Posted on 11/17/2010 11:22:37 AM PST by Mike Evers
Very unpleasant experience today with TSA employees on a mission from God to conduct full body pat-downs whenever they could. You’ve heard about it. You’ve seen it on television. Well, it actually happened to me this morning and I almost went to jail over it.
I was attempting to fly out of Sarasota, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia today. I cleared security and got out to my gate only to discover the flight was delayed for another hour and a half. So I exited the boarding area and went to one of the restaurants in the main terminal. When I attempted to go back through security I was detained and told to sit in a Plexiglas cubical. I was now separated from my carry-on bag, my shoes, wallet, cell phone, watch and belt. Eventually a TSA employee entered and began to describe the procedures he was going to use to pat-down my entire body. I declined, and said I wanted to go back through the scanner. After all, I had cleared it earlier in the morning, and there was nothing new on my person. Perhaps it was just a misreading.
Well, they would have none of that. A very pompous little supervisor came over and asked me if I wanted to fly today. I informed him that was my intention. Otherwise, why would I be in his little plexiglass cubical. I told him I did not wish to submit to the full body pat-down because I believe it is unwarranted and potentially an unconstitutional invasion of my right to privacy—you know, the privacy right the Supreme Court says is in the Constitution even though there are no such words to that effect. Not persuaded by my argument, the supervisor told me to submit or he would have me arrested. I asked what law I was allegedly violating. He said refusal to submit to federal authority. I replied that I thought there were less intrusive alternatives. He said “No,” and once again demanded that I submit. I declined, so he brought over his superior and three Sheriff’s deputies. Now it was getting interesting.
So much time was taken up with all this nonsense that I missed my flight. When I informed them that I wished to leave the screening area so I could see about another flight I was advised that I was not allowed to leave. Now that I had tripped into their briar patch I either submitted to their search or face arrest. I contemplated the arrest scenario in earnest. When I was in law school 30 years ago, I don’t recall things being like this. Certainly there have been some changes, especially after 9-11, but full body pat-downs and groping of genitalia? When did all this come about Janet Napolitano? Last week? Well, I don’t think it will be around six months from now, so enjoy it while you can.
Facing certain arrest if I refused to submit to their police tactics, I agreed to the search and was led to a private cubical with frosted glass to keep things a bit more private. A Sheriff’s deputy stood inside because I said I did not wish to be without witnesses should the TSA employee get a bit too frisky while feeling every inch of my body, and I do mean “every inch!” Ladies, you are going to love this new procedure when you get singled out for “special” treatment. And guys, you are not going to like it one bit. No happy ending!
Naturally, the extraordinary feel-down didn’t produce anything explosive, or otherwise. Nevertheless, I was informed that the contents of my carry-on bag needed to be searched. Once again, I protested, informing them that it had already passed through screening on the x-ray conveyor belt. Well, now things were different. Now that I was getting the “special” treatment, the entire contents of my bag were laid out on the table for all to see. About 13 local and federal agents gathered around for this little training exercise, or as our beloved President Obama would call it, a “teachable moment.” Fortunately, I wasn’t carrying any sexy lingerie or other items that could cause one to blush. And the extra look-through didn’t produce anything explosive or dangerous, even though I mentioned that my house key could be used to poke out someone’s eye. They failed to see the humor in that observation and stuffed my belongings back into the bag and escorted me out of the screening area and into the ticketing terminal. I got booked on a late afternoon flight, rented a car for three hours ($18 is a lot cheaper than a taxi), and came home to catch on some work before returning to the brave new world of TSA dominance.
As a Million Miler with Delta, I have a little bit of experience with this whole flying thing. I was flying long before 9-11 brought about all this beefed up security and intrusiveness. I’ve faced plenty of airport security issues about the decade, had valuable items stolen from my checked bags by TSA employees, and now this arrogant display of unbridled assault and battery on my body, all in the name of protecting the American public. I publish this missive and add my voice to the growing tide of rebellion over this unprecedented intrusion against our personal freedom.
Now, it’s time to head back to the airport and pray that there has been a shift change in the screening area. If not, please come visit me wherever they decide to lock me up.
OH! LOL
That’s great. Please excuse my wording of the t-shirt I mentioned.
>>Actually, as long as one can raise them self back to their naturally superior level, what’s the problem?<<
If you spend the day playing in manure you will smell like manure for the rest of the day. I prefer not to smell like manure even for a little while.
That might start up one absurdly awful infection if actually worn, particularly if you can’t shower immediately.
bttt
I posted this article on my FB page this morning. My lib friends came out and bleated basically, “But if we want to be safe....” baaaaaaaa
I think I’m going to be doing some unfriending....
And, apparently, the TSA decided he needed lots and lots of extra scrutiny. (We both went through the full body scanners, by the way.) THEN my wonderful DH got a rather intimate pat-search on top of the full-body scan ... and then they decided to x-ray his boots (which were off) two EXTRA times (for a total of three x-rays.)
While he was going through this, the TSA people waved at least 3-4 adult males (casually dressed young men, civilians) through ... they went through the standard metal detector, but not the full body scan or the intimate pat down.
Hmmm... This took 33 minutes. I can only imagine what it will be like closer to Thanksgiving!
Unrelated YAY for American Airlines... they "comped" my $50 in baggage fees since he was on orders, and they upgraded us both to first class (which was wonderful but unexpected!)
Gabrial,
Your description of how these three women
were 'screened' gave me a disturbing thought.
As the bad guys observe and learn, they might
think of this too.
Here is the scenario:
They construct a bra-bomb that to the back of
the hand feels like a full breasted woman, but
is partly filled with explosives.
Worn by a small breasted woman, who declines
the body scan, to opt for the pat-down, could
easily get through to the plane.
These new procedures are not helping.
I thought about this also. However, after all three breast rubbings I witnessed, the TSA agent made the victim stand there while the TSA agent stripped off the blue gloves and ran the gloves through an explosives detector. I think this safeguard is what the TSA hopes will stop your scenario.
Actually, I think the bigger hole in security is exactly as you describe, but having the woman go through the naked body scanner. The naked body scanner seems to look at the surface of the skin and patterns outlines of objects against the victim's skin. I think if the fake bomb boobs looked like real breasts on the surface, the naked body scanner would not detect the boob bombs.
Since Muslims are allowed to operate the naked body scanners for the TSA, I would expect they would be able to tell their bomb-making friends exactly what to do in order to construct a bomb that would not be detected by the naked body scanner.
Kind of makes ya think, no?
Where the hell have you been? He is “dealing with it.”
You might want to share your story here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security-222/
A lot of interesting discussion going on over there!
“Israeli security experts have refused to install these scanners at Ben Gurion International Airport, which is widely hailed as the safest airport in the world. Rafi Sela, the former Chief Security Officer of the Israel Airport Authority, explained he could “overcome the body scanners with enough explosives to take down a Boeing 747.””
I think we are ahead of our time...
I myself know the reason.
Clear and simple.
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
Resist! Resist! Resist! In your heart you know what to do. Never quit. Tyranny is un-American.
Joe, my husband and I have plans for trip up North in the near future and we planned to fly but...now considering driving.
Really? How virtuous. Unfortunately virtues don’t win battles. I take it you wouldn’t have “lowered yourself” to fight the Japanese or the Nazi’s on their level as so many brave men did and return to live the balance of their lives on higher ground? Would you lower yourself to a hostile intruder’s level to defend your home and family? You wanna beat crap, you gotta get dirty. As long as you don’t stay there, you won’t become crap. If you want to stand on higher ground and let the rest of is wallow in it, fine, I suppose the battle will take that much longer. I for WON will get down-n-dirty, fight oppressive crap like this, clean up, and move forward.
Yup it was Las Vegas (LAS) McCarran airport
Look out for the short fat little dyke with her posse of male fag hags.
If you dress real sexy, you might get a private pat down!
Just kidding and **ducking** fast lol
Good luck!
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