Opinion – 2 February 2012
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Seven Things Everyone Should Know About TSA Body Scans
by Casey Roberts
As the US election season nears, an issue on everyone’s mind will be new TSA regulations and how they effect the everyday traveller. There have been all sorts of concerns from civil liberty to safety. To help you be better informed, we have collected seven must know basics of these body scans below.
1. Is it constitutional? – Those who are familiar with the Fourth Amendment know that it protects Americans against unlawful search and seizures. However, there is plenty of debate to go around on whether or not the scanners fall within the realm of the Constitution. One of the best posts out there on the topic is by injured during the process.
2. Abuse – With the scanners still in use, it was only a matter of time before they went too far. In 2011, an 85 year old grandmother was subjected to a humiliating strip search by the TSA. Fearing the body scanner would interfere with her medical equipment, she requested a pat down. Instead, two agents took her to a private room to strip search her. It was no surprise that they found no contraband and she ended up missing her flight. To literally add injury to insult, she was during the process.
3. Effectiveness – So what does the traveling public get in return for the TSA scanners? Not much says a security expert documented. These documents showed “a large number of workers have been falling victim to cancer.” Worse still, is that the documents also report a rise in stroke and heart disease among the workers who operate these scanners.
4. Cancer? - Just about everything these days is said to cause cancer, but the scanners themselves have been. These documents showed “a large number of workers have been falling victim to cancer.” Worse still, is that the documents also report a rise in stroke and heart disease among the workers who operate these scanners.
5. What about travelers? – But it isn’t just the TSA workers who are exposed to the radiation from body scanners. Travelers are also exposed to it every time they go through. While the radiation may not be significant enough for those who travel every now and then, it is of concern to those who travel a lot, say for business. Even pilots have chosen to fully report on it.
6. Alternative – If we don’t use body scanners, what should security professionals rely on? There has been and is still a push to use canines to detect bombs, which have been said to be cheaper, more effective, and safer than body scanners. ” CNN even did a full report on it.
7. What about Congress? - They have to travel too, and surely they are feeling the pinch of the rules they subject the rest of us to. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Members of Congress can often fly private on the taxpayer’s dollar as illustrated in the Wall Street Journal. Even when they humble themselves enough to fly commercial, they still get a pass on security and are allowed to board without the body scan or pat downs.
About The Author:
Casey Roberts is a student and also writes for Radiology Assistant which helps students find the right radiology degree.
