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JOHN L. SMITH: Somehow, patting down disabled, elderly improves security

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Jim_Higgins

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Nov 21, 2010, 2:46:49 PM11/21/10
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JOHN L. SMITH: Somehow, patting down disabled, elderly improves security
http://tinyurl.com/2a5y2ho

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.


--
"I have tried to live my life so that my family would love me and my
friends respect me. The others can do whatever they please."
John Wayne

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