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2012-05-27 Home Front: WoT

Elderly spared from taking shoes and belts off in U.S. airport

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Posted by Fred 2012-05-27 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 The 75-plus measures have already been successfully tested in the Chicago, Denver, Orlando and Portland airports.

Tested? Have they already forgotten that not taking off shoes and belts used to be the norm?

Posted by gorb 2012-05-27 00:32|| 2012-05-27 00:32|| Front Page Top

#2 Shoes and belts? The ONE time I've flown since 9/11 (a few months ago), they had me take off the silk scarf looped around my collar and dangling down the front of my blouse. But only for trip down, not the trip back.

Yeesh. These clowns are worthless.

Glenn Reynolds has a better idea: issue a gun to every frequent flyer.

Posted by Barbara 2012-05-27 09:43|| 2012-05-27 09:43|| Front Page Top

#3 I fly a bunch, which means that I've had enough contact with the TSA to establish a common-law marriage. Some of their folks show very good sense in terms of managing the process; others are little tyrants; some are rude; some are extremely courteous. So I don't blame the TSA agents personally. But the whole process is a badly conceived, infuriating waste of time and tax dollars. And one of these days the TSA is going to push a crowd of travelers just one inch too far, with interesting results.

Posted by Matt 2012-05-27 10:46|| 2012-05-27 10:46|| Front Page Top

#4 A modest proposal:

Before every flight have the passengers pass a simplified version of the current screening process. A walk-through metal detector is a good idea, and screening bags is easy and can be efficient.

As you do this, profile.

Not for terrorists.

For about a half-dozen people who you think are serious, sober, sensible and careful. Find them, approach them and ask them to volunteer.

You issue each volunteer a mahogany police baton*. Their job is simple: if any miscreant tries to set his shoe or underwear afire during the flight, they are to converge on said miscreant and beat him senseless.

We issue police batons because we really, really don't want firearms on a plane. We issue a half-dozen: giving out one means one person has too much power; giving out a dozen or more means potential mob trouble. Six is about right.

The volunteers get a voucher that lets them fly at a reduced price in the future. They get indemnity if they do the job properly, and they are educated that they will be prosecuted if they grossly mis-use their power.

We don't need the current security theater. We simply need to remember that we Americans are a pack, not a herd.

* yes, yes, a number seven.

Posted by Steve White 2012-05-27 11:50|| 2012-05-27 11:50|| Front Page Top

#5 Second that.

Posted by swksvolFF 2012-05-27 13:55|| 2012-05-27 13:55|| Front Page Top

#6 Our Rantburg Marine captain one related that he started carrying a pocketful of change when he flew after 9/11. Upon settling in his seat, he would take off a sock, fill it with his coins, tie it off with a shoe lace, and set it on his tray against need during flight. Instant cosh.

I most sincerely hope never to be tapped for such a responsibility, but I'll willingly throw whatever is at hand in the miscreant's diction until the batoniers arrive on station.

Posted by trailing wife 2012-05-27 15:43|| 2012-05-27 15:43|| Front Page Top

#7 Not diction, but direction. PIMF!!

Posted by trailing wife 2012-05-27 15:44|| 2012-05-27 15:44|| Front Page Top

#8 the trick is to not fight fair: aim for the windpipe, eyes, whatever you have at hand. It's a bar fight for your life (and others)

Posted by Frank G 2012-05-27 17:11|| 2012-05-27 17:11|| Front Page Top

#9 The biggest increase in security since 9/11 has been the securing of the cockpit doors and the change in attitude of passengers. No longer can a hijacker break in and take over the cockpit. And passengers will no longer sit passively and wait for the hostage negotiators to take over. They will act to attack and disable the hijackers.

Pretty much every thing else has been theater on the part of the TSA.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2012-05-27 17:45|| 2012-05-27 17:45|| Front Page Top

#10 The baton idea is excellent. And far too reasonable to ever be implemented. Which is why I LOVE the sock full of coins.

Frank: no worries. Women generally don't receive an education in fisticuffs, so "fighting fair" never really occurs to us.

Posted by RandomJD 2012-05-27 21:25|| 2012-05-27 21:25|| Front Page Top

23:31 trailing wife
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20:52 Besoeker
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18:43 Bright Pebbles
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17:45 Rambler in Virginia
17:11 Frank G
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15:47 trailing wife
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