Subscribe to Receive the Daily Report

Sunday, November 14th, 2010

Growing Backlash Against TSA Body Scanners, Pat-downs

Author:     PHIL GAST
Source:     CNN
Publication Date:     November 12, 2010 10:02 p.m. EST
 Link: Growing Backlash Against TSA Body Scanners, Pat-downs
Stephan:   I personally would not go through these scanners. Flying itself exposes one to heightened radiation, just because of the altitude, and this would add another dose I don't need. My intuition tells me that these scanners are going to be like the X-ray machines they used to have in shoe stores back in the 40s and 50s -- a great idea at one level, and a health risk at another. I also object to the growing intrusion and corruption of civil rights this represents.

A growing pilot and passenger revolt over full-body scans and what many consider intrusive pat-downs couldn’t have come at a worse time for the nation’s air travel system.

Thanksgiving, the busiest travel time of the year, is less than two weeks away.

Grassroots groups are urging travelers to either not fly or to protest by opting out of the full-body scanners and undergo time-consuming pat-downs instead.

Such concerns prompted a meeting Friday of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano with leaders of travel industry groups.

Napolitano met with the U.S.Travel Association and 20 travel companies ‘to underscore the Department’s continued commitment to partnering with the nation’s travel and tourism industry to facilitate the flow of trade and travel while maintaining high security standards to protect the American people,’ the department said in a statement.

Federal officials have increased security in the wake of plots attributed to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Industry leaders are worried about the grassroots backlash to Transportation Security Administration security procedures. Some pilots, passengers and flight attendants have chosen to opt out of the revealing scans.

More of the units are arriving at airports, with 1,000 expected to be in place by the end of 2011.

‘While the meeting with Secretary Napolitano was informative, […]

Read the Full Article