TSA

I’ve been rather busy and haven’t blogged in a while. But this whole TSA enhanced ‘pat-down’ or backscatter ‘view me naked’ choice has me rather upset.

Personally, I have no shame and don’t care if someone sees me naked. But heaven help you if you try to see my child naked. Of course we can refuse. But the alternative choice is that you want to molest my child? And if we refuse both and decide not to fly, we cannot leave without facing a $10,000+ fine? (http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/kswb-man-faces-fine-for-refusing-tsa-scan,0,7222070.story)

I thought Americans were protected from unlawful searches and seizures.

The 4th Amendment says, “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.”

I am secure in my person.

What is the probable cause for TSA to search me?

That I am choosing to fly?

I thought Americans were innocent until proven guilty.

Quoting from the above cited article:

Michael Aguilar, TSA's federal security director in San Diego says, "We want to be sure that everyone on a plane can be assured that the people with them received the same screening process."

He said that any passenger can opt out of the full body scan and instead choose a pat-down, and that the TSA has a procedure in place that blocks out the groin area on a full body scan. "It ensures the official never sees the image on the display screen," he said.

(My first thought - So the potential terrorist could hide a bomb there? But then that is another blog.)

Aguilar went on to say, "We have a commitment to public safety, and a commitment to our mission to protect the freedom of movement of passengers," he said, "We're not going to allow anyone or any group to detract from our mission."

What about the Constitution of the Country???? No commitment to that?

I happen to agree with the statement from the National Opt-Out Day organizers. (Again, quoting from the article.)

"This country needs security measures in place that not only keep us safe but
also do not grossly violate privacy or constitute an unreasonable search, like
the current protocol," National Opt-Out Day organizers said in a statement.
"Protest the federal government's desire to virtually strip us naked or submit
to an 'enhanced pat down' that touches people's breasts and genitals in an
aggressive manner."

A person responding to this on Fark.com summed it up well:

"The mere fact that we are even suggesting that viewing little old ladies and young children naked while exposing them to radiation vs feeling them up as a way to protect us from evil is so mind boggling it just makes me want to scream in anger.

How is losing our right to privacy and right to travel protecting us in the long run?"
REOIV on Fark

The place to stop the terrorists is BEFORE the airport. When the intelligence agency submits memos to the president saying a known terrorist is determined to strike.

The truth is that there is no way to stop all terrorist attacks. A determined person will find a way.

The truth is that there is no way to 100% safe from any kind of danger as long as you are alive.

Minimizes the risks is a good thing. Go ahead and have security checks. But not ones that are essentially government sanction pornography and government sanctioned sexual molestation.

What made, and hopefully will continue to make, America great is our rights. Our freedoms. Let’s not take them away. Keep the 4th Amendment strong and alive. Don’t let TSA kill it.