Homeland Security Watch- "Do I have the right to refuse this search?"

[baldguy]

"Do I have the right to refuse this search?"

This is a question I heard many times during my law enforcement career. Often my answer was no. But occasionally it would be "yes," followed by an admonition to have a good day.

....

Within the last few months, I have been singled out for "additional screening" roughly half the time I step into an airport security line. On Friday, October 9, as I stepped out of the full-body scanning device at BWI, I decided I needed more information to identify why it is that I have become such an appealing candidate for secondary screening.

....

Finally, I am most concerned about the "random" nature of my repeated selection for secondary screening. If there is no discrimination at work, and my selection is entirely random, then we have yet another, and probably more significant problem.

For years in policing, we relied on random patrols to curb crime. We relied upon this "strategy" until someone went out and captured some data, and did a study that demonstrated conclusively that random patrols do not work (Kansas City Study).

more
http://www.hlswatch.com/2009/10/15/%E2%80%9Cdo-i-have-the-right-to-refuse-this-search%E2%80%9D/

Deirdre Walker retired recently as the Assistant Chief of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Department of Police. She spent 24 years as a police officer.

The gist of this essay is that the TSA is a joke.

[Vincardog]

1. TSA is a joke. Are you just NOW figuring that out? TSA only exists to give the ILLUSION of security

If we have to stand in line for a long time we MUST be safer right?

[create.peace]

2. My son is singled out every time....

He is a cute six foot plus dutch extraction 21yo, always nicely dressed, who now never flies with anything but a paperback and his watch. Last time they took everything out of his wallet, surprised he had no credit card or driver's license, he has state id. he had to take off his belt, shoes and socks....

[rd_kent]

3. Wow. One hell of an article. I hope TSA takes it to heart.

I cannot find any flaw in her argument.

[MindPilot]

4. the rules to blow up an airplane should be pretty clear by now

Make sure all your liquid explosives are in 3oz containers, don't put them in your shoes, buy a round-trip ticket, have a US driver's license and treat TSA agents as the god-like entities they believe themselves to be and you're on board!

I really don't get the focus on airliners. There are so many other targets and methods that would be far more disruptive and deadly than airplanes.

And the hard truth that no one in the United States will admit, is that 9/11 was not directed at America or Americans; it was directed at the BFEE. You know, like once your druggie roommate moves out you no longer have to lock your bedroom door.