I can see a passenger with a history of PTSD, advanced military training, or a sexual abuse survivor slipping into a near-fugue state and causing serious physical harm to a TSA who *does* follow procedure, for goodness sake. SOP here *is* sexual assault, but most states' definitions.

This story of a rape survivor's experience is sickening - and if she'd "flipped" into anger, imagine the consequences. The TSA agent "stroking" her hair and face? Cupping her vulva with his palm? Wha?

So what happens when the SOP itself is a gross violation? From a legal standpoint, if the SOP *constitutes* sexual assault, what recourse does a passenger have if he/she uses violence in self defense?