Legislator objects to airport search demand

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://www.adn.com/2011/02/21/1714152/rep-cissna-objects-to-airport.html

Anchorage state Rep. Sharon Cissna refused a security pat-down at the Seattle airport and instead plans to take the ferry to Juneau to rejoin the legislative session.

Cissna's chief of staff , Michelle Scannell, said Cissna was in Seattle for medical treatment and had been planning to fly back to Juneau on Sunday evening.

Cissna underwent a body scan while going through airport security and was then singled out for a full body patdown, according to Scannell. Scannell said TSA called for the pat-down because the scan showed Cissna had had a mastectomy.

Scannell said the TSA called for the pat-down because the scan showed Cissna had had a mastectomy. The TSA, on its website, says security officers "will need to see and touch your prosthetic device, cast or support brace as part of the screening process."

Scannell described the pat-down search as "intrusive" but did not elaborate on the Anchorage Democrat's refusal to undergo the search. She said TSA officials told Cissna she either had to submit to the patdown or leave the airport.

Scannell would provide no other details. Cissna did not respond to a request for an interview.

It appears as though Cissna's decision not to fly will mean she cannot rejoin the 90-day legislative session for another week. The next ferry to Juneau from Washington state is the Malaspina, which leaves Friday night from the terminal in Bellingham. The ferry gets into Juneau the following Monday night.

Scannell announced what happened in a statement e-mailed out to the news media late Sunday under the heading, "Alaska Legislator Denied Right to Travel." The statement said the TSA was barring Cissna "from exercising her legislative duties under the Alaska Constitution."

TSA spokesman Kawika Riley was asked to respond to Cissna's comments when contacted by The Associated Press. But a general statement issued later did not mention Cissna or her claims, saying the agency is "sensitive to the concerns of passengers who were not satisfied with their screening experience and we invite those individuals to provide feedback to TSA."

Both full body scanners and pat-down searches have come under increasing criticism as the TSA has stepped up its airport security. Cissna refusal to undergo the patdown was drawing praise from TSA critics on Monday.

"She's standing up not just for her but other people, particularly women... What's really, really terrible and just scandalous, is that these procedures do little or nothing to enhance security of our flight, and really are nothing more than security theater," said Scott McMurren, an Anchorage-based travel marketing consultant.

[Darnell 8,479]

Get Yer FeedBack On !!

GoGoGadget LetterFromYerDoctor !

[james&olya 1,121]

The truly sad thing is that this is a no-win situation. Yes, this is horribly intrusive, yet, now that attention has been called to it, if breast prostheses are exempted from screening it is only too easy to see how easily a terrorist bomber could use this against a civilian airliner.

Edited February 22, 2011 by james&olya

[mawilson 2,133]

Why do they even need security checks in Alaska? It's not like Juneau is a major terrorist target.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Why do they even need security checks in Alaska? It's not like Juneau is a major terrorist target.

It was in Seattle (Sea-Tac airport) where they did this. And speaking from experience, Sea-Tac has the biggest f**k pr**ks in regards to TSA that I have come across. It's like they took the biggest ####### wipes in TSA and gave them all jobs at the Seattle airport.

Their nothing more than $16hr. Don Door Knockers who couldn't get a job anywhere else but they had a clean recored so the TSA hired them. These are the same pr**ks who didn't get a date for prom for the fact they were Star Trek watching weirdo's so they take all their frustrations out on the public. I would love to see the TSA flushed down the toilette.

Edited February 22, 2011 by Why_Me

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

They should touch every politician including Barack and Michelle and their children and Janet until this insanity ends.

[mawilson 2,133]

They should touch every politician including Barack and Michelle and their children and Janet until this insanity ends.

[Ban Hammer 13,484]

They should touch every politician including Barack and Michelle and their children and Janet until this insanity ends.