Airport Security

Daniel Issacs
Staff Reporter

Before September 11, 2001 no one thought twice about Airport Security or any kind of Security for that matter. It was simply something that slowed down your trip from here to there. But ever since that tragic day in United States history travel by air became a lot more serious and a lot more secure. During the 9/11 attacks the hijackers were able to sneak on box cutters and take over the planes with them and cause the terrible death and destruction that they did. After them there have been a few cases in which people have used their shoes, shampoo bottles and electronic devices to try and hijack/crash planes again.
Because of these failed attempts the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) have upped their security procedures when getting through security at an airport. Now when going through security you must remove your shoes and belt take out your laptop and have all your liquids (under three ounces) in a Ziploc bag. The TSA has also changed the rules on what you’re allowed to bring on the plane and not have to check it. People are still allowed to bring things like guns, building tools, and athletic equipment (bats/lacrosse sticks etc.). But in order to do so they have to be checked (stowed in the cargo hold below the plane) and you have to fill out paper work.
The TSA has recently come out with a new form of security called the “Backscatter” or “Body Imaging X-Ray” It will scan the passenger from all sides to produce an image of them without clothing on. This will allow the security guard to make sure no one is trying to hide anything on their person under their clothes.
If you are worried about the privacy part of the new system the TSA released this statement "For additional privacy, the officer viewing the image is in a separate room and will never see the passenger and the officer attending to the passenger will never see the image. The officers have 2-way radios to communicate with each other in case a threat object is identified." This new system has been or is being installed in 30 major United States Airports. A few of the major ones are Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Las Angeles, Miami, New York (JFK), Phoenix, Tampa, Washington D.C (Regan).
A lot of people are unhappy about the new security system and they believe it is an invasion of their privacy. Even though the TSA has stated that the images will not be printed or saved the Security Agents still have the ability to print and save the images which discomforts a lot of passengers. The TSA hopes this will make security even tighter and make airplanes an even safer place to be.
After 9/11 security became a big issue not just for airlines but all places with a lot of public activity. Places like Theme Parks, Theatres, Festivals/Fairs and Schools etc. have all improved security and now have their own type of security check point you have to go through. They are not as elaborate as the check points at the Airport but security is still the same. In England the police now carry guns after decades with only nightsticks because of 9/11 and the London bombings.
Since 2001 security in the United States has definitely become a more important issue than it has in past decades. Everywhere you go security is more noticeable and more involved with everyone. With new technologies coming out the security of the United States seems to be growing even more with no signs of slowing down. United States Airports have a pioneer of sorts for the advancement of the security in not only our country but the world’s larger countries as well.