Airport Security Essay

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On September 11, 2001, our nation was stunned. Everything changed when nineteen hijackers passed airport security and successfully seized four commercial airplanes. Everything changed when the planes crashed, claiming the lives of 2,977 innocent people (“New York”). After September 11 everything changed drastically. Among those changes were a sharp increase in airport security. Full body scanners, pat-downs, and the No Fly List were implemented to heighten airport security and thwart the ongoing threat of terrorists. This has led to immense criticism from passengers, who believe these costly and advanced screening procedures are violating their individual rights (“Airport Security”). Some passengers support the need to secure the public with these efficient safety measures; others refute, stating they are intrusive, expensive, and ineffective. Airport security is an important asset around the world, but also establishes problems to privacy guaranteed in America, sparking a great debate between safety and privacy. Directly following the attacks, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all U.S. planes to land (Gard 22). The U.S. military began patrolling American skies (Roleff 70). Airports employed stricter rules, including the prohibition of curbside check-ins, vehicles parked within seventy-five feet of terminals, plastic knives at food outlets and nail clippers in carry-on bags in airports, and the allowing of random searches of vehicles entering parking garages, extensive searches of luggage, and only ticketed passengers through boarding gates (Gard 34). The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), which “protects the Nation’s transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce” was created (“Who We Are”). The No Fly List, or Terrorist Watch List, was also created to help “combat terrorism” and enhance the “U.S.

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