TSA Bozos Seize Pregnant Woman's Insulin
If this doesn't tell you everything you need to know about the kind of bozos supposedly maintaining security at our airports, I don't know what will. From an AOL Travel post, here's what the TSA genius at Denver International told the woman:
"He's like, 'Well, you're a risk.' I'm like, 'Excuse me?' And he's like, 'This is a risk ... I can't tell you why again. But this is at risk for explosives,'" she told ABC 7 - this despite the fact she had a doctor's note and had correctly labeled the medication.She was, however, able to get through security with a bottle of nail polish, hair spray bottles and syringes.
Her husband, Aaron Nieman, talked to ABC 7 and said, "It made me feel upset and made me feel somewhat helpless."
It's risky to respect people's rights -- their Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure...as well as their right to live through a plane flight -- because every time you do, it makes it a little harder to yank their rights away the next time.
Of course, insulin is specifically permitted by the Transportation Simpletons Authority, but why let that stop an "officer" from putting a pregnant woman's health at risk?
It should be unbelievable that such a thing could happen. However, it's not unbelievable, it's tragically predictable.
jerry at August 6, 2011 12:02 AM
Eventually, these dummies from the shallow end of the gene pool are going to kill somebody?
Are you happy now, Bush and Obamao?
mpetrie98 at August 6, 2011 1:13 AM
Not counting the systemic idiocy that's part of the whole idea of 'Homeland Security' and the TSA, what else can you expect from employees that couldn't even qualify to staff the drive through at McDonalds?
Of course, insulin is one of the permitted items, but since there are more than three letters in the word 'insulin', how can you reasonably expect the TSA officers to understand the rule? They couldn't even find their own ass with a search party and a copy of 'Gray's Anatomy'.
There are some who call me 'Tim?' at August 6, 2011 3:59 AM
If you track back to the original article here it gets even better:
Get a freaking clue. It takes, at minimum, 30 minutes to get to the airport in the height of summer. Do you think the ice packs might partiallly melt?
In addition -- in most states insulin is an OTC drug. No prescription or doctor's note needed.
Jim P. at August 6, 2011 5:39 AM
The TSA screeners are unbelievably stupid and inconsistent across airports. In one airport, they freaked over my curling iron (!) and had to swab and rescreen it and my suitcase. It's a curling iron! At another, they ignored it, rightly so. Such as waste of taxpayer money.
And Amy, no full body screeners at any airport on the trip.
Catherine at August 6, 2011 8:37 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/08/06/tsa_bozos_seize.html#comment-2402714">comment from Catherinethey freaked over my curling iron (!) and had to swab and rescreen it and my suitcase
Always worrisome when we find evidence that some person boarding a plane...STYLES THEIR HAIR!
Amy Alkon at August 6, 2011 9:01 AM
reading the oc register this morning about a 25 year old man from laguna beach being arrested for intending to have sex with a 13 year old girl he met over the internet. Of course it was a sting, which I am all for. What I was surprised to find out that the department of homeland security was involved. WTF? Pedophiles fall under the DHS mandate? We created this all new apparatus for this. Now perhaps they were referring to the FBI, but why state DHS? Anyway, it just struck me as odd.
ronc at August 6, 2011 9:41 AM
To say that DHS is engaging in mission creep would be an understatement.
Just as they're using TSA searches to unlawfully look for money, joints, porn, whatever, they're also becoming involved with every other intelligence agency out there. It's Big Brother, all right, and he's long since left the barn (to mix metaphors shamelessly).
Hey, Amy, though you might be interested in this:
Step One: Administrative Claim Filed August 5, 2011. "TSA has shown reckless disregard for potential harm"
http://www.travelunderground.org/index.php?threads/claim-for-procedural-redress.607/
Lisa Simeone at August 6, 2011 9:57 AM
Bin Laden is dead and he's still winning.
Ray at August 6, 2011 10:45 AM
Thats if he's really dead Ray, we never saw a body since they buried him at sea. I've long since stopped caring about that boogey man.
"The TSA screeners are unbelievably stupid and inconsistent across airports."
Yup. They let an immigrant from Nigeria fly free on expired ID/tickets and only nab him when he tries again. A few years ago I had a blue gloved idiot tell me my passport was expired, he read the "issue date" instead of the expiration date.
Sio at August 6, 2011 11:20 AM
I hear next the TSA is going to perform the "proctological plunge"--they will have to search your rectum for insertions.
When will it stop?!
When will it stop!?
B.M. Butz at August 6, 2011 8:45 PM
Amy, need an IP check here. It's Saturday night, and I think he's feeling lonely again.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at August 6, 2011 9:25 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/08/06/tsa_bozos_seize.html#comment-2403871">comment from B.M. ButzCrid, I checked (not that I needed to), and yes, of course it's BOTU.
Amy Alkon at August 6, 2011 10:22 PM
A soma per day keeps the TSA blues at bay!
Have one or even two!
You're very brave Goddess, in this odd new world.
breakerburg at September 9, 2011 7:31 AM
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