The Controversy Over New Airport Security Measures

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The country’s recently heightened airport security measures have become a source of controversy and debate across the Nation. Due to a recent attempted act of terrorism, where a man on an international flight to Detroit attempted to blow up the plane using a bomb, the department of homeland security has taken new measures to ensure national security in the form of new high- tech full-body scans and pat down procedures in airports. The new body scanning machines create images of people without their clothing, and the new pat down procedure is generally considered too personal. Many people feel that the new airport security screening is an invasion of privacy. A recent poll by Zogby International claims that 61% of Americans oppose the new security measures (Martin, Los Angeles Times). Pollster John Zogby made a statement saying; "It's clear the majority of Americans are not happy with TSA and the enhanced security measures recently enacted". That being true, the only question that needs answering it why; why are the majority of Americans against new safety measures? The 61% who oppose the new security measures mainly argue that the measures are intrusive and an infringement on privacy. Some have compared the new pat down procedure to “sexual assault” (Mayerowitz, abc News). The issue has gone so far that the measures of security are being called unconstitutional. One organized interest group, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, filed a lawsuit claiming just that. They claimed the body scanners to be unconstitutional on the grounds that the scanners violate the fourth amendment, which states the right of the people “to... ... middle of paper ... ...d-airline-bombing-attempted-act- terrorism/+attempted+bombing+on+Dec.+25,+2009&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&cl ient=firefox-a. Frank, Thomas. "10 airports install body scanners." . 06 June 2008. USA Today. 29 Dec. 2010 http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2008-06-05- bodyscan_N.htm. Schwartz, John. "Debate Over Full-Body Scans vs. Invasion of Privacy Flares Anew After Incident ." . 29 Dec. 2009. The New York Times. 01 Jan. 2011 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/30/us/30privacy.html. Taylor, Lesley Ciarula. "Full-body scans top priority." . 31 Dec. 2009. thestar. 31 Dec. 2010 http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/744427--full- body-scans-top-priority. Associated Press. "Arkansas man sues over new TSA full-body scans." . 24 Nov. 2010. Boston Herald. 27 Dec. 2010 .

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