Originally Posted by
Boggie Dog
The problem is that these devices cannot discriminate between a hand lotion or an explosive.
Which is odd because unless DHS has bought bottom of the barrel machines they certainly can discriminate across those things. I suspect the machines have been set up to trigger on the most general of nitrate and phosphate spikes. Doing that would reduce the need for operator training/capability and also (if you were being really cheap and cynical) servicing of the machines themselves.