TSA Follow-up

[jimhines]

I blogged about the TSA’s new “security” procedures earlier this week.  Among other things, I pointed out the parallels between their “enhanced pat-down” and the legal definitions of criminal sexual conduct.

Here’s a follow-up.  The gentleman is the father of a friend of mine.

TSA Pat-down Leaves Traveler Covered in Urine.

Sawyer is a bladder cancer survivor who now wears a urostomy bag, which collects his urine from a stoma, or opening in his stomach … “One agent watched as the other used his flat hand to go slowly down my chest. I tried to warn him that he would hit the bag and break the seal on my bag, but he ignored me. Sure enough, the seal was broken and urine started dribbling down my shirt and my leg and into my pants.”

Click the link for the full story.

Anyone still want to argue that what the TSA is doing is in any way acceptable?

Mirrored from Jim C. Hines.

Comments

[grievesmen]

For all the gender-variant, mentally disabled, physically disabled, children, old people, survivors of rape, and anyone with PTSD, these new TSA rules are beyond cruel - I'd offer up the word draconian, and the word unconstitutional as well. They're discriminatory, in that they place undue hardship on people who are not "normal". This situation is forcing those who are different to just stay home, basically saying that only the "normal" folks are allowed to travel freely within and from this country.

It wasn't like this when I was growing up - and that was during the Cold War! To steal a statement from the Teabaggers: "I want MY AMERICA back!"

[jimhines]

"I want MY AMERICA back!"

I love the idea of America. But sometimes our implementation falls far short...

[bodlon]

That's one of the really frustrating/angry-making things about the new scenario. Not only is the invasion of privacy problematic, but they seem not to care about information passengers volunteer about their own health and safety.

[jimhines]

I wonder how much of it is training, or a lack thereof. Given the number of airports in the U.S., and the number of TSA staff, how many of them have actually received any reasonable training as to how to do this job? Hell, we've still got TSA staff insisting people aren't allowed to take pictures. If they don't even know those rules, I'm doubtful they've been trained in how to listen, or how to work with passengers with various health issues...

[bodlon]

I suspect much of it is a training issue. I've seen reports that they're not able to keep up with their own training practices, and I suspect that basic TSA training, even when administered correctly and completely, still has some major gaps.