Happy Independence Day

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”  Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution

We rolled into Sacramento International Airport a little late.  In the past I wouldn’t be concerned, it’s a small airport and I could easily check in and walk to the gate in the fifty minutes before my flight was scheduled to leave.  Now, according to Homeland Security, I was late because with all of the “security measures” added since 9-11, travelers must get to the airport at least an hour before departure.

At the curb, drivers waiting to pick up arrivals from the airport moved their idling vehicles occasionally, trying to give the appearance of movement to the authorities in charge of curb security.  Security measures instituted since 9-11 and the war on terrorism prohibit cars from lingering at curbside, so people don’t park, and instead there’s usually a traffic jam as arriving cars try to drop off departing travelers and waiting vehicles keep moving to avoid the authorities.

On the sidewalk, everyone trying to catch a plane was in a hurry.  The only people not looking harried wore blue shirts or jackets: one fingered his holstered walkie talkie as he patrolled the walkway, while another rode a Segway in circles on the sidewalk.  Wait, was he Paul Blart Mall Cop?

Moving through the terminal, I saw more blue-shirted TSA employees standing about than passengers.  At the TSA checkpoint, I zigzagged through an empty cattle line so I could show my papers.  (REAL ID (pdf) anyone?)

In front of the metal detector,  I removed my shoes, dropping them into a grey bin along with my other property so the blue-shirted TSA agents could x-ray it—another security measure since 9-11 and the unending war on terrorism.

As I stand on the threshold of the metal detector, two blue shirts at the x-ray machine examined the insides of my bag.  When it’s my turn to pass through the metal detector, I’m summoned by another blue shirt.  After passing through the detector, I wait until my shoes are deemed safe to put on my feet again.  After lacing them back up, I had to wait while the two blue shirts at the x-ray machine called over a supervisor for instructions on how to deal with my laptop.  I hadn’t opened the carrying case for examination!

The supervisor and a fourth blue shirt, wearing rubber gloves, opened my carrying case.  They explained that I had a checkpoint-friendly bag and “trained me” so I would know for the next time how to properly present my laptop for their examination.

After they x-rayed my baggage, I knew it might not be over.  I’d purchased a one-way ticket; that’s a red flag as a potential terrorist threat.  I knew there was a possibility I would be singled out for a pat down search, or perhaps be given the option of a total body scan x-ray machine.  Lucky for me, apparently Sacramento Airport doesn’t use total body scan x-ray machines yet, so I didn’t have to worry about potential threats to my health or privacy from the TSA as it “keeps me safe” in the unending war on terrorism.[1][2]

But I wasn’t singled out.  After getting through the TSA line and collecting all of my property, I thought: “I made it.”  All that remained was to board the plane.  Or so I thought.

Just as passengers started to board, three blue shirts appeared, standing at the gate, staring at the passengers.  The jaw muscles of one flexed as he clenched and unclenched his jaw, ogling boarding passengers.  The trio stopped one passenger in the line who smiled feebly as they checked his backpack.

After nearly everyone had gone down the ramp, I walked past the three blue-shirted monkeys when I heard a voice state to my back that it wanted to look through my bag.[3]  I turned, trying not to look angry, and dropped my bag at his feet.  They’d already x-rayed it, what more did they want?  One of the three wore rubber gloves; he unzipped my bag, lifted one item out, replaced it, then zipped the bag, and handed it to me—another thorough security measure to protect us all in the unending war on terrorism.

Why did they stop me?  Because they could.[4]  And because I let them.

The first ten amendments of the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, are considered to be the epitome of American freedoms.  Schoolchildren learn that the fourth of those amendments protects Americans from “unreasonable searches and seizures.”  The wording of the amendment begs the question: what is “unreasonable” (video of 3-yr old crying while frisked by TSA at Tenn. airport)?

As they say on the talk shows leading up to July 4th: “Remember to thank a veteran for fighting for your freedom this Independence Day.”
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[1] “Are Total Body Scanners Safe? The Jury Is Still Out,” by Dr. Elaina George, Accessed at http://biggovernment.com/egeorge/2010/01/11/are-total-body-scanners-safe-the-jury-is-still-out/ on June 21, 2010).
[2] "Cancer Risks Debated for Type of X-Ray Scan," By MATTHEW L. WALD, NY Times, January 8, 2010, (Accessed at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/health/09scanner.html?th&emc=th on January 9, 2010).
[3] “TSA Snafu Grounds Nine Planes at O'Hare Field,” By JOSEPH RHEE, BRIAN ROSS, and ERIC LONGABARD, August 19, 2008, (Accessed at http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5613502&page=1 on July 1, 2010).
[4] “TSA vs. passenger tussle caught on tape, now focus of lawsuit,” By Bea Chang, 7/11/2008, (Accessed at http://www.kare11.com/news/national/national_article.aspx?storyid=517608&catid=18 on July 1, 2010).