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Comparison of TSA Screening and Prison Visitor Screening
Somebody rhetorically posted a while back that their experience with the TSA at an airport was like what one goes through to visit an inmate at a prison. As a public service, I have gone beyond the rhetorical and found a real-world example. Here are visitor entry procedures for the Arizona State Prison, courtesy of the internet:
PROCEDURES FOR CENTRAL UNIT MEDIUM VISITS 1) VISITATION WILL BE SATURDAY & SUNDAY FROM 08:00AM to 12:00PM & 12:00PM TO 04:00PM. 2) TO VISIT A MEDIUM CUSTODY INMATE YOU MUST REGISTER BETWEEN 7:30AM TO 10:00AM, OR 11:30AM TO 2:00PM. 3) ADULT VISITORS MUST BRING A CURRENT PHOTO I.D., I.E., DRIVERS LICENSE, GOVERNMENT I.D., PASSPORT, MILLITARY I.D., OR IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE CARDS. SEARCHES OF VISITORS FOR CONTRABAND ALL VISITORS AND THEIR POSSESSIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PHYSICAL SEARCH BY STAFF, ELECTRONIC METAL DETECTION DEVICES, BARRIER SNIFF SCREENING (NARCOTICS DETENTION) BY A DEPARTMENT SERVICE DOG, AND/OR ION SCREENING. VISITORS REFUSING TO SUBMIT TO A SEARCH SHALL BE DENIED VISITATION. CONTRABAND IS DEFINED AS: ANY ITEM CONSIDERED A DETRIMENT TO THE SAFETY, SECURITY, AND ORDERLY OPERATION OF THE PRISON. THIS INCLUDES, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: ANY ITEM; WHICH COULD BE USED AS AN AID TO ESCAPE, WHICH COULD BE USED TO DISGUISE OR ALTER AN INMATES APPEARANCE; ALCOHOL, ILLEGAL DRUGS, WEAPONS, CAMERAS, VIDEO, AUDIO OR OTHER RELATED EQUIPMENT. In another section, the prison also declares large amounts of cash to be illegal -- more than $20 if I recall correctly. The similarity is remarkable. |
I did not notice the pat-down or a strip search machine in this description.
Can anybody seriously suggest that airports need more security than prisons? |
Wouldn't it be great if someone with the time, money, etc., etc., would pull a Chris Soghoian on the WBI: go through WBI with some small item of contraband in a body cavity and then produce it in the sterile area.
Unfortunately, they'd probably end up being "punished" for bringing to light the fallacy WBI protects us, but hopefully they'd not get any "hard time", just community service. |
Originally Posted by PoliceStateSurvivor
(Post 12190198)
Can anybody seriously suggest that airports need more security than prisons?
In other words...the people who want to take down a plane will always find ways to take down a plane. why keep punishing the rest of us? |
Originally Posted by gj83
(Post 12190212)
Anyone who watches Locked Up would know the futility of it anyway. Prisoners can fashion a weapon out of anything. Prisoners manage to make wine in the toilets.
In other words...the people who want to take down a plane will always find ways to take down a plane. why keep punishing the rest of us? TSA feels that it is at the tip of the spear when it comes to preventing another 9/11. Sadly, if another 9/11 happens it won't be done by hijacking scheduled airline flights. |
Originally Posted by PoliceStateSurvivor
(Post 12190198)
I did not notice the pat-down or a strip search machine in this description.
Can anybody seriously suggest that airports need more security than prisons? ...PHYSICAL SEARCH BY STAFF... |
Originally Posted by AngryMiller
(Post 12190237)
Bolding mine.
TSA feels that it is at the tip of the spear when it comes to preventing another 9/11. Sadly, if another 9/11 happens it won't be done by hijacking scheduled airline flights. |
Originally Posted by FliesWay2Much
(Post 12190325)
In answer to your question, I'd say, "Yes." -- Kippie, Skeletor, and everyone who has come before them and after them. Throw in a couple of presidents, vice presidents, and 535 members of Congress afraid of their own shadows.
|
Sadly, untill people can discuss this stuff like adults in the US, if there was ever any loosening of security procedures and some nut job attacked a FA with a butter knife, the manufactured hysteria would lead to resignations, political ads, and even more ridiculous procedures.
I'd love to see Janet and the Obama administration sack up and dismantle this apparatus, but I'm not holding out any ..hope.. |
Originally Posted by j_sunne
(Post 12190348)
Sadly, untill people can discuss this stuff like adults in the US, if there was ever any loosening of security procedures and some nut job attacked a FA with a butter knife, the manufactured hysteria would lead to resignations, political ads, and even more ridiculous procedures.
I'd love to see Janet and the Obama administration sack up and dismantle this apparatus, but I'm not holding out any ..hope.. |
Originally Posted by FliesWay2Much
(Post 12190173)
The similarity is remarkable.
By your logic, going to a courthouse is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to a major office building with security is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you need ID, walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to an embassy is like GOING TO PRISON!!!... Have you ever actually visited a prison? Because they're so patently dissimilar that I think you'd be unlikely to make the comparison if so. |
Originally Posted by secretbunnyboy
(Post 12192154)
The similarity is...not at all significant.
By your logic, going to a courthouse is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to a major office building with security is like GOING TO PRISON!!! because you need ID, walk through a metal detector and might be searched. Or going to an embassy is like GOING TO PRISON!!!... Have you ever actually visited a prison? Because they're so patently dissimilar that I think you'd be unlikely to make the comparison if so. It was clear that what the OP posted and the screening TSA forces on citizens who have not committed a crime or wish to visit someone who has committed a crime is very much the same. Tell me how they differ? |
Originally Posted by Boggie Dog
(Post 12192611)
Tell me how they differ?
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?! |
Originally Posted by secretbunnyboy
(Post 12192837)
It's not that they differ on the qualities presented (both require ID, security screening), it's that there are not enough similarities to make a comparison worthwhile.
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?! |
Originally Posted by secretbunnyboy
(Post 12192837)
It's not that they differ on the qualities presented (both require ID, security screening), it's that there are not enough similarities to make a comparison worthwhile.
ZOMG!!! Execution chambers and taxicabs both have doors!!! Getting into a cab is like getting executed!!?!?! My mistake. |
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