You apparently haven't flown much lately. Crippled, little old ladies are randomly searched like everyone else (while the folks I'm concerned about are allowed to pass through without hassle).
Joe Foss, a WWII Marine hero who reached the rank of Genereal, former governor of South Dakota, former president of the NRA and 90 years old, was not allowed to take his Medal of Honor aboard a flight as it might be used as a weapon. Go figure.