Guest Commentary

Government procedure rubs me the wrong way

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recently implemented new pat-down procedures through the Transportation Security Administration. TSA’s airport security attempts to ensure that travelers do not bring contraband items on the airplane. I was fine with the new procedure until I heard that the TSA is now authorized to frisk in more regions.

I have a problem with the following options: photos taken of me fully clothed, yet naked, and strangers touching my genitals before I can board an airplane. This procedure is standard for everyone: your grandmother, your spouse, your daughter, transgender people, handicapped people, cancer survivors with prosthetics and rape victims.

Strangers in blue uniforms in the airport will now touch men and women in inappropriate ways. Some rape victims are so traumatized by the experience of being raped they cannot hold hands with someone they love. Now this same population is given the option in some cases of being touched on the genitals and breasts, or not flying to their destination.

Moreover, I am offended that TSA can do this to children. If any mother or father thinks that it is ok that their child be touched in this way, that parent should be arrested. The laws in this country are so strict about this that if you see a stranger touching a child inappropriately, you have to call the police or CPS and report child abuse.

In any other non-medical situation, these pat-downs would be completely unacceptable. This policy constitutes borderline rape. It is comparable to if you were out on a date and the person driving the car says, “Let me grope you, or I don’t let you ride home with me.”

The TSA is the same organization that should have stopped the 9/11 terrorists from bringing box cutters onto airplanes. If they were not able to stop these men, why should I be convinced that they can stop a dangerous nonmetal from entering a plane because they touch my genitals?

In a time of big government, we should not be surprised to see that a government organization is invading privacy in a novel way. Without intending to do so, they are using high and low tech ways to psychologically degrade and terrorize humans. Maybe some people feel more secure by being seen naked and touched by strangers, but the rest of us need to be protected from this insult to privacy.

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5 Comments

  • It's not about the gropes, rape victims, or whether DHS/TSA should've been able to stop 9-11. It's about the 4th Amendment to the US Constitution — which rohibits the government from engaging in unreasonable searches and seizures. "Unreasonable" has been held to mean that the govemernment has failed to show "probable cause". If they can show that white-haired old ladies have a propensity to stow bombs in their bras, they have demonstrated probable cause for conducting a bra-search of white-haired old ladies. We have much more reason to suspect that middle-eastern looking young men and people dressed in burkas have a propensity to carry bombs on their person. Is this propensity great enough to constitute probable cause? That is the question. In and of itself, I'd say "No." But, that coupled with 'abnormal' or 'suspicious' behavior is enough to create probable cause.

  • I would like to know how TSA should have stopped 9/11 when the organization was created as a result of 9/11. As far as the 4th amendment argument goes, by getting in line to go through the security check point you are giving implied consent to have a search performed of your person and belongings. Since you are consenting to the search, it does not violate the 4th amendment. If you don't want to consent, don't fly.

  • Bob – Yes you are correct the TSA was formed after 9/11 and I should have made that more clear, but they have also missed major terrorist threats since then that was my point. In general the same procedures were used before 9/11 and then after the metal detectors, chemical checks, and security did not stop terrorists. If there is a will there is a way and these scanners and pat downs will not stop everything from getting through the checkpoint.

    I don't think that I should have to consent to have my Constitutional 4th Amendment Rights removed to buy an airplane ticket and fly. Technically I could charter a plane, but that is not going to happen either. Economically flying is the answer, I am not going to take a train. I personally don't fell safe in a bus either. I have had to file for work many times and many people in this county fly on a regular basis for their jobs.

    The issue is I don't consent to people having naked photos of me and touching me inappropriately and I should have the right to fly and not be sexually assaulted, that was my point.

    Dean – I agree the 4th amendment is really important in this case, my point was regardless of the U.S. Constitution this is ethically wrong. This also sets the stage for the government to perform this type of search and seizure in the future and at all sorts of things like sporting events. I have also hear discussions that those dressed in burkas would not be subjected to these searches because of religious reasons which is just ridiculous. My religion says it is wrong, but I don't think I am going to get a pass on these scans.

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