Full Body Scanners Do Not Lead to Safer Travel Essays -- Airport Secur

Why should anyone including my 3-year-old daughter unnecessarily be exposed to cancer causing X-ray beams in a full body scanner? Or have a total stranger run his or her hands up and down my daughter's body for a full pat-down upon refusing the scan? Most enraging is that the scan can be done without my knowledge. Full body scanners should not be used in United States airports. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), on November 20, 2010 implemented the use of 385 scanners, otherwise know as advanced imaging technology in 68 airports to include Denver International Airport. The TSA is using these machines supposedly to ensure safer travel and be steps ahead of security threats. According to the TSA, as a preventive measure, scanners where rapidly deployed after Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's failed attempt at blowing up an aircraft with pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN sewn in his underwear December 25, 2009. Former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff claimed that if Abdulmutallab had gone through screening or a full pat-down, the explosives would have been discovered (Eggen, DeYoung and Hsu 2). The TSA also claims that not all explosives or explosive devices can be detected through metal detectors. The scanner machines cannot detect explosives such as the type that Abdulmutallab had concealed. Abdullah Ansieri had a detonator and explosives hidden in his rectum when he tried to kill Saudi Arabia's counter-terrorism chief, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef. Ansieri was Saudi's most wanted man and managed to get through two rigorous airport screenings and Saudi Secret Service, who defend royals by any means necessary. Professor Clive Williams a counter-terrorism expert of the Australian National University said the mac... ...he-real-radiation-risk-of-the-tsas-full-body-x-ray-scans/> 5. Bell, Jason. â€Å"Review of the TSA X-ray backscatter body scanner safety report: hide your kids, hide your wife.† My Helical Tryst, blogspot.com, 22 Nov 2010. Web. 1 Dec 2010. 6. â€Å"You asked for it...You got it, Millimeter Wave images.† blog.tsa.gov. TSA 09 May 2008. Web. 1 Dec 2010. . 7. "Are Full Body Scan Images Saved? Issue Challenged In Federal Court...† wgrz, Buffalo, 06 Aug 2010. Web. 1 Dec 2010. . 8. Meserve, Jeanne, and Mike M. Ahlers. â€Å"Body scanners can store, send images, group says.† CNN 11 Jan 2010: 1. Web. ! Dec 2010.