Originally Posted by mizzou65201
IIRC, gate screening occurs when TSA misses a SSSS selectee at the checkpoint. At most airports where I've observed the SSSS process, TSA marks the BP to note that the extra screening has taken place. The gate agent would then notice the lack of the mark and call TSA to do the secondary search at the gate.
At most airports I've been to where the SSSS has been "missed" the gate agents simply ignore the lack of a stamp/punch and let me on the plane. I've never been gate-groped and haven't seen it happen to anyone in over a year.