Just to follow up a bit on what others have already stated:

The security check of one's person and carry-on bags at the airport is voluntary. If the security people ask if they can look in your bags, it truely is a question to which you can say "no." However, refusal of inspection will result in refusal to transport - that is, you don't have the option to refuse the inspection but continue on board your flight (the fact that the orignal poster was "in a hurry" of course has no bearing on the situation - after all, everybody in the airport "has a plane to catch").

One interesting thing is that in most airlines' tariffs, if the passenger refuses the voluntary security screening and is refused carriage for that reason, then they are entitled to a refund of the fare paid, *even if they have a non-refundable ticket*. I've never heard of someone that actually used this clause to get a refund, nor would I want to experience what would likely happen to someone that tried.