Airport Security: How Much Is Too Much?

It’s not surprising that after the attack on 9/11 airport security has heightened. Now, after more unfortunate incidences have occurred, the security is stronger than ever before. We are lucky that the security system of our airports has the ability to be so thorough with the use of full body scans and pat downs, but is there a point when there is too much security?

A recent incident brought this question into play at Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans. This airport has very strict guidelines when screening their passengers: a full body scan or a pat down is necessary for each individual. Some find this to be appropriate and like the idea that their safety will be ensured once they enter the airplane, but when questions of ethics are brought into the picture, is this really the way to go? When a six year old girl was patted down last week, many people were outraged. Many eyewitnesses explain how the child questioned why this was happening to her and what she did wrong. Although the TSA official told her everywhere she was going to check before she did so, imagine the terror this little girl had as a stranger felt around her waist line and down her legs. The biggest question in this situation is why was it necessary for this child to have the full pat down? Wouldn’t the body scan be just as effective? The answer to this question is still unknown, but we can only assume that there is no real reason for this pat down to occur.

Not only was this an excessive precaution, but it took time away from the TSA official. This time could have been more wisely used on other passengers with a greater risk to others. How much damage could this child have caused? There is the argument that parents use their children for bad, which is certainly true, but anything that she could have been carrying would have shown up on the body scan. The fact that this innocent child will probably remember this confusing situation for a long time and to know that it was unnecessary is unnerving. Next time a TSA official decides to pat down a passenger, they should think about if it is completely essential to do so, or if the body scanners would be just as adequate.

--Nicole