ACLU Calls On Congress To End Full-Body Scanners

Man's Cell Recording Of Pat-Down Becomes Internet Sensation

November 15, 2010 5:20 PM

Man in body scanning machine at JFK Airport (file/credit:Sophia Hall/WCBS 880)

Filed under

Heard On 1010 WINS, WCBS, WFAN, Local, News, NJ News, NY News, Watch + Listen

NEWARK, N.J. (CBS 2/1010 WINS/ WCBS 880) — He’s threatening to sue. An airline passenger says the new security pat-down measures went way too far and he recorded it all on his cell phone.

CBS 2’s Christine Sloan saw the video and reports on how some say the new procedures violate a passenger’s rights.

One passenger from the West Coast has become a hero of sorts on the Internet by refusing to go through a body scan and pat-down at airport security.

John Tyner videotaped the following confrontation with his cell phone.

Tyner: “I don’t understand how a sexual assault can be made as a condition of my flying.”

TSA agent: “This is not a sexual assault.”

Tyner: “It would be if you weren’t the government.”

Travelers flying out of airports like Newark Liberty now go through full body scanners and a small percentage, according to the Transportation Security Administration, will be subjected to a pat-down.

The American Civil Liberties Union opposes the scanners because attorneys say it’s almost like showing someone naked. On Monday the ACLU teamed up new with New Jersey lawmakers to push through a resolution that calls on the U.S. Congress to end full-body scans and pat-downs.

The head of the ACLU is questioning why people are so quick to discard their civil liberties in the name of security — even if there’s no guarantee the latest high-tech screening measures at airports will prevent a terrorist attack.

“Terrorists react and adapt to security measures,” Deborah Jacobs told 1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg. “Terrorism is a dynamic threat.”

“Security is never absolute and it never will be,” Jacobs added.

1010 WINS’ Steve Sandberg reports

WCBS 880′s Levon Putney gets details from State ACLU Executive Director Deborah Jacobs

The TSA said both scanners and pat-downs are necessary to detect hidden explosives like the one we saw in the failed terrorist attack last Christmas. A TSA spokesperson also said: “Pat-downs are conducted by same-gender officers and all passengers have the right to request private screening at any point during the screening process.”

One retired federal agent, who specialized in security at John F. Kennedy Airport, was patted down on Sunday.

“It’s a thorough search. It’s one we would use in effecting a criminal arrest,” Joe Occhipinti said.

“They actually did a pat-down starting in my groin area, actually touching my groin area going to my leg and then the opposite side.”

Even so, many passengers Sloan talked to said they don’t mind the intrusion.

“The bottom line is we all want to be safe when traveling,” said Chris Danneberg of Denver.

“I don’t care. It’s the safety of the airport,” another traveler added.

TSA officials said if the alarm goes off on the scanners you could be patted down, and the best way to avoid that is to remove everything, including your belts and shoes.

Sloan asked TSA inspectors why they require passengers to take off their shoes and belts if the scanners can see through every piece of clothing. They told her it is still necessary to screen for items that might be concealed.

ACLU Calls On Congress To End Full Body Scanners

Paul Denkenson

People don’t have to accept it! They can either find other means of transportation to get from Point A to Point B or like me just don’t travel! One of the reason’s I gave up traveling was that I got tired of being hassled going through security! This sotry onlu furthers my resolve of never traveling again!
Dave Tibet

I’m all for getting rid of these things they are going way over board. The government is suppose to protect us as well as our rights and these devices are tantamount to a strip search and allowing agents to group you searching is also a huge violation. Government needs to do it;s job and get terrorists not trample our rights claiming to be protecting us!
SK

We have to do what ever we can to prevent terrorism. remeber soemoen placed a bomb in his underwear? blame the moslem extermists for causing these insane demands at air ports. imagine if we could have prevented 9//11 from happening. Maybe the ACLU doesn’t care about the terror attcks that happened world wide. The ACLU wants to act as if most moslems are wonderful and everyone else are the bad guys. Let them get blown up, while everyoen else can live in real PEACE.

Robbo88

You sound like most people willing to give up everything because fear has taken over you. I’ve never seen so many people just lay down and let the government do what ever they want in the name of “fear”. The real problem with national security exists not at airports but with rail service, ferries and subways….and we have absolutely no security there.

Morris Boni

How did such benign words like “liberal” and “progressive” become like a vicious insult for some people to hurl at their fellow citizens who believe in things like “freedom” (“liberal,” from “liberty,” meaning “freedom”) and “progress?”

It’s from media talking heads, controlled in the end by the military industrial complex, spewing out the words with a sneer and juxtaposing them with such distorted exaggerations as “far left loonies,” or “pinheads,” or what-have-you. Just because you were against George Bush’s reelection in 2004 (like a good half of Americans were, probably more) does not make you a “far left loony” like Bill O’Reilly keeps calling George Soros. It is not a “far left” concept to oppose the unnecessary and unaffordable invasions and occupations of countries halfway around the world. Non-intervention in the affairs of others used to be a “conservative” principle in governance.

Let’s just ease off with the distorted and charicatural labels, okay? They’re not helping to solve anything.

Question everybody, especially any media which comes out with invective like that, directed at your fellow citizens.

Nick

“How did such benign words like “liberal” and “progressive” become like a vicious insult for some people to hurl at their fellow citizens ..”

When libturds constantly post stupid things like it’s ok for folks to feel your crotch or beam you with radiation – it’s all in the name of “safety”. Or is that famous SHORT MEMORY of you libturds coming into play right now?

Morris Boni

Where do you get that idea??? I am totally AGAINST these scans, just as I was against the Patriot Act, warrantless wiretapping of citizens, and torture to get “confessions” out of people..

I am also against vicious name-calling in the guise of political debate.
Morris Boni

By the way, the American Civil Liberties Union, which is fighting these full body scanners, is another one of those “far left loonie,” “progressive” organizations that people like O’Reilly have been decrying for years, for looking after people’s rights in the face of increasing tyranny, which went totally haywire in the Bush years, although it does seem to be continuing today.

(Just wanted to add, to my first post here, that George Soros did pretty well for himself in the capitalist world, so he can hardly be called a “communist” either.)
Nick

Than I suggest you read your fellow libturd posts like SK here or nathan. And than you’ll understand why libturd’s now a curse word.

steve

I think liberal policies are why the word has become an insult

THE TAS

I don’t get who is requesting these security measures – is it the airlines, is it the insurance companies or is it the public in general. I never asked for it – I am sure the airlines didn’t ask for it – and I know there are not enough claims for the insurance companies to worry about itt. So who is actually the authority that wants these searches ??? I haven’t figured that one out yet. If anyone knows – please let me in on the secret.
http://afto22.com/jetblue-partners-with-dubai-basedemirates/13174/ JetBlue Partners With Dubai-Based Emirates | After Today News

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/long-island-hit-mom-trial-goes-to-jury/ Long Island ‘Hit-Mom’ Trial Goes To Jury « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/gov-christie-to-hold-town-hall-to-sell-reform-plans/ Gov. Christie Urges Fast Action On Reform Plans « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/3-finalists-in-running-for-nycs-taxi-of-tomorrow/ 3 Finalists In Running For NYC’s Taxi Of Tomorrow « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/ny-gov-elect-cuomo-tours-aging-tappan-zee-bridge/ NY Gov-Elect Cuomo Tours Aging Tappan Zee Bridge « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
Nick

I love the typical fascist libturd response to criticism: If you have nothing to hide, than you have nothing to worry about. By that logic, they should mind having their homes searched once a year to make sure they’re not harboring any known criminals. After all, if they have nothing to hide..
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/nj-lawmakers-want-to-toughen-anti-bullying-law-2/ NJ Lawmakers Want To Toughen Anti-Bullying Law « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/victims-shocked-sex-assailant-may-get-no-jail-time/ Manhattan Judge Reverses Admitted Rapist’s Plea Deal « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
Mark Werling

It may take the full exposure of 9-11 itself to arouse the American public to regain our freedom.
Ansar

only in America!
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/ethics-trials-begins-for-rep-charlie-rangel/ Ethics Trial Continues After Rangel Excuses Himself « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/politician-calls-cops-on-kids-cupcake-sale/ Politician Calls Cops On Kids’ Cupcake Sale « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/rep-weiner-wants-lame-duck-vote-on-911-health-bill/ Rep. Weiner Wants Lame Duck Vote On 9/11 Health Bill « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/queens-girl-critical-after-being-struck-by-car/ Queens Girl Critical After Being Struck By Car « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/driver-charged-in-crash-that-left-nyc-teen-critical/ Driver Charged In Crash That Left NYC Teen Critical « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/poll-majority-in-nj-favor-bear-hunt/ Poll: Majority In NJ Favor Bear Hunt « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/newark-waives-penalties-interest-on-back-bills/ Newark Waives Penalties, Interest On Back Bills « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/11/15/jetblue-partners-with-dubai-based-emirates/ JetBlue Partners With Dubai-Based Emirates « CBS New York – News, Sports, Weather, Traffic and the Best of NY

[...] ‘VIRTUAL STRIP SEARCH?’ CONTROVERSY BREWS OVER BODY SCANNERS… [...]
Bob C

I believe Fat Janet refused to go through when she introduced the machines at JFK.
How come?
mark

This country is unbelievable. Law abiding citizens are treated like cattle while illegal aliens, who skip across our borders, don’t have to show ID or be given a pat down. Sometimes I wonder why the liberals/progressives hate our country so much that they give people who aren’t even supposed to be here all the protections of the Constituion but they take away those very same rights to their fellow countrymen.

We have to stop being Sheeple. Where is our line in the sand?

1 2 Next »

News

ACLU Calls On Congress To End Full-Body Scanners

Man's Cell Recording Of Pat-Down Becomes Internet Sensation

November 15, 2010 5:20 PM

Filed under

Related tags

Latest News Video

Help Us Choose

Help Shape The Debates

At Harmon Meadow 6/15

Great Networking Event

Select a Live Stream

News, Sports and Talk Radio

Music Radio