TSA to Marine in Wheelchair "take off your legs."

[Danno 1,228]

If he had no no military I.D. and not traveling with other Marines, you might could understand the scrutiny, but this is just so over the top.

TSA agents 'humiliated' wounded Marine

Transportation Security Administration inspectors forced a wounded Marine who lost both of his legs in an IED blast and who was in a wheelchair to remove his prosthetic legs at one point, and at another point to stand painfully on his legs while his wheelchair was examined, according to a complaint a congressman has registered with the TSA.

Rep. Duncan Hunter said in his letter Monday that the Marine, who is still on active duty and showed TSA agents his military identification, was still forced to undergo that scrutiny.

“A TSA office asked the Marine to stand and walk to an alternate area, despite the fact that he physically could not stand or walk on his own. With numerous TSA officers sitting and unwilling to assist, an officer then made him remove his legs, then put them back on, only to advance to a secondary screening location where he was asked again to stand, with extraordinary difficult, while his wheelchair was examined for explosives,” Mr. Hunter said.

He also said TSA officers initially directed the Marine to the wrong line, then made him move lines but made no effort to help him. The incident occurred at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport last week, as a group of Marines was returning to San Diego.

Mr. Hunter included two photos of the inspection in his letter that appear to show a TSA agent patting down the Marine’s arm and examining the prosthetic leg.

The congressman asked TSA to detail its procedures to inspecting wounded U.S. troops at airports, and to consider whether agents should show “situational awareness.”

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/inside-politics/2013/mar/19/tsa-agents-humiliated-wounded-marine-aggressive-in/#ixzz2O07QJGfW

Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

[Teddy B 17,252]

Fort Hood shooter was an enlisted man, no?

Who's to say where the line is drawn?

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

If this gentleman was NOT a marine, would it be ok?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

If this gentleman was NOT a marine, would it be ok?

If he had no no military I.D. and not traveling with other Marines, you might could understand the scrutiny, but this is just so over the top.

According to Danno, yes.

[JensJrny2Ray 367]

According to Danno, yes.

Hah thanks! Apparently I didn't go to the School for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Want to Do Other Stuff.

Anyway, I'm pretty anti-TSA groping, full body scan, take off your shoes, etc. etc. for anyone.

[Danno 1,228]

If this gentleman was NOT a marine, would it be ok?

Good question.

The problem I suspect here is protocol - they no doubt have a policy which says, if the person cannot go through the full body scanner, they get what this guy got.

This is indicative of the "no tolerance" policies which have swept the nation......it relieves anyone of making a decision or judgment call.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Hah thanks! Apparently I didn't go to the School for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Want to Do Other Stuff.

Anyway, I'm pretty anti-TSA groping, full body scan, take off your shoes, etc. etc. for anyone.

I generally am too. I've never had a bad experience with them, but some of these stories are so over the top.

[JohnR! 5,495]

... according to a complaint a congressman has registered with the TSA...

Pandering, at its best.

[Danno 1,228]

Pandering, at its best.

I don't see that as Pandering at all.

Who do you think has control over the TSA?

[JohnR! 5,495]

I don't see that as Pandering at all.

Ok.

[Darnell 8,478]

Hmmmm - wonder if that TSA crewe will get re-assigned?

[Darnell 8,478]

---

wouldn't it be best if the hiring of TSA agents be solely limited to Veterans?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The problem I suspect here is protocol - they no doubt have a policy which says, if the person cannot go through the full body scanner, they get what this guy got.

TSA has discretion. We took a flight out of MIA a couple weeks ago where they have full body scanners. I don't want my wife and daughter to go through these. So I asked the agent to allow my wife and daughter to go through the regular scanner and the agent said "no problem" and they both went through the regular metal scanner instead. No sweat. The TSA agent there was actually super friendly. I don't like this window-dressing called airport security but I've not had a bad experience thus far.

Well, there was a strange incident at LGA last month when I came back from a business trip but it was more silly than anything. They had a line drawn from behind which passengers were required to enter the inspection area. There was nobody in the inspection area so the natural path was to proceed straight from the door to the inspection area. But the two TSA gals there insisted that passengers make a left turn after entering the airport, walk towards the back of the hall, get into a path they constructed with tape and then follow that path to then cross the line and proceed to the inspection area. Weird. There may have been a hidden camera somewhere...

Edited March 19, 2013 by Mr. Big Dog

[Karee 4,190]

Ok.

If I ever start a debate team, I want you on it!

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Fort Hood shooter was an enlisted man, no?

no - field grade officer.