required to physically touch passengers in places they do not want to be touching them during the ‘enhanced’ pat down, morale is decreasing for front line TSOs, due in part to an increase in verbal abuse.  Each of the 17 TSOs who responded to me detailed a new level of verbal abuse they are experiencing at work.

The TSA has experienced a high level of turn over since its inception, however its turnover rate has decreased recently. With this decrease in morale, caused directly by a change in TSA policy, it is likely to begin experiencing a higher than average turn over again … which will further decrease the effectiveness of airport security.

Some comments from these 17 TSOs include:

Molester, pervert, disgusting, an embarrassment, creep. These are all words I have heard today at work describing me, said in my presence as I patted passengers down. These comments are painful and demoralizing, one day is bad enough, but I have to come back tomorrow, the next day and the day after that to keep hearing these comments. If something doesn’t change in the next two weeks I don’t know how much longer I can withstand this taunting. I go home and I cry. I am serving my country, I should not have to go home and cry after a day of honorably serving my country.

I come to work to do my job. It is not up to me to decide policy, it is up to me to carry out my duties as dictated by the Transportation Security Administration. When a person stands in front of me and calls me a pervert or accuses me of molesting them it is disheartening. People fail to understand that neither of us are happy about the intrusive pat down I am carrying out.  I am polite, I am professional and while someone may not like what I have to carry out, they came to me because they choose not to utilize the alternative and less invasive method of security at my airport.

I served a tour in Afghanistan followed by a tour in Iraq. I have been hardened by war and in the past week I am slowly being broken by the constant diatribe of hateful comments being lobbed at me. While many just see a uniform with gloves feeling them for concealed items I am a person, I am a person who has feelings. I am a person who has served this country. I am a person who wants to continue serving his country. The constant run of hateful comments while I perform my job will break me down faster and harder than anything I encountered while in combat in the Army.

Do people know what a Nazi is? One can’t describe me as a Nazi because I am following a security procedure of designed to find prohibited items on a passenger’s body. A Nazi is someone with hatred and ignorance in their hearts, a person who carried out actions of execution and extermination of those based on their religion, origins or sexual preferences.  I work to make travel safer, even if I do not agree with the current security procedures. Further more, I am Jewish and a TSA Transportation Security Officer, an American Patriot and to call me a Nazi is an offense beyond all other offenses.

There are multiple sides to every story, and I think the point of view of those on the front lines of the TSA, those required to carry on the policy and procedures created by the TSA, are an import part of this story. I think those organizing efforts to change the TSA’s policy should also consider the impact to the TSA TSOs.

Rather than dehumanize the TSA TSOs, work with them, understand their views and opinions and work together to change the current TSA policies.

Happy Flying!

866 Comments

  1. Good work citizens, keep it up! These folks may complain the are being “de-humanized”, of course they feel that way. But, the reality is the actions and comments from passengers are merely reminding them of how much humanity these TSA workers have lost, all in the name of a paycheck. If one performs a job that de-humanizes their customers, then it is a citizens duty to remind that person of who they really are.

    I have absolutely no sympathy for these folks. It’s not like they are being forced to execute these orders. They do it willfully, for their weekly paycheck, and the dollar obviously outweighs participating in a civilized and humane society for these people. The solution to mitigating terrorist threats does not lie in assuming citizens are guilty until proven innocent. If it did, then these security measures would have been implemented when commercial flights began so many years ago. The problem is at a much higher level, and treating citizens this way will only demoralize our society and inhibit our own power to function within it effectively.

    If worst came to worse, I would rather live homeless in a box than work at the TSA for a measly apartment and shitbox of a car. I could never treat a fellow citizen this way, and I hope these TSA employees come to the realization on their own that they are being used and flooded with propaganda to fool themselves into believing they are performing a noble service.

  2. all you whiners who say that they should get another job if they dont like it. Well maybe you should have taken the scanner if you dont like the pat downs. Its not like you didnt know what a pat down entailed. So either you enjoy whinging and complaining about anything or you secretly enjoy the pat downs. You had a choice.

  3. ISNT IT FUNNY HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE FORGET THINGS? NOT SOO LONG AGO,A PASSENGER BOARDED A FLIGHT WITH AN UNDERWEAR EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AND WHO DID THE ATTENTION FOCUS ON? TSA AND THE SECURITY SCREENING AGENCIES. EVERYONE WERE ASKING” HOW THE HECK DID THE SECURITY LET HIM GET ON THE PLANE WITH THAT?” YET AGAIN, THE AGENTS WERE BLAMED. I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO BE SAFE AND AT THE SAME TIME WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE SEARCHED THOROUGHLY EXCEPT FOR OURSELVES. THEREFORE STOP POKING AT OTHER’S SELF-ESTEEM JUST BECAUSE YOU HAPPEN TO BE PLACED IN A SLIGHTLY BETTER POSITION THAN THEY ARE. YOU GET TO THE AIRPORT,YOU DONT WANNA BE PATTED DOWN? GO AHEAD FOR THE BODY SCANNER, IF YOU FEEL LIKE THATS TOUGH OR TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU, VISIT A GAS STATION AND FUEL YOUR VEHICLE AND HEAD TO YOUR DESTINATION OR WALK,TAKE A TRAIN,A BUS…YOU HAVE SOOOO MANY ALTERNATIVES,THEREFORE IF YOU DECIDE IF U WANNA FLY, THEN HOLD YOUR COMMENTS IF THEY’RE NOT CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR A WORST ENCOUNTER WHEN YOU RETURN.

  4. Let Pistole and Calamity Jane(t) touch peoples parts…Then see if they have the same attitude. They are safely ensconsed in their high towers..They arent on the front lines

  5. ‘I am serving my country, I should not have to go home and cry after a day of honorably serving my country.’

    this sort of idiot talk is what keeps the TSA thugs rolling….Time to shame the TSA even those on the front line,…esp if they want to take you to court…make it so uncomfortable that noone will take the jobs

  6. ‘I served a tour in Afghanistan followed by a tour in Iraq. I have been hardened by war and in the past week I am slowly being broken by the constant diatribe of hateful comments being lobbed at me. While many just see a uniform with gloves feeling them for concealed items I am a person, I am a person who has feelings. I am a person who has served this country. I am a person who wants to continue serving his country”’

    patriotic gibberish…you arenot serving your country..your serving the TSA and who currently are allowing you to molest people..Please dont try to make it seem an honorable duty!

  7. This is absolutely proposterous!! How the TSA and Government allows this screening in the so called name of Security! First of all these Body Scanners cause a degree of harmfull radiation. Period. No matter what bs the producers or Government try to prove to the contrary. They obviously have no long term studies done on the health side effects of them. Secondly they say that it is private as the viewer of your naked body is in a different room and can not put a face to your genitals? So what they are saying is it that it is ok to rape you because they cannot see your face!! Gee I wonder if the rapists will start to use that as a defense in court too? The TSA and Government to not care about your health or safety, dont kid yourself they only care about not getting sued for any deaths.

    Like I always say PUNISH the CRIME and the CRIMINAL, not the people. Bring capital punishment to all quadrants of the world for hideous crimes. and I mean swift death sentences. None of this on death row appeals for years bs!! I hope that more people refuse this screening process and rufuse to fly, putting all these people in the airline and security out of business. Then you will see a change in their attitude towards this outrageous extreme security measures.

    For the most part when a person chooses to fly, they should be accepting the risk, such as when you decide to get behind the wheel of your car. If I fly to the Carribean or Vegas for a holiday, I should not have to go through this stringent security as someone that is flying to New York or Washington DC or in and out of Muslim countries. There is enough security on the plane and new measures that a terrorist cannot overtake the plane.

    For those sheep that think this is making it safe, give your head a shake. What is next? The new terrorist decides to shove a bomb up his ass, then the TSA says we all have to go through body cavity searches??!!! When will the stupidity stop?

    PUNISH THE CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL!!! NOT THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

    Please write to your member of Congress, member of parliment anyone of authority and tell them we will not put up with this!!!!

  8. revealing:
    Jeff wrote at 6:58 pm: “TSA and TSO’s hold your ground and keep up the good and faithful work at our air ports around the country. I work in a prison and understand the feelings that you have during pat downs. We pat offenders on a daily basis…”

    offenders?
    So airline passengters are to be treated like condemned prisoners…thats how TSA sees us! Since when were passengers judged to be offenders?

  9. ‘The Naked Body Scanners are manufactured by the Rapiscan Systems, which employs The Chertoff Group as a consultant to promote sales. If that name is familiar to you, it should be, the President and CEO of The Chertoff Group is none other than former Homeland Security Czar and Secreatry, Michael Chertoff, who first authorized these machines. Chertoff has been criticized by Flyers Rights.org for abusing his former position to promote the scanners.

    Let’s go back to the Christmas 2009 underwear bombing incident. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab from Nigeria and on the terror watch list tried to board Flight 253 from the Netherlands to Detroit with absolutely no identification. The Dutch now say that he did have a valid US visa. How does a guy who went to Al-Qaeda summer camp in Yemen get a valid US visa? Eyewitness Kurt Haskell who said he saw the professional man try to convince the ticket counter that he transports poor Sudanese refugees all the time without passports. He says he doesn’t know what happened after that, but that there is video of the exchange that is not being released. When Umar’s crotch exploded in flame, he appeared as surprised as anyone and did not fight being grabbed and smothered. Here’s a really great rundown of this incident from Kurt Haskell, who saw it all go down’
    http://www.redicecreations.com/article.php?id=13238

  10. I appreciate you posting that. It’s not about politics. They’re humans and they have a crappy job. Thanks for the quotes.

    I agree with people who point out that they took the job freely. The observation that many of them served in the military only puts things in perspective: you have no duty to continue employment at a place where your employer asks you to do something objectionable. Especially for the employee who goes home to cry, a career change is necessary. In the military, you’re contractually obligated to serve for as long as you promised. Comparisons between the patriotism of serving in the military and working in airline security is disingenuous and dishonors the valor of our armed forces.

    However, I recognize that this is not the economy where people can afford to wait for a better job. Leaving a job on principle is a fantasy.

    Passengers do not have an outlet to vent their frustration about these security measures, and I do not mind if people are rude as a result. However, it’s good to remember that they’re just working stiffs like anyone else. It would be foolish to get angry at cogs for working as intended in a deplorable machine.

    On a philosophical note, to those that characterize the dilemma of air travel as a choice between these security options and exploding planes, I will indulge you: yes, I would rather air travel be less safe. However, as many have pointed out, this does not make us safer. If there were a significant risk of explosives at security checkpoints, the protocol would not be to aggressively touch it–just ask Ireland.

    The terrorists spent a few thousand dollars on some explosives and innovative delivery forms. We spent millions on security theater. Please remind me: who outsmarted whom?

  11. Fine then. The TSA isn’t Nazis. The definition doesn’t fit. But Fascist? That is a little closer to the truth. Every adult has been patted down before. This goes beyond the “pat down” though. This is literally groping and “feeling up”. If I did this to anyone coming into my house, I’d get arrested for sexual assault. If I did this to children as they came into my house, then I would also be arrested for molestation and pedophilia and be placed on a sex offender list. If I do not have the right to do this, then no part of the government, nor any government right to do this since all government power is derived from the power and rights of the citizens. It can’t do anything I couldn’t rightfully do.

    And using the “opt for” argument doesn’t work. I mean whats my choice? Dangerous x-ray radiation or being sexually assaulted? Some choice.

    If you really have a problem with it, then do the right thing. Take a stand against it. Do just go along with it just saying “Its my job.” That makes you just as guilty, an evil of omission not commission, too lazy to do what is right.

  12. As a Brit I’d be quite interested to find out if the TSA employees have a union? As surely large numbers of front line workers finding a practice deplorable would strike on-masse (to which firing them for taking their legal right to strike over conditions is illegal).

    I wonder why they don’t, unless it’s written into their contracts that they cannot strike (such as with solders) but i’d be sceptical as to the legality of such a move as from what I understand the TSA is not a front-line service where their lack of presence would put lives directly at risk (rather than simply result in cancelled flights) as opposed to if police, ambulance or fire services striked.

    Another article i have seen questions the effectiveness of the pat downs due in no small part to the complete and utter refusal to observe human behaviour which is usually a far bigger give away to intent than trying to smuggle anything through security tucked down a crotch (the commenter in the article was an Israeli airport security consultant and I ask you to find a country as consistently under threat from terrorists as Israel).

    As a final question to be posed to TSA (through a senator maybe?) Is to see what evidence can be given to justify either the body scanners (which can have images stored (easily done if there is usb ports as from what I’ve seen these things run windows) or at least viewed by members of the public as I have witnessed from the ones installed in Amsterdam’s Airport, Schiphol. Or the ‘enhanced’ pat downs (which it appears treats all parties as guilty until proven innocent rather than the other way around) Also has these measures been proven to counter the threat of terrorism?

  13. Would anybody feel sorry for a mugger who complained that his victims were unhappy and called him names? I didn’t think so.

    There is no other “side of the story”. They choose what to do every day with their life. They choose to come to an airport and molest and fondle people, and somehow think that because the government said it’s ok and they have a uniform that this makes them ok people.

    It does not make them ok people. All of those names being used against the TSOs….creep, pervert, etc. They are all true.

    You ARE a pervert and a creep if you think in any way it is ok to fondle and molest people for the non crime of travelling.

  14. Airlines, the only winning move is not to fly. When enough (more) airlines go out of business, the TSA will be shown the door. Then they can go get their old jobs back at Walmart.

  15. HELL YA! TSA here I come! I get to molest children, whack off to full body scans, rip out colostomy bags, and get paid by the fed to do it all, sign me up….

    My favorite phrase will be “hey little girl, i am fingering you to make a safer america!”

    My defense will be “i was ordered to rape kids, it is not my fault. just following procedure.”

  16. jack,your a douche bag! yea i feel for these people as i work in a similar enviroment. i have to do things people don’t like and the get upset and talk about there rights and how they want to call the local trashbag laywer. Fact is this, you want to be safe from unknown threats? policy’s are put in place to handle this. good or bad that’s there intent. Because i don’t belive there is anyone out there who won’t sue the axx off the federal goverment if there loved ones becomes a victim of another terorist attack in the sky’s. no you will be preaching that they could have done more, why were they not there for you! myadvice is grab your own scrotem and man the hell up.

  17. It appears you may be a “hack” for the government. The nude body scan machine DO store images and can transmit them. Do you think if the found something on someone, they would be able to store that image for evidence? The government specifications call for the machines to be able to store and transmit images.

    Part of the problem is that no one believes the lies and deceptions mouthed by TSA or Homeland Security. They try to tell us, as you do, all about the num ber of scientist who say it’s safe, well 4 out of 5 doctors recommend Crest. Where did this information come from? Why isn’t the “scientific” information published for everyone to look at?

    Sorry that so many people are just sheep being lead to slaughter in the name of “protection”. Police State coming soon to an airport near YOU! Oh, it is already here!

  18. “One can’t describe me as a Nazi because I am following a security procedure designed to find prohibited items on a passenger’s body…”

    Only blindly following ordrers. I thought this was covered at Nuremberg 65 years ago.

    I read one account of a fashion model and her friends. It seems they ALWAYS get selected for pat downs , scanner or not, and get to overhear rude comments by TSA employees. Things like ‘nice set on that one!’ etc. while actually in the scanner.

    Why would anyone put up with this? Vote with your dollars. Don’t fly.

  19. TSA Agents – I am a rape and incest survivor. Just reading about the groping makes me very anxious. I do not believe I could endure it without becoming hysterical. I can barely endure going to the doctor and cannot imagine allowing this.

    I am also a cancer survivor and there is some data that the scanner increases the skin’s exposure to radiation to a great degree.

    Lastly I have had surgery that has left surgical metal in my body so I would probably have to be groped even with the scanner.

    I am screwed, to put it bluntly. I don’t think I will be able to fly any more.

    The TSA is performing illegal searches without any cause. Even former El Al officials say the process is ineffectual and laughable.

    Shame on the TSA bigwigs for instituting such a policy! And shame on the TSA agents for cooperating with such a vile policy!

  20. Good. I hope MORALE IS SO “BROKEN DOWN” that these agents STRIKE in PROTEST against what they are so far agreeing to do. SIMPLE. DO IT.

  21. What’s to stop all the child molestors and pervs to come to TSA looking for jobs so they can freely fondle kids. Easy as pie. Under normal circumstances, they might not be able to get this close to a child’s genitals, but not with this job, feel free…or should I say, ‘free feel’.

    And, what’s to stop any TSA moron with a camera phone from taking all the nude scanner pics he wants and uploading them to youtube or someplace else.

    If the government is all right with TSA doing this, then they need to get in line and be the first ones to get felt up…unless, like the socialized medical insurance…they aren’t required to participate.

  22. The definition of molest: to annoy, disturb, or persecute especially with hostile intent or injurious effect : to make annoying sexual advances to; especially : to force physical and usually sexual contact on.

    I don’t understand why people would say they are being molested or raped by TSO’s. Are they groping certain parts of your body for more than 10 seconds? Putting their genitalia on or in you? Verbally expressing perverted phrases or actions to you? If that is happening to you, then call for a supervisor and report the incident to TSA and your government. If not, you’re not being being raped or molested.

    In my personal opinion, i would not go through the scanners because there’s not much hard evidence or research on its effects to my health. I would opt for the pat down. I would be as pleasant as i could to the TSO doing the search. Because most of the time how you treat them, is how they will treat you. They are people trying to make a living and you don’t know their personal circumstances.

    I can honestly say that if I’m at work and customers treat me like crap, it hurts and there’s only so much a person can take. After that point i treat the customers how they treat me, which I’m really sorry to say.

    You can’t tell people to quit their jobs because its wrong or they don’t like it. Those people could have mouths to feed or bills to pay just like you. If everyone quit their job because they didn’t like it: you’d have no one to take or cook your order at a restaurant, no one to make or sell the clothes you wear, fly the planes you’re getting on and so on… Those people who don’t like their jobs are probably key players in your everyday life and you don’t even realize it.

    My main point 1)don’t make life a living hell for others,and maybe they won’t make your life hell 2)quit being all hysterical when YOU opt for a pat down 3) if you don’t like the policy complain to the government,congress and politicians 4) don’t tell people to quit their jobs unless you have the extra cash to support them.

  23. Re #539.

    It’s not compassionate and kind to fondle the vaginal lips of someone’s 15 year old daughter or to aggressively squeeze her young breasts looking for bombs/guns/drugs. Or (ditto to) a man’s testes or penis, whatever…..It’s DUMB, it’s CRIMINAL, it’s WRONG and it certainly aint “compassionate and kind”.

    These TSA agents are in the firing line of John Pistole and Janet Nepolitano’s “policy” because they aren’t there. Too bad: something this bad, this wrong should be stood on its head.

    Advice to the TSA agents: stop molesting the public. Very simple.

  24. Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.

    Repeat after me: No daddy what are you doing? Please no daddy stop please Daddy.

    With enough abuse the TSO’s will start to refuse patdown duty, or quit. Once there is enough lost TSO’s due to this the union will put a fist right up TSA Heads rear end.

  25. To those who claim that flying is not a right, 49 US Code § 40103 (2) disagrees with you. It says, “A citizen of the United States has a public right of transit through the navigable airspace…”

    Furthermore, the Constitution doesn’t delineate your rights and is not the source of your rights. The Constitution is actually a list of the few powers that the Federal government is supposed to have. This is precisely why men like James Madison were opposed to having a “bill of rights” as part of the Constitution, because he knew that one day idiots would think that these were a list of their only rights–completely misconstruing the purpose of the Constitution.

  26. When I first read the post, I almost felt bad for those guys, but then again, it’s been their choice working for TSA.

    I suppose you haven’t think about it, but have you thought how this whole screening procedure measure affect the rest of the world? Any passenger flying towards de USA must comply with it, no matter from where, as it wasn’t enough the stuff you had to get through at the customs already and fill that stupid questionarie.

    Fortunately scans aren’t here yet, but they are beggining to introduce them to the airports, and its matter of time that your goverment asks ours to comply with TSA crap rules.

    I live in Spain, which isn’t in Mexico, BTW (I get asked that a lot). Its here in Europe, we are almost at the tail of what you would call 1st world, we have a fence separating us from a muslim country, and we have quite a few local terrorist group (fortunately, only one remains “active” and its on its last days), apart from the Al Qaeda threat that freaks you out. If there is something that we’ve learnt is that kidnapping a plane isnt a essential step in order to commit a massive terrorist attack, heck, you dont even need to kill anyone, just put the bomb, call police: “the bomb is there”, it freaks you out they got to place it there. Terrorism isnt about killing people, its all about fear, fear of dying doing your usual routine, fear of being at the wrong place at the worst moment.

    And you guys, you are scared to death, and thats were you have lost your battle against terrorism.

    So scared that ever since 2001 you’ve been giving away your own rights, one by one. While pretending to fight for freedom and democracy arround the world, you’ve step over people rights over and over again: freedom of speech, presumption of innocence, torture, life… becoming the monster you’ve always wanted to fight just trying to get a false feeling of security.

    Guess you can say what do I care if those TSOs shit on your 4th ammendment, I’m not even american, but yeah, eventually it’ll get there and we’ll have our own TSO’s touching our groins, if not worse, and these people bitching about “complying orders” are as guilty of it as the ones who set the procedures.

    We still somehow look for that leadership on you, the USA, even with all the last year’s dissapointments. We’ve paid the support we gave you with blood, we didnt believe in your war, but we went there with you. And now it seems that the biggest threat to our fundamental rights doest come from east or from within, but from the place we used to admire the most.

    Live with concern about terrorism, but dont fall in the irracional fear or someday you’ll have to get through a pat down to get to your local grocery store.

    Sorry about spelling and so, English isnt my native languaje.

  27. Wow, a LOT of people completely missed the point of this article.

    “Paul”, “GA”, “Alex”, “Joshua Hopkins”, “W Revelle”, etc.etc.

    Just…learn some basic human qualities will you…wow.

    I know, I know: seeds, barren ground etc.etc.

  28. The Germans bent over prior and during WWII. They became automatons to a dictatorship, neither questioning, nor disobeying the orders of an insane man.

    Learn from history, we are told.

    #539 – You missed your time.

    #631 – Nicely said.

    The needs of the MANY outweigh the needs of the FEW!

  29. Robert #616:
    I cannot believe this has shown what America has turned into. I am speaking of both sides. The ones against the TSA has turned into a herd or mob mentality.The more they hear people agreeing with them the worse they say.I would not doubt if I hear someone say we should beat up any agent who searches us.Based on things I have read on this blog and others I could see it happen. Everyone is suggesting the Opt out day.All that will accomplish is making everyone wait longer, getting more angry especially when EVERYONE starts missing flights.Which they will. No matter how much they back up or yell the TSA is not going to open the line holding a sign only that says “Enjoy your flight!” with a smile.They are not going to suddenly let everyone through because the line is long.The more people wait and miss their flights the more dangerous it will get for those who lose their temper and those in line who have no problem with the screening but everyone will pay for it.
    I am one who says ‘dont fly then’ but just like there will be a couple who say the same thing there will be those who say F-off with the others agreeing. When I bought the ticket I knew I would have to be walking through security, reguardless if the ticket was bought a year ago or yesterday. If I objected I would not have bought the ticket.
    I object to them being called Nazi’s..it simply is not the same thing but this will get me swore at like everyone else. I will say this and risk the name calling.
    I find very offensive that they are calling pat downs ‘sexual assault’. It is not the same thing. I am someone who has been the victim of sexual assault. Do you want to know what sexual assault is? it is violent assault of your personal area being done against your will. It is painful and scarring. It goes way beyond a touch or a pat. It is having things done to and put in your body violently while you are crying, struggling and begging not to. Is this really the same thing? Or are you simply uncomfortable, embarrassed and inconvenienced? Did you know beforehand you would get a pat down or touched, or have the possibility of it? I didnt. Am I saying it is not humiliating? NO I am not. But please at least take a moment to realize it is quite upsetting to hear that phrase being used to benefit your point of view and used as a throwaway term. It may be embarrassing but it is not assault. You went in of your own free will, knowing you may be subject to a search (metal detector, scanner, pat down or otherwise), you have options. You can OPT for a pat down. I could NOT. It is NOT the same thing. And before anyone asks yes I have had a pat down. The last time I flew I went through a metal detector and a pat down that took less than a minute. Trust me when I say that I am sensitive to touch and if at any time it seemed to linger or they were ‘enjoying it’ or went slowly over some areas I would be the first to know. It was not like that. Was it embarrassing. Of course it was but not terribly so. I have been more embarrassed by doctors to be honest.
    I am not saying people dont have the right to be upset or even protest but the proper way is to write the government. Not to hold up thousands in the misguided belief that they will stop and let everyone through and beg forgiveness. I would rather have security than none. All I ask is for people to stop throwing the term ‘sexual assault’. It is not the same and is highly disrespectful to those who have been.

  30. They opted in for this, and they opt in every time they go to work. “Just doing my job” is not an excuse. People are responsible for their actions even when they are “just following orders.”

  31. @m,

    Ah, that would explain a lot as it has been a part of EU legislation since 1991, but although technically a formal directive, not many member states take much notice of it – there is speculation that it will be upgraded to a fully enforced regulation sometime in 2012.

  32. Flying is a privilege, not a right.

    If you don’t like the new security measures, get on a bus, train, boat or drive yourself.

    I am so sick of everyone claiming their “civil liberties” are being violated. Nowhere in the constitution does it read “right to airplane travel.”

    I, for one, am happy with the new security measures because I would like to arrive at my destination in one piece.

  33. Dear TSA Agents,

    You are uncomfortable conducting these searches because somewhere in your heart you know they are wrong, you know they are a violation of American’s 4th Amendment Rights, you know you are feeling as if you have to do this…or…or what?

    Integrity means having the courage to do the right thing.

    The right thing, right now, is to tell our government and your union bosses…

    No, I will not conduct illegal searches and seizures. Your union is no longer representing you. Your union is representing the government in this matter. Is that what you paid your union dues for? For you union to force you to take illegal actions against American citizens?

    You want passenger’s to respect you? I say to you,

    Can you respect yourself? Can you see the betrayal of your union in this matter? You are being treated just like the Nazi’s treated their underlings…a useful tool.

    The difference is we’re still free enough to object and put a stop to this insanity.

  34. Look, nowhere in your constitution are you granted the “right not to sometimes be made a bit uncomfortable”.

    And nor should that right be granted, because thats the way life is.

    When a TSA tries searching you and punches you in the balls, let someone know…

  35. @Pete

    http://www.gpoaccess.gov/constitution/html/amdt4.html

    The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
    and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be
    violated; and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported
    by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be
    searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

    History of the 4th Amendment
    In the colonies, smuggling rather than seditious libel afforded
    the leading examples of the necessity for protection against
    unreasonable searches and seizures. In order to enforce the revenue
    laws, English authorities made use of writs of assistance, which were
    general warrants authorizing the bearer to enter any house or other
    place to search for and seize “prohibited and uncustomed” goods, and
    commanding all subjects to assist in these endeavors. The writs once
    issued remained in force throughout the lifetime of the sovereign and
    six months thereafter. When, upon the death of George II in 1760, the
    authorities were required to obtain the issuance of new writs,
    opposition was led by James Otis, who attacked such writs on libertarian
    grounds and who asserted the invalidity of the authorizing statutes
    because they conflicted with English constitutionalism.

  36. Nazi fits perfect no matter what anyone says. I bet there were lots of “good” people who were just following orders. TSA employees are a bunch of nazi molesters.

  37. The main problem with the TSA search criteria is that a 90 year old grandmother from Nebraska is assumed to be as great a risk as a young Muslim male born in Yemen. Lets get real here. Of course, not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims. (and please, I don’t want to hear about Timothy McVeigh from 20 years ago.) As soon as a former U.S. Senator, or an elderly U.S. citizen in a weelchair tries to bring an airplane down, then all bets are off, strip searches for everyone. If foreign nationals don’t like it-tough luck. Lets quit having political correctness govern the process.

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