Originally Posted by Doppy

Whenever people propose new legislation or regulations, I like to look at it the other way - what's the benefit.

As it appears that bad guys could simply lie about their DOB without too much trouble, requiring it seems to do nothing to improve security. Since I see no benefit, I don't have to get to your question of "what's the harm?" (Though I have already answered that question in detail in a related thread in Travel Saftey / Security.)

Originally Posted by Globaliser

The alternative is that the TSA should go out and learn how to do it the way that other countries do it: that is, other countries which have lived with serious terrorism for much longer than the US has, and which remain at the same level of risk of terrorist attack as the US, yet manage not to be either as hysterical or as incompetent as the TSA.

As for the searching of children etc, we should never forget the story of the man who was travelling with his girlfriend (then pregnant with his child) on holiday to Israel. He didn't manage to get tickets for both of them on the same flight, so they were booked on different flights. She was on El Al, he was on another airline.

At the security check at the gate in London, El Al found the bomb that he had put in her cabin baggage.

Originally Posted by LAX

Perhaps you have never been inconvenienced at security check points, or your loved ones have never been fondled at security check points. It's not so much that I don't like to comply with these security measures because they inconvenience me. If all these TSA measures do indeed make flying safer, I will comply without questions. The fact is, as many have pointed out, none of these have proven to be effective and yet the inconvenience/harm of these measures seems to far outweight the benefits. Why don't they just stop wasting our time and their resources (perhaps our resources??) with all these "security theaters" and still not make flying any bit safer??

LAX

Originally Posted by Helena Handbaskets

You people are all so negative and cynical! I bet the nice people at TSA just want to send us all a nice birthday card each year, to thank us for our patronage.

We do have many nice people who appreciate what we do, maybe 2 out of 50 are rude to us. I just wish you would be in line any given day when we pull a boxcutter out of a bag, knifes and even today in our small airport a undeclared gun. We never get any credit for what we do find in the bags, just what we miss. The checked baggage is so much better today, we screen every piece of luggage, would like to see more done for cargo. I would like to see better xray machines, newer technology but think the average screener is doing a much better job at security than the pre 9/11 screeners. I work with many that were private screeners and they feel the same way. I know there are the differences in shoe policys. It all depends on your manager, sup and lead. I for one would rather use more common sense but they are concealing crap in shoes that we can't detect unless they are xrayed or a swab test done for explosives. I would hate to come to your workplace and run down your job performance so it does help a lot when people are friendly to us.

Originally Posted by da_guy

So what is the alternative? Do we all just get on a plane like we do on a bus and hope for the best?

Originally Posted by Reindeerflame

The Constitution only guarantees the right to travel, not the right to fly or ride Amtrak. If you object, walking may be your best option, as long as you avoid looking like a vagrant.

Originally Posted by murphy

As far as I can see, the only country that is at the same - actually higher - level of risk as the US is Israel. While I agree El Al security is likely more competent and effective, they are also significantally more intrusive.

I believe the US is the second-most hated country in the world right now.

Originally Posted by murphy

One potential benefit may be fewer false positives on the no-fly list. I suspect anyone who shares a name with someone on the list would consider this to be a great benefit.

Originally Posted by caligirl

Just one more layer of intrusion for not much gain IMHO.

Originally Posted by jerry crump

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155541,00.html

This will allow them make sure you are not confused with a terrorist with the same name.

In reality it will give terorist the opportunity to give a false date of birth since it won't be verified and hassle hundreds of millions of honest folks.

Originally Posted by GDIW

You bet we do.

Use the original homeland security device - the 2nd amendment.

Terrorist should be afraid to get on airplanes with Americans. It would be like hijacking a police station. Citizens carried firearms on board planes in the 50's and 60's all the time - how many terrorist acts were there then?

The government created a war on poverty and there is more poverty. The government created a war on drugs and there are more illegal drugs. The government created a war on terror and guess what we have.
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Originally Posted by da_guy

Last time I checked the government didn't create the war on terror like the first two.

I suggest you check some of the information at this sight www.weknowthetruth.net It may make you re-think things about the war on terror.

I think guns on board is a crazy idea. Guns for pilots, fine. But you want some guy who's had 5 vodka-tonics carrying a loaded gun at 35K feet? Not me.
I am a member of the NRA and back the 2nd Ammendment 100%...just not on an airplane.