What would you do?

You Tube Video of Six Year Old Being Frisked by TSA Employee

I don't mean to start any political debate about this, but was curious about what you would do if this was your kid being frisked like this at an airport.

I'm all for national security, but this bothered me IMMENSELY. I feel like they could have done the wand, if they needed to. But this frisk, to me, borders on molestation. My first baby isn't even born yet, but this video got my heart racing and I just wanted to cry at the thought of being in this predicament.

I know it's a pretty helpless situation for parents, and I don't know what I would do, but I know I wouldn't be able to just sit there and let it happen to my kid.

WWYD?

Re: What would you do?

I think it is a bit extreme to say it borders molestation. Honestly. It is being done for a purpose, to protect all of us, including the child being searched. Unfortunately these are the times we live in now. Children have been known to smuggle drugs in and are an easy weapon to strap a bomb onto, so I see no problem with it.

The TSA agents are not standing there groping the children. She patted the child down, checking more carefully in certain areas, even used the back of her hands for most of the search. These people are trained, standing in front of a crowd of people, I would hardly call that molestation.

People need to explain beforehand things that may be done at the airport and explain it is only being done to hlep protect us all, instead of causing a scene in front of the child, pleading for it not to be done, so the child feels there is something really wrong with it.

These are the times we are living in and nothing is going to change, so its time to make children aware of what is going on so they can understand it, its purpose to protect them, instead of making them feel someone is out to harm them.

Message edited 4/23/2011 10:31:34 AM.

Re: What would you do?

I'm actually stressed about this. I too understand why the TSA agents are doing what they are doing, but I would probably end up in jail for punching one of them. I'm already worried enough b/c I'm flying to Baltimore in 3 weeks and I am going to refuse that backscatter machine in BWI if told to go through it, I hope they don't give me a hard time about it.

Re: What would you do?

I saw this on GMA the other day. I really don't know what to think but I'm leaning towards being okay with it. On the one hand, I'm completely all for airline safety. I know they choose people at random for those searches. In the video you can see that the TSA agent is doing the best she can to do her job and not upset the little girl. I don't see anything wrong with what the agent did. On the other hand, the concept of frisking a small child is what I think is bothersome. Unfortunately, extremists are so completely insane you can not rule out the possibility of them trying to get by with their kid.

Re: What would you do?

I think it's scary that we live in a world where this is necessary, but IMO it IS necessary. There are PLENTY of crazy terrorists who would strap bombs or explosives to a poor child. It is a necessary evil.

I didn't find it bordering on molestation at all. I wouldn't want my child patted down, but if I was able to watch (as opposed to video tape ... why would a parent be recording it other than just wanting to make a stink?) I would be OK with it.

ETA I didn't watch the video you linked to before I responded, I just did now - it is different than the one *I* was thinking of, where the parent was the one recording the incident.

Message edited 4/23/2011 10:39:43 AM.