Poster Sam Jay poses an interesting question in this Facebook thread:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...2442913&type=1

What happens if a child is actively resisting the TSO's molestation attempt and the parent or legal guardian refuses to use force to restrain the child? Is an LEO summoned? I would imagine that the TSO trying to restrain the child is a good way for the TSO to end up in the hospital, but you never know when they might try anyway.

First thing that would happen: every available TSO within earshot would immediately surround the frisker and child. Not to contribute any helpful actions, just to lookie-loo and ratchet up the tension (plus get away from their real duties).

At some point, someone in TSA is going to tell the parent that if the child can't be calmed down and cleared, the child will not enter the sterile area. I think a wise screener would make no attempt to physically restrain the child in any way, but a stressed, impatient screener might be rougher than permitted in an attempt to just get it over with while still touching all the required bits the required number of times.

The only reason I can see for summoning an LEO is if the parent balks at leaving the checkpoint area with the child and not being able to fly.

"Control your child now so that we can compete the screening, or neither you nor your child will get to enter the sterile area."

Now, what will the parent do?

Punch the TSO? (I know, poor taste-but I couldn't resist )

At this point, the parent says to the child, "Remember when we talked about 'good touch' and 'bad touch'? Well, the person in the blue shirt is going to do 'bad touch' now. The person in the blue shirt is the bad person, not you. And the policeman, who would normally arrest someone who did 'bad touch' will just watch and do nothing. This is because he has decided not to do his job now. As your (mom/dad) I hate this. But you have to learn that sometimes there are people who do bad things and are more powerful than you and your parents. Some people are just bad and also strong. These people here are some examples."

That's awesome. I wonder what the TSO would respond with?

I LOVE this! This is, in fact, the right thing for the parent to say. It's the only way to ensure that the child learns the appropriate lessons about good touch/bad touch.

And if I was the parent, I would be making sure this whole thing was being video'd, in case the TSO escalated.

Excellent!!!

How about telling your kid to not resist but to say in their outside voice such things as "you're molesting me" or "bad touch, bad touch" or "pedophile/pervert" during the pat down, esp. when the screener is touching resistance?

Yes. Rather like the picture I saw yesterday of the two TSOs required to jointly pat down a baby:
http://yfrog.com/gzlb9nkj

No doubt the child was a precocious terrorist recruit.

Perfect! ^^^

Bruce

Don't forget that videotaping is not allowed, esp. when it makes the tsa look bad!!!

Well, we all know that it IS allowed, according TSA's own stated policies AND according to Blogger Bob. But we also know that the TSOs will TELL you that it's not allowed, if they see you doing it. Because they know it makes them look bad. And then they might swarm around you to block your view, or call LEO and tell them lies about you supposedly "interfering with the screening process" in order to have you arrested and prosecuted.