(Photo Credit: CC BY-ND/Redacted News)
Airport security post-9/11 has been a tedious process for all involved, from passengers to screeners. Sometimes the tedium crosses the line into invasion of personal space. Hot Air reports that a TSA official in Chattanooga, Tenn., showed that she could perhaps use some sensitivity training after a recent episode with a cranky child. Captured on video by the child’s father, the TSA official pats down the 3-year-old as the child writhes and screams.
TSA pat down began with teddy bear tantrum
The TSA pat down of 3-year-old Mandy Simon – daughter of Houston TV news reporter Steve Simon – began when Mandy was separated from her teddy bear at a scanner checkpoint. Mandy began to cry inconsolably, and TSA flagged the child for “closer inspection,” meaning that a pat down and hand scanner were mandated. Whether TSA officials had serious reason to believe that Mandy Simon was an explosives mule for al-Qaeda is unclear; such things have occurred with children and the mentally impaired in Iraq. Thus, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security mandates that such invasive procedures occur, despite their intensely unpopular standing with passengers and airport staff.
Yet the video of the incident speaks for itself. As Hot Air suggests, perhaps TSA could have taken mom and dad aside for questioning, to see if an inspection was truly necessary.
The U.S. could take a page out of Israel’s book
According to reports, Israel has not had an airport security breach in decades. Their methods are said to be both more comprehensive and more subtle than what TSA currently uses in the United States. If TSA screeners were properly trained in what to look for, the random sample method would be unnecessary, argues the Wall Street Journal. “Mugging random 3-year-olds,” as Hot Air puts it, would be a thing of the uninformed past. If a young child must be searched, making a game of it in efforts to redirect a child’s fear or anger could help make the process more efficient and less traumatic. Proper training – and proper attitude from someone in what amounts to a highly specialized customer service position – could help restore Janet Napolitano and the TSA’s severely tarnished images.
Maybe they shouod have taken the child away where the parents could not see.. Ya that would be better NOT.
TSA are doing thier job if anyone tries to forego the screening (of any kind) when Iam getting on the plane they won't have to worry about security I will send them to the hospital I will not get blown up for anyones so called rights. I dont care if you are 3 or 103 with the way the world is now we need more pat downs.
TSA procedures are farcical as well as ineffective. In Mandy's case, child abuse is clearly an issue. What were her parents thinking? Was the "story" so important that her father let her go through this so as to have something for the evening news? The parents had to have known airport security procedures so this begins to look like a set up. TSA procedures ought to be changed and it should not take abusing a 3-year old to do it.