Carl Johnson

About 12 million passengers per week present themselves at the checkpoint. 40 or 50 have firearms which are detected, and about another 90 to 150 have firearms which are not detected (this is known because the TSA's failure rate at detecting firearms is 70%). So, an infinitesimal fraction of passengers bring guns, and most of the guns that are brought make it onto planes. Yet none of these guns are used to harm or threaten anyone.

There's a difference between "better checks than now" and "no checks". I figure that there is some level of screening that would improve security. The present level of screening presents a danger because it clogs the checkpoint, presenting a concentrated target for a potential attack. Übermenschen screening for everybody would probably be a reasonable solution if it were combined with an end to the "war on water"

I like to try to use descriptive terms when describing someone else's views. Calling something a "rant" tells us nothing about it - it only tells us how you feel about it.

Schmurrr

Not only that, current procedures can create a level of chaos at the checkpoint that is surely not a secure state. At FLL last week, one TSA employee was trying to decide exactly who was part of one of several families that were eligible for the WTMD while simultaneously dealing with an opt-out (me), a passenger who could walk a short distance but needed her wheelchair screened, a parent who needed to have a stroller screened, and several inexperienced flyers who kept walking between the NOS and their bins because they kept forgetting they were carrying/wearing items that are supposed to be removed before going through the NOS. It was complete chaos. I think could've walked through the WTMD with one of the families and with my shoes on with no trouble. Meanwhile, the PreCheck lane was staffed with at least three TSA employees and hardly in use.

Spoddy

You Sir, do not get what any of us are saying.

Screening is good. It should not go away. Excessive screening the subject. The Pre program restores the norm before 9/11 and the security theatre, while maintaining that theatre for those who need to see and use it.

People caught with weapons in their carry-on are reckless but getting caught is good - it proves the system is working in that respect. Bringing a weapon to an airport is a universally known bad idea(tm), and for that they should be treated differently until that trust is restored. Who's to say they're not a terrorist acting dumb, hoping it got through?

Grannies comment was an example of how the TSA can and will continue to overreact.

I'll be sad (no I won't) that you won't be responding to this.

janetdoe

And.... back to the topic of the thread, I wouldn't mind answering the survey, but I really have zero interest in giving out my name, city and state, and e-mail address - all of which are required fields. <shrug>

guflyer

I initially liked precheck because it took away the fear that I have had going through security at most airports during the past few years of having to opt-out of the NOS. However, with the new policy of random pre-check passengers being sent to the NOS, this fear is back again and in my opinion, has severely diluted the value of having precheck.

halls120

TSA has had ZERO impact on the reduction of aircraft hijackings.