6 year old pat down? thoughts?

aegrish

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/tsa-congress-vow-to-review-pat-down-of-6-year-old-girl/2011/04/13/AFZD9LYD_story.html

My thoughts:
Granted we all take our security for granted at some point, and these searches are somewhat necessary, my problem with a 6 year old girl being searched ALL over her body (and inside her waistband) is that she's 6!  She probably doesn't know shes being 'seached'.  I wouldnt want that happeneing to my daughter and then that teaching her that it's OK for people to rub her all over like that...Couldn't they put her through the body scanner deal? 

downtownbebebrown

I fly a lot. About 5 times a year. I see so many things, that could brake your heart. 

I however am all for extra security at Airports... As long as Parents explain this is a good touch, I guess the bigger picture is the aim?

Hot topic for sure!

smokeybailey

I believe her parents said no to the scanner and if you listen to the recording the TSA agent is explaining everything to her and telling her that it's "just like mommy."

I'm in the boat of either you follow the rules or you don't.  Should only non-white children get the pat-down since their parents fit the "description"?  I don't think so.  I'd rather see everyone get checked or no one get checked.  I don't think that this is going to really protect us but I am indifferent, having been patted down many times. 

Also, we used the same pat down at the night club that I worked at in the early 90's.  Believe me, I wasn't getting off while I was doing the search.

lsvensson

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_6-year-old-pat-down-thoughts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:b5c071d5-4394-475b-8959-d08928c02f3fPost:0bd79c65-b597-4548-9e3f-47578697a842">Re: 6 year old pat down? thoughts?</a>:
[QUOTE]I believe her parents said no to the scanner and if you listen to the recording the TSA agent is explaining everything to her and telling her that it's "just like mommy." I'm in the boat of either you follow the rules or you don't.  Should only non-white children get the pat-down since their parents fit the "description"?  I don't think so.  <strong>I'd rather see everyone get checked or no one get checked. </strong> I don't think that this is going to really protect us but I am indifferent, having been patted down many times.  Also, we used the same pat down at the night club that I worked at in the early 90's.  Believe me, I wasn't getting off while I was doing the search.
Posted by smokeybailey[/QUOTE]

<div>This.  I'm of the mentality that if you've got nothing to hide, then you should have no qualms proving that.  I've been the recipient of many an airport pat-down in my time (the airport security gals in Germany are particularly, uh, aggressive), and I have no problems with that as long as everyone else is getting 'em too.  And feel free to do the same thing to my kids, provided I'm there to witness the process.</div>

ebonyivory10

I with Smokey, I think it's an all or nothing type of deal. If they made kids exempt fom the pat down, a terrorist might possibly try to use a kid to carry a bomb on a plane.

kara811

This was a topic on the chit chat board last night too. Girls there had different views on it. I am not against the extra security screenings at airports since I fly so much, and have had both screenings done on me. At some airports, they do the scanner on everyone, and the additional pat down on some, which has happened to me just a couple days ago in Detroit. 

I don't mind it being done to a child either, just as long as the parent is there to supervise. Although I have seen a little girl before at the Vegas airport get screened and was crying in the little booth. I felt really bad for the poor thing, she must have been about 4. 

Check out this post a girl posted on this thread on Chit Chat:

Scoff if you must.  FI is a federal agent and found one kilo of cocaine hidden in a baby's diaper.  Parents were scumbags.  Oh, and his coworker had people who were using the body of their dead child  propped up to look like he was sleeping to smuggle massive amounts of drugs ito the country by car. It's sickening.

j_jaye

I agree that it should be everyone or no one. However having travelled extensively and in particular to a lot of watch list countries (due to work) I do take issue with some countries treatment of certain people. Whenever I visit the USA or Germany (and a couple of other countries) I basically get treated like a terrorism suspect just because of the stamps/visas in my passport.
I understand going through a scanner and a pat down but I have been subjected to strip searches and internal exams (they are so fun) without ever getting a full explanation why (USA in particular). I could understand if they said we have seen something on the scanner that concerns us but I never get that just a sheet of paper with my qausi rights stated on it and how to complain if I want to but also basically told that I can be prosecuted if I publically discuss anything etc.
Now when I arrive home or in New Zealand or the UK I am treated entirely differently. I am sure they have the same concerns...I am asked a few more questions given the scan and/or pat down and then sent on my merry way.
I actually commend the professionalism of the TSA agent on the video. I think she did a wonderfully considerate job and I am also sure that many other 6 year olds have gone through the same process. However most TSA agents I have encountered and viewed are far less professional (but then when you consider what they are paid is it any wonder).
Some of my colleagues who fit the "physical description" of what the authorities think a terror suspect looks like have it even worse. One guy (of middle eastern appearance) was locked in a room for 12 hrs given no food/drink/bathroom and questioned again and again. Mind you he was 3rd generation Aussie and had never visited the middle east (indonesia yes).
Basically I think most countries have a fvcked up view of what a terrorist is. They definately underestimate their intelligence, education, organisation, funding and ability/skill to plan and execute plans. They are very unlikely to replicate the same plan again (now a less intelligent unorganised fringe/franatic group/individual maybe) and would be working on something different.
Personally I think if countries spent more money on working on relationships with ethnic groups within their own countries they would gain more from intelligence than spending money on unnecessary extra security measures.
Just my opinion/experiences

vegasgroom

I don't have a problem with it.  Flying is a privilege and if you don't like the security offerings, drive.  Terrorists are not above hiding weapons in a kid and young kids are not above playing the role they were taught to facilitate sneaking them through; hell, pre-teen kids shoot machine guns at soldiers in numerous foreign countries.

What I do have a problem with is airports that have removed their metal detectors completely in favor of the radiation-based scanners.  The issue for me is that you're allowed to opt out of being scanned, which I agree with, but now the pat down is the only security measure.  Here in Tampa that's what has happened; the whole airport has removed the metal detectors in favor of those millimeter wave scanners:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millimeter_wave_scanner

Well, I opt out of those every time and end up with the 'aggressive' pat down; doesn't really bother me and I'll take the less radiation thank you.  But... with just a pat down I could hide a gun or parts for a bomb, etc. in 'certain areas of my body' and thanks to the lack of metal detector, now I'm through security.

j_jaye

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_6-year-old-pat-down-thoughts?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:b5c071d5-4394-475b-8959-d08928c02f3fPost:f4b01b7e-f49d-41ea-bcba-e01608d5c759">Re: 6 year old pat down? thoughts?</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, I opt out of those every time and end up with the 'aggressive' pat down; doesn't really bother me and I'll take the less radiation thank you.  <strong>But... with just a pat down I could hide a gun or parts for a bomb, etc. in 'certain areas of my body' and thanks to the lack of metal detector, now I'm through security.
</strong>Posted by vegasgroom[/QUOTE]

lol must be why I get the extra special searches!

I think the lack of public information around the searches and search methods (pros and cons) and the general staff attitudes are what mainly what people upset. TSA should sack their PR/community education department and start over!

junebug61103

As hard as it was to watch that TSA agent pat down that little girl on the news the other day...I have to agree with everyone else. If you opt out of the scanner than you have to do a pat down...doesnt matter who you are. And just like vegas groom said, you cant put it past parents or adults to not hide something on a child because they think they will not be checked or searched. TSA has to have set rules that cannot bend or break...that everyone has to follow. Once they start bending them for this person or for this situation...its going to become the norm that if you fall in to this catergory...you wont have to be checked...which is just more disturbing to me.