TSA insists 4-yo is helping hide weapons.

[no1_vern]

4-Year-Old Gets TSA Pat-Down Following Hug From Grandma - The Consumerist

This is when the 4-year-old ran over to give grandma a hug:

They made very brief contact, no longer than a few seconds. The Transportation Security Officers(TSO) who were present responded to this very simple action in the worst way imaginable.

First, a TSO began yelling at my child, and demanded she too must sit down and await a full body pat-down. I was prevented from coming any closer, explaining the situation to her, or consoling her in any way. My daughter, who was dressed in tight leggings, a short sleeve shirt and mary jane shoes, had no pockets, no jacket and nothing in her hands. The TSO refused to let my daughter pass through the scanners once more, to see if she too would set off the alarm. It was implied, several times, that my Mother, in their brief two-second embrace, had passed a handgun to my daughter.

I have got to ask you guys, how REASONABLE is it to believe that a 4 year old wearing

dressed in tight leggings, a short sleeve shirt and mary jane shoes, had no pockets, no jacket and nothing in her hands.

to be carrying some kind of weapon? Not to mention asking "Would a 4 year old girl understand what is going on well enough to be able to actually hide a weapon from the TSA?"

[Whir]

Grandma should have gone with the plastic shiv.

[pickel]

Grandma should have gone with the plastic shiv.

Or put some USED "Odor Eaters" in her shoes.

[tony_j15]

I have got to ask you guys, how REASONABLE is it to believe that a 4 year old wearing to be carrying some kind of weapon?

It is completely unreasonable and entirely unnecessary. Consider this: Israel runs the most secure, risk-free airlines on the planet. At their security checkpoints, you don't even have to remove your shoes.

Our draconian methods are meritless, are burdensome, and show a complete lack of logic. It is a phenomenal waste of tax-payer money that has a zero ROI.

[Epidemic]

It is completely unreasonable and entirely unnecessary. Consider this: Israel runs the most secure, risk-free airlines on the planet. At their security checkpoints, you don't even have to remove your shoes.

Our draconian methods are meritless, are burdensome, and show a complete lack of logic. It is a phenomenal waste of tax-payer money that has a zero ROI.

Yeah it is called profiling.

[tony_j15]

Race is unfortunately probably something they factor in. But since its based on a face to face interview, it's more about proper police tactics that insure 95-97% of passengers face minimal interference. Contrast that to our US system where everyone undergoes intense screening and many passengers end up dealing with unnecessary intrusions.

Ultimately, I guess it depends on how we as a nation would rather approach it. We can either have everyone share the misery of nude scans and full-body searches in our bare feet, or we can utilize an intelligent system that insures only few will go through the intrusive process.

[Epidemic]

But when you say "Race unfortunately" you already are taking away part of the israels tools away. how does one end up in the face to face interview with "proper police" random spot checks?

[tony_j15]

It's "unfortunate" because racial profiling is so easily abused. I don't intend to take away part of that tool set. I'm merely commenting on the need for proper checks and balances to keep the profiling from running amok.
It seems you don't understand the procedures the Israelis utilize. Everyone goes through the face to face interview and then is sent to one of two clearing zones. If you pass the interview, it's just the old school metal detector and luggage scan. If you don't pass, you go through another interview process and more thorough set of scans that can include your luggage being hand searched and your electronics messed with.

[GroundZero3]

TSA screeners allegedly let drug-filled luggage through LAX for cash - latimes.com


GOGOOGOG TSA!

[Theophylact]

TSA agents bully developmentally disabled seven-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, hip replacements and leg braces.

[tony_j15]

The take-away here from both vern's and Theo's links is that the TSA issued statements in both cases defending the screeners as having acted properly in line with regulations. The deeper problem that needs immediate addressing is how poorly run the TSA is. The is a top-down problem. Leadership has created an abysmal structure that enourages the abuse of others, and as such, attracts the abusive as employees.

EDIT: IMO, if someone misses a flight due to TSA procedures, the government should reimburse them for their losses, including food, hotel if needed, and tickets for the next convienent flight.