Well, with the Nude-O-Scans in use at the airports, including the 2 I am going to be flying out of in April to head to the Boston Marathon *hubby qualified for it, is registered, we have our flight & hotel already booked*; I am seriously wondering *how many* get the SSSS on their boarding pass...And by refusing the dick measuring device, you get an "enhanced" patdown, which includes inside your waistband, touching the genitals, and not anymore back of the hand across the breasts. I'm wondering how police run their pat-downs before throwing someone in the back of their car. Is it more or less the same?
the 4th amendment reads:
Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.
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 don't mind going through that metal detector. It doesn't pick up the 3 staples I have inside me from my gall bladder removal (xrays pick it up though. looks funny!)
I don't mind my soon to be 18 year old daughter going through the metal detector. I do have a thing about her going through the virtual strip search *yes, those pictures are able to be saved, and transferred to another machine*, or being groped by some TSA goon.
The "enhanced" pat-down does not involve the back of the hand. it's fingers & palms, prodding you places only your gynocologist should be, or your doctor as a guy turns his head & coughs.
They've "decided" in their wisdom that 12 and under do not have to go through the Nude-O-Scope. How generous of them. What about those ages 13 up till they're 18? It's still illegal to view naked children, or take pictures of them. Also while going through there, you don't have view of your belongings (all of it, including wallet/purse, Ipad etc) on the belt.
People say "flying isn't a right - take some other transportation". Since when does MY purchasing a good from a company (an airline ticket) give the government the right to do a virtual strip search without any cause?
There is the National Opt-Out Day on November 24th. People will be opting for the patdown vs. the virtual strip-search. If you are flying that day, get there *extra* early, as I suspect the lines will move slower than they usually do on this day.
Oh, by the way, there are 2 different types of machines - magnetic wave, which produces a scan that you can't see the goodies in detail; and the backscatter xray, which *does*. With the backscatter, they can see your surgery scars on you. I suggest writing "f*** you" on yourself with a sharpie, if they can see your scars, they will be able to read your message to them. I am not sure if a black sharpie or a metallic sharpie would be best for this. Or cut out letters from foil and taping them on yourself to spell that out. And consider giving them a rude gesture with both hands while they are strip-searching you.
The TSA has a blog, written by "blogger bob" (such a nice generic name), and many questions are asked - but none are answered. Also lies and damn lies are posted on that site, as in "our machines cannot transmit, save, or print any pictures". The representative for the company that makes these machines says they can. "oh yes, believe everything the government says, they are only here to help you."
Don't think they are Nude-O-Scans? This is the image seen (in high-res) by TSA agents while you stand there with your hands in the air like a criminak being told "keep your hands in the air!" by a cop.
I really don't see why or even *how* people rationalize this. There have been suggestions for males that are Scots, drink Scotch, or even watched the movie Braveheart, wear a kilt.. just as they do back there...going commando. On the TSA blog, one poster asked if they could be taken to a private room, strip naked, and not have to be touched. No way, said TSA. You have to be subject to pat-down.
Again, how is this "reasonable"?