Do you believe TSA screenings are effective?

2015-11-04T07:45:52-05:00

http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/11/03/tsa-hearing-rene-marsh-newsroom.cnn

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Nov 4 at 2015 7:55 AM

2015-11-04T07:55:32-05:00

Adam Ruins Everything has an interesting take on just that question :)

https://youtu.be/-LDzOi1dyAA

Why The TSA Doesn't Stop Terrorist Attacks - Adam Ruins Everything

Watch "Adam Ruins Everything," Tuesdays at 10pm, on truTV! See more http://www.collegehumor.com LIKE us on: http://www.facebook.com/collegehumor FOLLOW us on...

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 4 at 2015 8:01 AM

2015-11-04T08:01:21-05:00

Since numerous terrorist attacks have not been stopped/detected by the TSA (I'm still researching an actual number) I would have to say NO.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 8:07 AM

2015-11-04T08:07:14-05:00

TSA is a theatrical farce intended to placate the masses. As any red team analysis quickly shows, a moderately capable aggressor has little trouble getting through.

TSA screeners failed tests to detect explosives, weapons - CNNPolitics.com

Airport screeners failed to detect explosives and weapons in nearly every test that an undercover Homeland Security team conducted at dozens of airports.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Nov 4 at 2015 8:23 AM

2015-11-04T08:23:16-05:00

"Security" in all forms isn't "effective." It's a delaying tactic. It doesn't PREVENT. It DELAYS.

Now, this all goes back to 1973 and the purpose of Airport Screenings though.

http://flyingwithfish.boardingarea.com/2010/11/20/how-the-tsa-legally-circumvents-the-fourth-amendment/

And specifically the Court Cases and Laws which allow the TSA to exist. More specifically is the verbiage included in the case law. “noting that airport screenings are considered to be ADMINISTRATIVE searches because they are conducted as part of a general regulatory scheme, where the essential ADMINISTRATIVE purpose is to prevent the carrying of weapons or explosives aboard aircraft.” (Emphasis added).

Now, as all security is measured in Time, not in Effectiveness. How long will it take someone to Breach your security measures. We run into an issue. We know someone will make it through. It becomes a case of what is an acceptable "error rate." This is counter to the concept of Terrorism, which the Agency is designed to protect against, which relies on 100% Vigilance.

You can't have 100% safe air travel, not when you have "bad players" actively trying to circumvent it. Especially not when the vast majority of it is safe, and it becomes a "check in the box" and becomes an "Administrative hassle" on everyone else involved, and the government eventually realizes they can monetize or prey on the citizenry. It breeds an environment where ineffectiveness is better.

How The TSA Legally Circumvents The Fourth Amendment - Flying With Fish

A constant complaint from those opposed to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) new ‘enhanced’ pat down searches is that these pat downs violate a traveler’s Fourth Amendment rights. For those unfamiliar with the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution it reads “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,…

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 8:40 AM

2015-11-04T08:40:00-05:00

No! not to mention that the problem with all kind of weird demand ...and worse ... they answer to no one.

Response by SrA Jonathan Carbonaro made Nov 4 at 2015 8:41 AM

2015-11-04T08:41:39-05:00

NO.
Look the TSA is there to make people feel good. If I have to go through X, that means everyone else has to go through X. If a Bad guy, wanted to make a plane go bye bye, how easy would it be to bypass the TSA? How many sharp and dangerous objects are beyond the TSA check point?
We continue to attempt to give up Freedom for security, and we are getting neither. NO the TSA isn't effective, and it NEVER EVER will be no matter how much freedom we give up.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Nov 4 at 2015 9:00 AM

2015-11-04T09:00:53-05:00

No!

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Nov 4 at 2015 9:04 AM

2015-11-04T09:04:36-05:00

I can say they are doing a pretty good job. I know things will slip by no matter how good of a job you try to do.
When I flew a couple of weeks ago it took me forty minutes to get thru the TSA security. I have allot of medical equipment I have to take with me and I had my feeding tube hooked up so it takes me a little long then most to get screened. They don't usually deal with people with feeding tubes one officer told me and at first they told me I need to take my back pack off until I told them what it was and it was connected to me. They also had to check all my unopened cans of formula which took awhile.
For the most part they did a good job.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 9:18 AM

2015-11-04T09:18:50-05:00

I worked for the airlines for 6 years prior to serving. Working closely with TSA a lot of the time they were always the first to admit that they are used more as a scare tactic or "safety blanket" agency than an effective force.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Nov 4 at 2015 9:29 AM

2015-11-04T09:29:12-05:00

No, Their radar scans, pat downs, perp walks, 3 ounce containers and ban on toe nail clippers are for show at best. Have you asked yourself "Do the airline, airport, retail, and foodservice employees go through the same level of security? The answer is a resounding NO. The real purpose of the TSA was and is as a "jobs program" i.e. to employ people who will join unions and vote Democrat. Now the Aviation related security efforts that are working are those being done by the airlines themselves and include: hardening aircraft doors, hardening luggage compartments, and the new and improved bomb resistant luggage containers.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 9:45 AM

2015-11-04T09:45:49-05:00

I think it varies from airport to airport. Some personnel are more diligent than others. The thing that gets me - from a person that flies not often, but probably more than the average American, is how often procedures to change (shoes on, shoes off, belt on, belt off, etc..). I'm sure it's due to a "security threat posture" but it's annoying to begin taking off my shoes, only to be yelled at by some pompous TSA security guard to put them back on.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 4 at 2015 9:48 AM

2015-11-04T09:48:01-05:00

They have been proven not to be effective by repeated audits.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Nov 4 at 2015 11:40 AM

2015-11-04T11:40:51-05:00

SSgt Alex Robinson the TSA is the placebo effect of Air Travel. They provide the appearance of security to allow people to feel like they are safe in an airport. Beyond that, I think they are as useful as man nipples.

Response by SPC George Adkins made Nov 4 at 2015 9:59 PM

2015-11-04T21:59:22-05:00

True story first hand, yesterday. I was returning home from Columbus, Ohio and had just passed through TSA's Kabuki theater. I was waiting for my travel companion while he was going through a secondary check due to leaving his laptop in his bag. I had been watching a couple of TSA agents using their Garrett magnetometer to check out some people after going through the body scanner.
Once my friend was done asked one of the TSA agents to use the scanner on my foot (I have morbid sense of humor when is comes to the metal plates and screws in there courtesy of the VA.) The agents thought it was funny and complied. They passed the scanner over my foot and.....nothing. They waived it again....nothing. Finally another agent looks at the scanner, slaps it, turns it, slaps it again, and then announces how it is dead and has been for a while.
How many people had they scanned with the dead scanner? Who knows? It doesn't really matter. The TSA is for show anyways.

Response by PV2 Scott Goodpasture made Nov 4 at 2015 11:00 PM

2015-11-04T23:00:04-05:00

I was able to fly to Texas from California with a buck 119 fixed blade hunting knife that was in my laptop case that I had forgotten there. Seriously a hunting knife, a big one and sharp. I discovered it when I arrived while searching for a document. The case went through x-ray with the knife in it. This was 2 years ago around Christmas time. Yes I said Christmas and I own a hunting knife.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Aug 12 at 2017 7:52 AM

2017-08-12T07:52:02-04:00

It depends on what we mean by effective. If we mean they find 100% of banned items, then no. If we mean they deter torrorists from trying to get on planes in the US with the intent of blowing them up or doing a 9/11 style attack, then yes effective so far.