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John L. Smith
Somehow, patting down disabled, elderly improves security
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Slumped in her wheelchair, Amelia looked my way and shrugged. It was happening. Again.
In the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport recently, my 14-year-old was once more being patted down by uniformed strangers wearing rubber gloves.
Nearby, a line of adults streamed by, shoes and belts in hand, hustling to their flights.
She's an amazing young person, my kid. Amelia has survived brain and spinal cancer, debilitating nerve pain, and the challenging transition into life with a wheelchair.
She's my hero, and it makes my heart ache to see her humiliated by TSA workers who I am sure are only following orders.
Catcalls went out across the nation last week in reaction to the TSA's latest increase in airport security: far more invasive pat-downs by screeners and the phasing in of full-body scanning. They're feeling up cleavages and crotches from here to Miami -- supposedly at random.
The anxious public is peeved.
Airline pilots are outraged.
They have nothing on Amelia.
She is searched every time we fly. Every damn time.
We are told it is because she uses a wheelchair, despite the fact it is stowed with the luggage in the belly of the plane.
And every few times we fly, the wheelchair appears to set off the machine designed to detect explosive material residue. The screeners take a small piece of cloth and wipe it on the chair, then place it in the machine. If it detects a problem, it notifies security.
Trouble is, the machine is sensitive and screeners have to take care to make sure it is reset properly. If they fail to reset it, it goes off.
I know this because over the years some of the screeners have sheepishly admitted as much.
This time, bingo, she set off the machine. Under the security system now in place, that means in addition to the usual irritating pat-down, screeners return for a second, far more assertive and invasive search.
For the most part, I held my tongue. We all know speaking up to airport security invites further delay and potentially missing a flight.
I tersely reminded the security matron that she had neglected to reset her machine.
No matter. Rules are rules, and the rules said a supervisor had to be called.
A huddle ensued with a second and third TSA worker. A first call was made, then another, as they tried to find a supervisor to give us clearance.
In the interim, four other people were detained and chosen, supposedly at random, for a more thorough search. Trouble is, all five were female.
One woman appeared to be pushing 80.
Another, in her 60s, cringed as her breasts were officially fondled and her waistband was explored. She fretted about missing a scheduled flight while the TSA underlings searched for their supervisor.
They have enough authority to feel my kid's crotch, but not enough to admit their machine had malfunctioned. For that it takes a team meeting and phone calls -- after that second more invasive search.
Meanwhile, we're now told the future use of full-body scanners at airports will improve security.
Will the full-body scanner really be preferable to the double-pat-down-crotch-and-cleavage-exploration-with-fingers-under-the-waistband maneuver?
I suppose you can't be too careful with all the disabled freshman high school girl terrorist suspects wheeling around these days.
Yeah, sure.
Fact is, I'm all for airport security. Most TSA personnel we've encountered have been as sensitive as their jobs allow. We generally endure the security pat-downs that accompany her wheelchair use without much complaint.
But at what point do the so-called experts stop harassing the disabled and elderly and start using good judgment when it comes to choosing whom to search?
There are words to describe the latest airport security changes, but Amelia is too polite to say them.
John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. E-mail him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith.
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Speaking about screening the disabled and elderly, what does the A.D.A say? It'll be interesting to see how the government will cover this up! You know, to void the A.D.A. for the common good? Anybody have any knowledge of the A.D.A.? Think it applies? You bet it does...Big Brother!
Aren’t these morons trying to ban bottled water because the tap is so clean and healthy? Karma
I'm a day late with this but.
Liberals are by and large all for this.
Last week I was heckled by several democrats for even questioning it, where are those liberals today when a far left of center reporter comes out against it? It must be like taxes, they are for it until it affects them.
I have two reasons why it is going on.....either it is punishment for us kicking out incumbants in the recent election, or the announcements and use of the new procedures were delayed untill after the elections because they thought it would result in harry reid ( and all other incumbants )being tossed out..............now you can see a good example why ALL incumbents should have been voted out of office at all levels....i don't think a whole new slate of politicians could hurt us any more than the old ones have been doing............how is that hope and change working for you?
Here is a fascinating solution to the TSA problem:
http://federalistblog.us/2010/11/how_to_end_humiliating_tsa_screening_patdowns.html
It makes perfect sense, in ABU HUSSAIN'S AMERIKA. We must Irradiate, Molest, and Strip Search every Man, Women, Child, Elderly Nun, Disabled Grandmother, and Cancer Surviving Double Amputee. As long as they're not a MUSLIM. We must show the people in the Religion Of Peace, that we love them, so they'll stop trying to KILL US.
That Woman? at Homeland Security, will stop at nothing, to keep us safe. (Unless you're a Muslim in the Military who has set off a MILLION RED FLAGS proclaiming himself a Soldier For Allah or an African who was on all the NO FLY LISTS, and who's own Father called the CIA to WARN US about his Son)
And now we find out, if you happen to be a Muslim Woman, covered head to toe in the Living Room Curtains, you will be allowed to skate on through, no questions asked. Especially if you sound like you're 'ticking'.
You're a Catholic Nun? "Get on the ground and spread'em! You're a 3 year old girl who's NOT a Muslim? "Hey. Go get Charlie. He's got experience touching little girls. Or was that Robbery?"
We are checking EVERYBODY but the people who FIT THE PROFILE! And when we get HIT, it'll be because this KENYAN MUSLIM in the White House, chose HIS PEOPLE, over US.
WAKE UP!
The TSA thugs are fast-food drop-outs with police power who should be required to register as sex offenders.
Maybe you missed the young Asian kid that boarded an international flight disguised as an elderly white man and almost got away with it... Do you honestly think a terrorist would be above playing disabled to pull off an attack... Do you honestly think that there aren't disabled folks that wouldn't carry off an attack if it would get their family money and get them martyrdom??? You can whine and cry about the security measures, but then you forfeit the right to cry about the next terrorist attack.
so, these TSA employees are like those at lake mead when i brought my daughter & her husband to see the wonders of nevada. we went to boulder dam and they wanted to go on the tour. i was a little surprised at the security inspection and amazed when they told me i couldn't go on the tour because my money clip had a 1" knife blade and a 1" nail file built into it. the nitwit who was denying me access completely overlooked the razorknife i carry as part of my on-board tool kit and the common screwdriver with a 3" blade. they can take their "security" and stuff it where the sun don't shine. if we had used this security when i was spending more than twenty years of my life in the military, we'd all be speaking russian today.
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