Breaking my TSA Ban

Written on November 14, 2011 by Ann-Marie Murrell
18
TSA grandma

Amendment IV: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated an no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Just about one year ago today, TSA announced that they would be adding new security measures to airports. This included a Rapiscan machine—which would basically publicly strip search people–and serious pat-downs, the likes of which only your spouse or a doctor would be allowed to do.

I was shocked and people nationwide were outraged, declaring they would never allow their 4th Amendment rights to be violated in such a way. News reports were coming out that airlines were concerned that people wouldn’t fly for the upcoming holidays.

I realized I had some decisions to make because my husband and I were scheduled to fly home to Texas for Christmas. I knew I couldn’t do it, couldn’t allow someone to search me without “probable causeâ€