I guess so. I do appreciate your reasoning though and have enjoyed the chance to vent.
Although: I don't know of any case in the US where airport security or airport police have prevented a hijacking or criminal action in the US. Of course they might have deterred a criminal from trying, but what I mean is that there has never been a case where someone has been found to have a gun or explosives and has subsequently found to have been attempting a criminal act. All of those "caught" have turned out to be innocent (stupid) but genuine passengers. The closest I can remember is the guys who attempted to fly with fake airline ID soon after Sep 11, and even they were released when it was shown that they had no nefarious intentions.
The only real effect of the new security has been turning tens of thousands of people off flying for good, and making thousands of others fly only when absolutely necessary. When I fly with my family and am subject to full body searches and have to take off my shoes every time I go through check-in security and every time I go to the gate on every sector of every flight simply because I have a staff ticket it makes me furious. But maybe I am strange to feel this way. Treating honest persons as criminals does not enhance security, it makes it a mockery.
A terrorist only has to be successful once. Airport security has to be successful 100% of the time. Looking for weapons instead of watching out for terrorists and criminals is using our resources poorly.
Forget about NIH (not invented here) and learn from those countries and airlines that do practice good security.
Develop a plan and train for handling the problem in the air, when the inevitable failure at the airport occurs.
Meanwhile we have increased the chance that potential terrorists will now be free to cross our borders, kidnappers free to take our kids, and drug dealers able to hook our teenagers because the real law enforcement is losing officers to the TSA.
Of course the answer should be obvious: Treat all law enforcement officers as professionals and pay them accordingly.
Good luck.
Last edited by boofhead; 23rd October 2002 at 14:12.