I used the story (which I actually found somewhat humorous) as a springboard to talk about random searches versus profiling. If someone repeatedly sets off the metal detector, I don’t have a problem with them being searched, grandma or not. I admit I should have worded the argument better, considering this woman did set off the metal detector.

Because you said this:

“However, it does make you think “who should we be searching”? 62 y/o retired teachers?”

In response to the pat-down search of a woman who set off a metal detector.

MagicalPat: Haha!

Vee: I’ll have to try that tactic sometime

I don’t mean to sound like I want *just* Muslims profiled – heck, I welcomed being searched at the airport after 9-11 – but what I’ve read is happening at the airports is that some screeners are reluctant to search Muslims because of fines being levied on them by the feds for ‘oversearching’ (is that even a word) too many Muslims and not as many whites, etc. I’ve a friend who worked as a screener in an airport in Atlanta who got so disgusted with their policy on being ’sensitive’ to Muslims that he ended up leaving. I think when you have airport screeners who are *afraid* or being told *not* to screen Muslims as much as you screen everyone else or the airline gets fined, there is a definite problem.

Hey, we ALL have to contribute to the war effort. If this is all that is asked of this lady, she should gladly comply. Other citizens are protecting her pushy butt with their lives.

Besides, you don’t think that the enemy won’t use such “innocent” looking people to carry their bombs? Ever hear of the bombs that are made to look like a woman is pregnant? Or maybe some hijacker acquires a knife because some stupid old lady decided to bring it with her to cut an apple on the plane, or she just had to bring her knitting needles, which are snatched from her and jammed into some stewardess’ head. Its real tiring having to fight a war with having everyone bitch and moan when they are asked to do such a little thing.

I think the solution should optimize the chances of catching a perp (intelligence) not give away how the searches are done, and can be avoided (randomness) and be legal (constitution).

All that being said, if a machine to detect guns on someone goes off, we should fidn out if they’re carryign a gun. Granny or not. Note that this woman wasn’t randomly picked: she set off an alarm. The whole point of these alarms is to remove our biases and replace them with the objective metal detection.

The solution is simple. Profile. That doesn’t mean others shouldn’t be searched, but an emphasis needs to be put on the type of people we are suspicious of, not grandma.

Like I said the dumbest thing you can do is declare openly what to do to avoid being searched.

About the dumbest thing you can do is announce in advance how one can avoid being searched.