Congressional Fear

I recently took my children to Washington, D.C. to see some sights and visit old friends. Since I won't consent to a naked scan or physical body search, we took a cross-country train ride. Among our planned activities were tours of the White House and Capitol, arranged through my congressman's office. My daughter and I were especially looking forward to seeing "where the people argue" (her words; I told her it would be more like boring speeches and procedures than arguing).

As we stood in line for the White House security, I noticed an upcoming checkpoint area where I couldn't see what the procedure was. I had a moment of concern as the thought crossed my mind that there might be a body scanner. As I turned the corner, my concerns drained away: No scanner! Security was tight (and the line was long), but the Secret Service Agents were very friendly and the mood was relaxed. We enjoyed our self-guided tour, stopped off for some hot cocoa and hot coffee, and grabbed an Uber to the Capitol.

Once through the standard security at the Capitol (metal detectors and bag scanners), we met some staffers in Devin Nunes' office. An intern, named Chris, was our tour guide and took us on an in-depth and interesting tour. After visiting all the other areas of the Capitol, we handed over our phones (thanks to C-Span) and we proceeded to the House Gallery. Following Chris, we wound our way around. We turned a corner and Chris said, "It's time to take everything out of our pockets." I started to rummage, but noticed: a Millimeter Body Scanner.

I hesitated for a moment. I thought about the 4-day train ride we had just completed for the express purpose of protecting our dignity. And here I was, only a couple of yards away from the device I spend so much time, energy, and money avoiding. The moment passed, and the calm and clarity of what must happen next came over me. I bent over next to my daughter and said, "I'm really sorry, but we're not going to go see the people argue. This machine here is one of the ones that they have at the airport that I've told you about. Do you understand?"

To say the least, she was mad (at me) and very disappointed. I am thankful and proud that she behaved relatively well given that she's only eight and we had been talking about and planning for this visit to the gallery for weeks.

I, too, was very disappointed. I still am, and, upon further reflection, I am also very disheartened. (More on that later.)

Next, I turned to Chris and said, calmly, "Chris, we're not going to do this." I'm sure he was taken by complete surprise. He asked if I would prefer a pat-down, and I, of course, declined. He began to put his belt back on, etc ... when the security guard told him to step forward into the scanner. Chris said we had changed our mind. I let Chris do all the talking, and he seemed prepared to do so as our tour guide.

Can you guess what came next? The security guard said we could not leave the area without getting scanned. He wasn't wearing a blue shirt, but he sure acted like a caricature of a TSA worker. Chris responded with what seemed like disbelief to me. He said, "We're not going in. Can't we just turn around and go back the way we came?"

At this point, I was feeling quite anxious. What was happening was precisely the reason that I don't fly. Friends have told me that my chance of getting scanned or patted down is very slim and they can't understand why I won't even try. This was why. I was being told that I was not allowed to change my mind. The only choices now were to be virtually disrobed or to be physically felt-up. And this would happen to my children, too. The week before, our (female) pediatric nurse had been very deliberate in giving my daughter as much privacy as possible during her annual physical exam. We tell our children at these Dr. visits that not just anybody can look at, let alone touch, their private parts. I do not believe that the government employee with a power-trip qualifies.

My adrenaline was pumping as I prepared to stand my ground. Scenarios started to flash through my mind's eye. What was I prepared to do? I didn't really come to any conclusion, but I was readying myself for a difficult time.

I noticed that a police officer-looking individual appeared. Both he and the security guards were too far away for me to read their badges. I purposefully did not move an inch closer to the checkpoint, so I can only make a guess that the "officer" was from a different agency than the "guard." In any case, he clearly outranked the power-tripping guard. Chris repeated his request to go back without being scanned. The officer listened, then gave us instructions to turn around and go back the way we came. My heartrate immediately returned to normal.

I am now convinced that naked scanners are here to stay. If politicians are using them for their own security, they have no sympathy for the cause of freedom. This illustrates to me, more clearly than ever before, the disdain that elected officials have for the public. What do they care if our dignity is stripped in airports when they insist on stripping it in what is supposed to be their public meetings?

Going to the gallery while Congress was in session was going to be such a terrific hands-on civics lesson for my 2nd grader. Instead, we both got a completely different kind of civics lesson. 

P. S. I would not be surprised if the officer's cool head prevailed in part due to my demographic (white mother with 2 small children). I would guess that - given the recent shootings and the fear of terrorism - a white or Middle-Eastern man travelling alone would have been treated with more suspicion.

P. P. S. On what I ought to have done if they did not let us turn back: I think I should have clearly stated that I did not consent to the search. For the sake of my kids still having a mom around for the rest of the day, I should have refused the scanner and proceeded with the pat-down under protest. I would have tried my utmost to keep the kids out of the screening, but allowed the scanner if pressed, as it would be less traumatic for them. Regardless, thinking through this all makes my stomach turn.

UPDATE:
I meant to post this link long ago. These scanners were moved to the House Gallery less than 2 months before our visit.

Legal child molestation

A father posted a video of his 10-year old daughter getting a TSA enhanced pat-down after they found her smuggling a Capri Sun (Horrors!) through security. Watching this video literally made my stomach turn, and it is an excellent reminder of why my children and I haven't flown since widespread use of the scanners and associated pat-downs.

It is also disturbing to read the defenses of the TSA procedures in this case. For example, one blogger wrote:

Sure, it probably felt awkward to be singled out. And yes, it was inconvenient. But I’m having a hard time understanding how this simple pat-down crossed any lines.

 "Awkward" and "inconvenient" are not nearly strong enough words for how I would feel about be the object of such a pat-down, let alone how a child might feel or a loving parent might feel seeing this happen to their child. I will grant that I am more sensitive than some (many? most?) others; my husband, for example, opts-out and feels akin to "awkward" and "inconvenienced". But, some of the words I would use if this applied to me or my children are: Violated, Molested, Assaulted, etc...

A very belated follow-up on Andrea Abbott

My previous post had me searching my own archives to recall what bad publicity occurred before the TSA changed their policies for children. I stumbled across the story of the brave truth-teller, Andrea Abbott. In 2012, she was in fact convicted of disorderly conduct and sentenced to probation. Here's an excerpt from the foxnews.com coverage at the time [emphasis mine]:

Abbott and her daughter went through a metal detector and TSA Officer Karen King was sent to conduct a pat-down. King testified that before the pat-down, Abbott yelled in her face that she didn't want anyone "touching her daughter's crotch."

...[The prosecutor] said the officers reminded Abbott several times that she could file a complaint if she had a problem with the security check proceedings.

"You can speak your mind, but you can't do it in an illegal manner," she said. "What the defendant did was a crime."

The case briefly drew national attention as hundreds offered Abbott support and donations amid debate over whether new, intrusive screening methods should be allowed at airports.

"Since 9/11, we're losing a lot of freedom, and we have to draw the line somewhere," Horst [Abbott's pro-bono attorney] said in closing arguments.

The "illegal manner" that Abbott used was apparently using curse words while otherwise remaining amazingly calm in the face of the legalized molestation of her child and attempted sexual assault of her own person. Nullification, people!

TSA policy on children

Someone I trust kindly let me know that it appears that the TSA is no longer putting children through naked scanners, and, furthermore, that parents get whatever screening the children get (that would be: no naked scanners). I decided I should investigate.

Unfortunately, despite my friend's personal experience and stories (like this one) with similar anecdotes, it is not official TSA policy to keep kids out of naked scanners:

If your child is able to remain standing in the required position for 5 seconds, he or she may be screened through the advanced imaging technology. If a child 12 and under goes through the machine and alarms, they have an opportunity to go through again or the TSA officer may use other procedures to resolve the alarm to reduce the need for a pat-down.

You may not be screened by this technology when carrying an infant or child.

(You may recall that they changed policies for the under-12 set 4 years ago due to bad publicity, including a "modified" pat-down and the above-stated ability to go through the scanner a second time.)

It may very well be unofficial policy to put kids through metal detectors with their parents, and - just to keep us on our toes - they won't acknowledge it. But, it may also just be at the discretion of the supervisor(s) at a given airport.

For a large hub, with several security lanes - some with and some without naked scanners - it is probably quite easy to pick and choose who goes where. The randomized PreCheck may also increase odds if airlines can get families onto the list ad hoc. I do wonder what experiences are like at small airports with a single security lane (such as my hometown airport). What have you experienced firsthand while travelling with children?

TSA stops yet another kid-who-is-not-a-terrorist

Oh brother! Poor kid!

Apparently Schilling’s 12-year-old son who was also travelling with him, forgot to leave his fake grenade at home...the Schilling family was taken into a private room to explain the incident and were allowed to continue their journey after the incident was resolved.

Lightening up on (some) kids

There's a trial in Orlando where kids 12 and under (why's that the magical age, again?) will:

1. not have to remove their shoes, and
2. be allowed to walk through the metal detector again after it alarms instead of getting an automatic pat-down.

Are you wondering why these sensible policies are only for very small children and not for the rest of the innocent Americans flying every day? If you turn over security to a federal bureaucracy, then this is what you get: minor concessions after major transgressions.

Latest 6-year-old pat-down

H/T Bill Fisher

Airport video of Andrea Abbott's arrest

I was unable to get this video to play when it first came out and I thought it was just a newscast covering Andrea Abbott's arrest last month. It is amazing to watch in retrospect after seeing commenters across the blogosphere say how this woman deserved it for losing her cool. But, she looks very calm during the entire video and it is unclear why she was even arrested after it was all over.

Just to refresh your memory...

National Review has compiled a list of "Ten TSA Outrages." (In case you've forgotten some of these.)

The concession: Kids keep their shoes on

A mom writes of her interaction with airport security and having to remove her 14-month-old's shoes. I can't say I admire her when she so blindly accepts the "need" for TSA and absurd procedures, but only draws a line (sorta) when they become too absurd. But, anyway, she points out that part of the special new procedures at Boston Logan, where SPOT is being tested, is that kids under 12 won't have to remove their shoes.

Be gracious to your overlords, peons, for they have listened and are so compassionate that your youngest children can wear their shoes.

Update on Andrea Abbott

The mother who protected her daughter from the TSA, only to be rewarded with arrest, has issued a statement through her attorney. (I guess this means that charges haven't been dropped.) When I originally blogged about this at LRC, I wrote:

...the details get fuzzy because, all of a sudden, Abbott did an about-face and "allowed" the pat-down of her daughter. It seems much more likely that she was threatened and bullied to the point where she was worn down.

Am I a genius or what? (What: clearly the TSA's bullying behavior is predictable by anyone with half a brain). Here's what Abbott says happened:

“The officer was rude and bullied me. He had no intention of resolving the problem and assisting in the situation, but his solution was to put me in jail and threaten to put my daughter in foster care,” [Andrea Abbott] stated.

Nice, TSA. Real classy.

Furthermore, we also learn about Abbott's daughter's age. She's 14. That is, she is old enough to get the "adult" pat-down - including 4 vaginal karate chops and full breast massage - and not the slightly-more-tame pat-down reserved for under-13's. Frankly, Abbott could have done a lot more than yelled and cursed at the agent, and I'd still be behind her 100%. This is child molestation, plain and simple.

As for not wanting her daughter to get a scan:

1. Child pornography. Period.
2. See my recent coverage on the "safety" of scanners. Basically, we know nothing. And, certainly, we don't know how children will be affected as compared to adults.

Good for you, Andrea, for doing what every good parent should do: protecting your daughter from unnecessary harm and molestation!

Dated testamonial from amputee is circulating

This story from the beginning of last summer (May 2010) is heartbreaking, not only for the humiliation of this woman, but also the ridiculous justification given for the ill-treatment of her son:

As predicted, and as is typical, I was directed to the Plexiglas waiting area after I triggered the metal detector. Robby proudly walked through the sensors, running into my arms. Apparently that was a mistake, because he was taken back through the sensors again because he had been "compromised" by touching me. He was not pleased.

... After Robby's second screening, he was directed by an imposing figure to sit in a chair and not to communicate with me. He was scared and asked me if everything was okay. He broke the "rule" and the consequence was a full body pat down. I was forced to sit in a chair and helplessly watch my scared little boy get patted down for explosives. I was angry and perplexed when they pulled back his hands and peeked into his diaper. When his ordeal was over, Robby sat quietly shaking in a chair staring at me.

So, a 4-year-old (four!!) is expected to 1) stay separated from his mother, 2) sit still, and 3) not talk, including asking his mother if everything is okay. Any one of those three demands is, well, just dumb, not to mention wrong. But the TSA piled on three stupid, immoral, and probably illegal demands.

The story continues. The woman was ordered (against TSA policy and probably against the law) to remove not only her prosthetic, but also her liner, which protects her limb from injury, infection, and the view of the public. Both the boy and his mother were crying from this ordeal, but she was surrounded by 4 agents (really - how many bullies does it take to gang up on one disabled woman?).

These stories - at varying degrees - are happening all the time and will continue to happen at a more rapid pace until this rogue agency is eliminated.

H/T Bill Fisher

Another prediction came true (unfortuanately)

Another 6-year old was searched by TSA - twice - upsetting his parents. This is only weeks after Pistole said that new procedures would be put in place to try to avoid pat-downs of children.

A mainstream journalist comes around

Despite his nationalistic views on war and terrorism, the image of a 7-year-old assuming the position in a body scanner woke up a journalist who wrote at the NBC website:

In Baghdad, I had to go through an earlier model of the machine before I was allowed to enter a courtroom for the trial of Saddam Hussein. That seemed reasonable at the time. There were millions of Iraqis who wanted to kill Saddam, or to at least disrupt his trial. The blurred-naked-photo-machine didn’t bother me then.

It did bother me as I stood with my feet in outlines on the floor and my hands over my head, palms pressed together in Los Angeles. It bothered me even more as I watched a girl who couldn’t have been more than 7 years old forced to assume the same undignified position. I watched her mother help the girl, showing her how to raise her hands in the correct position. 

Expectant mothers' concerns

I cam across this interesting thread on a forum for hopeful mothers. The consensus is that these women don't trust the scanners one bit, and good for them!

Here's the deal, ladies. There is basically zero science on what the effects of the naked scanners (be it ionizing or non-ionizing radiation) are on a developing fetus. Hopefully there is no danger and our government didn't just poison the next generation. But why risk it?

Also, remember that you are going to be more sensitive during your pregnancy - both physically and emotionally. Carefully consider how you might react when a stranger violently gropes you, asks you to expose your belly, or questions what those pads are in your bra or what that elastic band is around your waist before you buy your plane tickets.

Tragic consequences for a concerned mom

As I reported over at LewRockwell.com, a woman was arrested at the Nashville airport for speaking sternly and later yelling at a TSA agent when they wanted to scan and then grope her daughter, and refused to allow her to take video or pictures of the event.

These stories of parents being helpless at airports scare me more than any of the other stories about the TSA today. I was petrified when I traveled (for the last time by plane) with my daughter in December. I told my husband that I would call him when I made it through security so that we would know that I wasn't arrested for protecting my daughter from the goons. (Incidentally, I was so relieved to get through security that I forgot to call an my husband had two hours of serious worrying before he knew we were both safe and sound.)

I don't know what happened to Andrea Abbott's daughter when she was arrested. Obviously, she was separated from her daughter and that must be just about the worst thing that can happen to a parent.

What would you do? Upon entering security with your child(ren) and wanting to protect them from the scan-and/or-grope, but knowing that this could lead to your arrest and separation from your child(ren)? There was a little-covered story last fall about agents who took a woman's baby from her. It was only about 10 minutes, but it was probably the most terrifying 10 minutes that mother has ever had. The government has no qualms about separating children from parents. The government has no qualms about arresting people who are (with good reason) upset, even though government agents are holding them hostage (not letting them leave the "security" area) and threatening them.

If you are a parent and this worries you, please don't fly. It's not worth it.

Update from a reader:

called Erin Quinn who wrote the article for the Tennessean about this arrest. When I tried to explain to her TN law prohibits me doing the exact same thing to her, she DEFENDED the TSA, explaining "they're federal agents."

Update from another reader:

This is Sabrina Birge [the TSA agent] on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brieni

Note her favorite TV shows: Law & Order, CSI, NCIS, House, Criminal Minds.

To be fair, there's very little else on TV these days besides cop drama. I, too, enjoy watching cop dramas, but I wouldn't call them my favorite.

'Would you let this man touch your child?'

H/T Mark Fee

Another bloated bureaucrat

This brief article on the TSA's new policy regarding kids (yeah, right!) contains this gem:

Former FAA security director Billie Vincent said that, while he was also disturbed by the intrusive pat-downs of children, the change was unnecessary and reflective of a problem with public perception.

"The TSA is walking a tightrope, trying to quiet the public damage,” he said.

Vincent favors profiling for all passengers—including the parents of young children—a step which would help security personnel to conduct more efficient screenings without using such rigorous techniques at the airport.

Pretending to be a thug

Bob Barr (2008 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate) discusses the personal security scanner toy (ie, metal detector wand). In his opening line, he points out that make-believe is healthy and a standard part of childhood. But, while he bemoans pretending to be a TSA thug or even certain toys of the post-9/11 security state, he seems to praise pretending to be a police officer or fighter pilot (as well as a cowboy).

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with a child playing with this toy - as long as he knows that it automatically make him a "bad" person in the legendary fight between good and evil!

I'll believe it when I see it

Forgive me for not trusting the lying TSA when it says it will start being smarter and more respectful when screening children at airports. What's interesting is that the reporting - some of it from the MSM - comes across as skeptical as well. A local news affiliate quotes Pistole in full, leaving in clear words that pat-downs of children will continue:

"As part of our ongoing effort to get smarter about security, Administrator (John) Pistole has made a policy decision to give security officers more options for resolving screening anomalies with young children and we are working to operationalize his decision in airports. This decision will ultimately reduce -- though not eliminate -- pat-downs of children.”

The liberal Baltimore Sun quoted Rand Paul's questioning of the TSA over this issue.

Examiner.com points out:

One thing it doesn’t mean is that children will be exempted from having to pass through body imaging machines, which are a whole separate can of worms. In fact, the 6-year-old girl whose pat-down went viral was frisked in the first place only because she had moved while passing through a scanner.

However, while this site quotes Paul, it also ends with this garbage from Pistole:

"Unfortunately, we know that terrorists around the world have used children as suicide bombers," Pistole said.

That sets off major alarms for me - like an email claiming I won the UK lottery. Yes - some (very few) minors have been involved in suicide bombing. And, of course, there are child soldiers in war-torn countries to this day. First off, all child suicide bombers have been over the age of 15. Second, these children are in really desperate situations - their country has been ravaged and they may be orphans. Third, everything I've read about them indicates that they are local to the attack. A Palestinian boy attacking in Palestine, an Afghani boy attacking in Afghanistan, etc... There are zero reports of suicide-bombing children under the age of 15, zero reports of children from Western countries, and, I would guess, they're not usually with their parents at the time of the bombing (but, more likely, their parents have been killed by their perceived enemy). Yet, Pistole continues to try to scare us into supporting the absurdity that is the TSA... and the media plays right along!