Is There a Better Way?

[Jason Boyd]

     In response to terrorism as displayed on 9/11/2001, the federal government created the Travel Security Administration (TSA) to help curtail the possibility of those who would do harm via explosive devices and firearms from gaining access to commercial airliners. The implementation of procedures and machines has drastically changed how one checks in to take a flight and has received ongoing backlash from citizens concerning the inconvenience of long wait lines to go through security checkpoints, unreasonable search and seizure of personal property, the behavior of TSA agents, and overall concern regarding the potential of long lasting health problems as a result of being exposed to some of the machines used to detect harmful substances/items.

     Though there have been some improvements in technology over the years, overall the performance of some of the machines used at the security checkpoints since their inception has been dismal at best. And even though the TSA has spent millions of dollars testing and improving the machines, report after report shows the machines just aren’t working as expected, whether by lack of technology, preventative maintenance, or an operator’s inept ability.

     One can’t help but question with all of this time, effort, and money invested, “Is there a better way?” 

 

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/airport-security-price-for-ts...

[Harrison Stokes]

It's crazy to think about how how far we have come in technological advances in preventing terrorism. My dad tells me about when he would fly int he late 80's that it would take longer to park his car and walk to his terminal than it would to get from the terminal to his seat on the plane. The technology we have in preventing terrorism is state of the art but as you mentioned, it seems to fail us every now and then. Is there a better way? I really hope so. Terrorist are becoming more and more smart in what they do. We need to come up with a system that is a step ahead of them. Furthermore, a system that never stops developing. We need to have a leading edge on our enemy in more than just the air ports. Recently i read and article that discussed how terrorist are getting into the country. What they have been doing is flying into Mexico and coming up that way. immigration have caught people coming up that have direct ties to ISIS. This system to be developed needs to eliminate all known forms of terrorism access into the country and all possible forms that could be, before ISIS thinks about them. Is there a better way? I truly hope so.