USA TODAY/Gallup Poll: Most fliers bothered or angered by TSA pat-downs

[somone]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-11-23-airport-security-tsa-poll_N.htm

Poll: Most fliers bothered or angered by TSA pat-downs
By Gary Stoller, USA TODAY

Most air travelers are bothered or angry about thorough pat-downs at airport security checkpoints and many dislike the alternative at many airports, a full-body scan, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds.

The thorough pat-downs, akin to what police give suspects and which were in place at all airports Nov. 1, bother or anger 57% of adult fliers, according to the poll conducted Nov. 19-21 of Americans who have flown at least twice in the past year and released Tuesday.

About half say the pat-downs, which often touch breast, buttocks and genital areas, are not more effective than previous search methods at preventing terrorists from smuggling potential weapons or explosives onto airplanes. A majority of fliers say they aren't bothered by full body scanning machines. But a large percentage — 42% — say they are angry or bothered by them. The USA TODAY/Gallup Poll was based on telephone interviews of 757 adult fliers. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points...

Passenger rights advocate Kate Hanni of FlyersRights.org says the USA TODAY/Gallup Poll sends an obvious message to TSA. "The poll shows the nation is against these intrusive pat-downs, and nearly half of Americans are against the body scanners," Hanni says. "Most Americans haven't yet experienced either screening method but may do so over the holidays, and support for these measures will further erode." Hanni says that more travelers would oppose the scanning machines if pat-downs were not the only alternative.

[LaurenG]

1. As they should be! nt

[TheIdiot]

2. Yup... the only people who aren't...

are non-fliers & real-world deniers.

[dennis4868]

3. I don't get it....

only 2% of the travelers get the pat down so what is with all this outrage? And most airports do not even have scanners....WTF?

[Mnemosyne]

4. It needs 'nipped in the bud' now, before it spreads. Are you familiar with the 4th Amendment?

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

:hi:

[seabeyond]

5. what if totally opposed to them. but go off your only 2%, why angry? then you are pulled to be

part of the 2% getting the pat down. cant opt out. cant walk away. that always looms that you can at any time be made to be groped by a stranger. maybe you will. maybe you wont.

that is acceptable?

not even

you can say 2%, 20% or only 80%.... but if we dont want it, if we see it as unconstitutional, it is unconstitutional for the mere 2% too. and i can be angry for them

[frylock]

7. it's only a two-minute prayer!!1

[woo me with science]

9. So what percent would begin to concern you?

You imply it's okay because the number is low, which implies a higher number WOULD be concerning to you. How many people is okay to undergo a procedure that is of concern?

Do you use the same reasoning for other Constitutional rights violations?

[LisaL]

12. Millions of people fly each day.

So 2 % per day is thousands of people. That's just per one day.

[tpsbmam]

13. I agree with all of the above AND I'd be pulled out 100% of the time....I'd damn

well be royally pissed off!! Why would I be singled out? Because I'm disabled -- I use a wheelchair. Yup, that's enough to single me out for special handling. Let's talk about the discrimination aspect, huh? Fuck them -- I won't surrender my 4th amendment rights and I won't be singled out due to my disability. It'll be a very long time 'til I fly again unless this stops.

[GoldMedals4U]

6. Just imagine if they did patdowns on more people

The number would climb even higher.

[Bill McBlueState]

8. Wow, years of this security theatre crap,

and as far as I know, this is the first time anyone has polled *air travelers* about this as opposed to *the public at large.*

[gratuitous]

10. But if these measure are absolutely necessary

If these scans and pat-downs are crucial to security, then folks better get used to them, because the alternative is just too horrible to contemplate. What does that say if TSA modifies these crucial security measures? They're okay with people dying a plane crash caused by a terrorist attack from on board? Or these security measures weren't quite as essential as they thought, despite how they were first presented? Or that they'll bow to public outcry, regardless of the consequences?

[Pholus]

11. A but, a but... CBS says 4 in 5 strongly APPROVE of the scans!