Other than the email, all of this is already happening at LAX. Israel has a little issue with their neighbors that makes this absolutely necessary. The US does not. If you wanted to profile, you could put a lot fewer people through a much higher level of scrutiny in less time. But no, we go through the motions with everyone instead.
For edged weapons, nothing. Let's harden the door into the cockpit further and let people take their pocket knives with them. I don't know if you flew much in that year after 9/11, there was always a group of people, generally youngish men but not always, that had an unspoken agreement that a hijacking wasn't going to happen on that flight. I think that mentality is still there, edged weapons aren't going to hijack an airliner again.
Like it or not, we already do.
I have the same issue with my hair. I get a hair pat down about half the time. I try to remember not to have it in a pony tail or barrettes in. That seems to trigger it more for me.
Or we could actually improve travel, make things safer and not expose people to potentially harmful radiation for no tangible gains.
Sure, I don’t like the policies of a few businesses and industries so I don’t patronize them.
I don't, when I can possibly avoid it. But that doesn't mean I don't get to think it's insane. Or that I don't get to worry about the freedom we've given up in the past 20 years. The whole point of terrorism isn't to kill people. It's to make them afraid. And they won that battle a long time ago and are continuing to win it every day.
If this was a policy of the industry I would agree, but it's not. It's a government fiat. The government isn't an industry that we have a choice in patronizing.
I'll bite. What freedom was given up? I agree TSA and airport security has been reactive. I personally like some of the ideas presented in this thread. I'm not sure TSA has been successful, but a) it's kind of hard to prove a negative b) it's the current system we have (and as others have said other countries are MUCH stricter in their security methods), and c) I don't see it as giving up "rights" or "freedoms".
Right to privacy. Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. Innocent until proven guilty. And from the airlines' perspective, the right to set their own standards and business practices.
Here's why I disagree with you... it is a CHOICE to purchase an airline ticket, it's not a right. Don't want to go through TSA? Don't fly. There's trains, busses, cars, bicycles, and your own two feet. Need to get there fast? You can hire a private plane.
As I said earlier, while I do remember being able to go "airside" without a BP, I also remember security (granted, just metal detectors, but I do remember them).
OK, please show where "freedom of movement" includes the method of movement.
You don't have to take an entirely different mode of transportation though. You can charter a plane and not go through TSA. You can learn to fly yourself. Yes, you can go around the checkpoints, but that's taking you out of your way (adding time and money), sort of like the alternatives I suggested to flying.
There is not a world of difference when it comes to rights IMO. You're fine with being stopped and inspected (the private security company with a metal detector), but not when it's being done by the government? And why do you say "pseudo-paramilitary"? What about TSA is close to military? Pseudo-police?
