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A group of lawmakers in New Jersey is moving to end the use of full body scanners currently at use in Newark Liberty International Airport.
Associated Press is reporting a resolution was announced on Monday seeking prohibition of the controversial screening procedure. The group represented both political parties as well as both houses of the legislature."Enough is enough," Republican State Senator Michael J. Doherty told Newark's Star-Ledger. "We believe there are constitutional violations taking place. We believe there are violations of New Jersey state law taking place."
Newark began operating the airport's first full body scanners last month. The machine takes a digital snapshot of a person's body that follows the contours of the body, allowing airport security screeners to check for weapons and other prohibited items. There are currently over 300 machines in use at other airports across the country.
Critics of the body scanners say they are ineffective, invasive and pose health risks. The Star-Ledger reported Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the American Civil Liberty Union of New Jersey, equated the scanners to a "virtual strip-search," adding they had questionable effectiveness.
Over the weekend, a cell phone video was posted on YouTube by a man who first refused a body scan screening and then objected to a body scan as an alternative at San Diego International Airport. The video, taken by John Tyner, 31, has already garnered nearly 250,000 views and almost 5,000 comments on the author's personal blog.
Another man, Brian Sodegren, has asked fellow travelers to come together in a potential revolt against the Transportation Security Administration, dubbed "National Opt-Out Day." Sodegren is urging anyone flying on November 24th-the day before Thanksgiving and one of the busiest travel days of the year-to opt out of body scanners at airport and instead subject themselves to body pat downs in full view of other travelers.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has strictly defended the security policies and procedures, asking that the public be patient and insisting each step is an important part of a layered security approach.
Photo: Transportation Security Administration
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The terrorists are laughing at us right now, we are our own worst enemy. They don't even have to do anything they can sit back and watch us ruin ourselves. More ignorant people talking about filing law suits on the TSA? What do you think is going to happen? The TSA agents will be too afraid to touch anyone which will be great for the terrorist. I would love to know how often these people fly? With our economy in distress, how many personal vacations are you going on. I think a body scan once or twice a year is fine and no need to complain. Who cares that they see your skeleton underwear or that you have to get patted down. I would love to see what these people look like that are complaining, I know that is a mean thing to say but again ignorance. Come on people safety is #1 right now...while the enemy is plotting every day you would think we could stick together!
November 18 2010 at 11:58 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOk lets be honest here any TSA agent that feels you is a sexual pervert also do you want a TSA agent feeling your son or daughter as well ?? HELL NO If they touch you or your kids immediatly call the police and have them arrested for sexual assault
November 17 2010 at 5:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTSA agents are not the enemy or did you forget that? They are trying to do their jobs and save our lives. I think you are sadly misguided if you feel that we need to make a police or civil suit when we are "checked over for dangerous items that will put our whole country in danger" and your "statements" will only cause a distraction in our security issues. Please please think about what you say because unlike you who do not value safety I care about what happens to myself or my loved ones when we fly. My assumption is that you don't fly or ever lost someone in 9/11. I agree with the first post, I am never flying out of NJ again! It's one thing to worry about the body scans and the dangers but another to start accusing TSA agents of injust things.
November 18 2010 at 11:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplySo when an airplane blows up because a terrorist has a bomb hidden God knows where what will people say then or who will they blame. You will blame security for that. Someone seems to have forgotten 911.
November 17 2010 at 11:06 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGood for NJ. Finally someone has some sense. First they need to prove that these things are safe. If I make a product filled with poison and tell you it's safe will you throw all common sense out and consume it?? X-ray is dangerious in any form for them to say that this small of a dose is safe is stupid, thats the same as saying that daily doses of gamma radiation will not hurt you, which the government did say back in the sixties. How many terrorist have these units caught here in America??? None possibly! Where does common sense tell you that the dangers are coming from, Mich, Ala, DC ? I think not, we all know where. If we do not quit following these educated idolts and start using common sense again there is no hope for this country. If they are Muslim scan them. Don't go by race but by religion. Wiccans haven't tried to kill us yet, neither have the christians, jews,agnostics, atheist or anyone else only the muslims. SCAN THEM IF YOU WANT TO SCAN SOMEONE.
November 16 2010 at 1:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyremind me not to ever fly out of New Jersey
November 15 2010 at 8:16 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replydam people should start sueing get the govermentaclu should get involed a class action suit talk about getting away with this is not ussr. the goverment is getting out of control its time to put homelandsurcurty on ice they can defend it all they want its illegal and they know it
November 17 2010 at 4:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot 5 Deals
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