PHOTOS, PAGE 1

       Editor and prime reporter is Doug Terry, a veteran television and radio reporter in   Washington, DC, (details below)

Well, here’s a new one: now they want to rub a chemical testing wand across your hands, or random hands, at the airports to check for explosives. The story was posted on CNN.com:

Washington (CNN) -- To the list of instructions you hear at airport checkpoints, add this: "Put your palms forward, please."

The Transportation Security Administration soon will begin randomly swabbing passengers' hands at checkpoints and airport gates to test them for traces of explosives.

Previously, screeners swabbed some carry-on luggage and other objects as they searched for the needle in the security haystack -- components of terrorist bombs in an endless stream of luggage.

But after the Christmas Day attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 over Detroit, Michigan, the TSA began a program of swabbing passengers' hands, which could be contaminated by explosive materials, experts say. The TSA will greatly expand the swabbing in the coming weeks, the agency said.

As has been pointed out for years on the TerryReport, there is no end to the number of “security measures” the TSA and government would like to impose on travelers. It’s dumb, it’s unfortunate, but they will keep thinking up new ways to insult and delay honest travelers until the moment we insist, loudly, that they stop.

Do you know that all screening procedures at the airport are voluntary? That you may refuse any procedure and leave the airport at any time? It is this idea of volunteering to be treated like a prison escapee that makes the whole thing work. As American citizens, or even non-citizens for that matter, we have a Constitutional right to a presumption of innocence. Further, the Constitution guarantees, aided by court rulings, that the police or other government representatives may not stop or detain you without a reason to believe you’ve committed a crime.

Here’s my question for the TSA and anyone else who isn’t listening: what is the acceptable method by which a citizen may refuse screening and then leave the airport, without being treated like he or she is under arrest? Since it is a fairly rare event and since the screeners and others hanging around, like local police officers, are not generally trained in the process, how do you do it safely, reasonably and without fanfare?

This information should be posted on the TSA website and posted as printed matter in the screening area. At some point, most Americans are going to get fed up with this screening business and decide, on the spot, that they’d rather take another form of transportation or just stay home. The process for making that decision peacefully should be clearly outlined and available for all to see.

Doug Terry, 2.17.10

Here’ s a list of items that the TSA prohibits on commercial aircraft. If this doesn’t make you laugh, just a little, you might be a hijacker.

TSA's list of holiday items that you should put in your checked bag, ship ahead, or leave at home:

• Cranberry sauce
• Creamy dips and spreads (cheese spread, peanut butter, etc.)
• Gift baskets with food items (salsa, jams, and sauces)
• Gravy
• Jams
• Jellies
• Maple syrup
• Oils and vinegars
• Salad dressing
• Salsa
• Sauces
• Soups
• Wine, liquor, and beer

CONTACT THE TERRYREPORT

       HOME PAGE

end