<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by richard:
Yes, if you want to go to Europe, you can row a boat. And if you have a long trip, well tough, you aren't "forced" to check your bag.
And even if you carry on a bag, you are "consenting" to having it searched because you aren't "forced" to travel 
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At least we agree on that. You KNOW your baggage is likely to be searched, so it is no secret. If you do not want your bag to be screened, then leave it behind or ship it seperately. Why people do not understand this and continue to wave the 4th amendment around is beyond me. You submit to the search or you don't, it is not FORCED on you. If it were, then it would be "unreasonable" and therefore a violation of the 4th amendment.
Another example, a police officer pulls you over for speeding and asks you if he can search your trunk. He has no warrant, and no speeding offense requires a search of the trunk, so no "probable cause." If you agree and he finds that stash of yours, or that human head. Do you think he should just look away because he only pulled you over for speeding? You gave him your consent so a warrant is not needed. It is the same when you present your baggage, you are giving your consent. You can withdraw your consent at any time, but your baggage will not go on the plane until it is screened.
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"All life is a concatenation of ephemeralities" - Alfred Kahn, American economist
[This message has been edited by The Unknown Screener (edited 09-05-2003).]