TSA Makes 4-Year-Old Take Off Leg Braces

Have you heard the one about the airport security screener who made a handicapped and developmentally delayed 4-year-old take off his leg braces and lurch through the metal detector? It's hilarious! The kid has malformed ankles and very low muscle tone in his legs due to being born 16 weeks prematurely. His parents thought he would like to visit Disney World for his birthday, but the kid's custom-made leg braces made the metal detector go off at the airport. The TSA agent refused to let the kid pass until he took off the braces and walked through the machine unaided. This is a joke, right?

Comments

USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

The US has gotten progressively worse to visit. You guys need to stop this insanity.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[tobiah]

No shit, and I have to live here!

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

Its no better for us either. I do my best to avoid travel. When I come back "home" I have to deal with dumber and more invasive personnel than I did traveling between Taiwan and China. I've had repeated run-ins with these fools year after year. It never improves.

The attitude, professionalism, and skill of ALL TSA "OFFICERS" is despicable. They serve no purpose, and harm the world economically. The sooner they are gone the better.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Nutria]

No shit, and I have to live here!

I perfectly remember when Democrats and other left-wing idiots brayed continuously that federalizing airport security would make us so much safer because http://www.house.gov/platts/opeds/op_airportsecurity.shtml

The TSA is required to: 1) enact stricter standards for the screening of airline passengers and baggage; 2) conduct extensive background checks on all airport security personnel; 3) provide the training for and testing of all airport security personnel; and 4) provide uniformed federal officials to supervise the screening of all passengers and baggage at airports.

Next time we conservatives say that government control isn't going to make things any better, please listen!

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

Last I checked, 100% of what's in place now was put in place UNDER NEO-CON LEADERSHIP.

The next time a conservative idiot brays about how they'll fix everything (and how everything is the Democrats' fault), ignoring the previous 8 years of conservative rule, please listen!

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[RockDoctor]

No shit, and I have to live here!

You're prevented from leaving? How? Has someone stolen or sequestered your passport, or does the government not allow you one?
Or is it the case that you can't find another country that is willing to let you in? Boy, you must have done something seriously bad if even Haiti won't let you in.

Oh, you meant to say that you can't be bothered with leaving? Well why didn't you say that then?
And eventually, the US government will succeed in driving you out of the country, which will be their loss and your gain.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[BeansBaxter]

I'd like to point out as a conservative and a Bush supporter that he was far from conservative. He fought an unpopular war and won. For that he was attacked daily. When it came to spending he never once vetoed a bill and signed into law some very expensive measures. I supported Iraq. I saw the details. Never felt lied to. Its a shame he was wrong but really I don't have one moment of doubt that the right thing was done in regards to Sadam.

I never agreed with the spending and never will. Bush was bad. Obama is terrible.

We "conservatives" and libertarians didn't agree with expansion of government when forming the TSA and we don't agree with its continued funding and existence now. It has more to do with expansion of government and lack of common sense.

Bottom line is please don't associate "conservatism" with Republican support. Republicans were anything but conservative when they were in control of the house and the senate with a republican president. It is what made John McCain so unpalatable in the election. He really just appeared to be Obama light.

As for what is in place now I don't know the history but before Bush left office the Dems took full control of the house and senate. The use has a separation of power for a reason. Bush can not sign something into law without the house and senate voting yes. The Dems even without Obama had plenty of time to correct the problems with the TSA. Its still a laughing stock. Blame bush if you want but the republicans haven't controlled congress in 3 years and the Dems had a year of a super majority and really showed their purpose in that time. Bush was bad Obama / Pelosi / Reid is terrible. Freedom is an afterthought.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd like to point out as a conservative and a Bush supporter

I stopped reading there. Unless you tell us that you're very sorry and will do everything in your power to have every member that crime syndicate indicted and tried on all counts, there's nothing that you could possibly say that I would give a flying fuck about.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[teknosapien]

Just a few things I'd like to point out
Bush didn't fight an unpopular war he fought an unjust war for the sake of $ and that made it unpopular.
Ignoring of the rules of engagement and the Geneva convention made it and the US even more unpopular with the rest of the world
we went in on a false premise to protect our interests. Granted Saddam was an evil mad man that needed to be removed from the earth but come on
this is now very apparent since Bush has left office the us and other middle eastern countries have come together to in a joint efforts to put this snake down pre Obama they would not work with the US
Really he won the war? Because last time I checked we were still there in IRAN and engaged in Afghanistan where we should have been all along

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd like to point out as a conservative and a Bush supporter that he was far from conservative.

What was that sound? Was it the cock crowing? And again, and again?

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd like to point out as a conservative and a Bush supporter that he was far from conservative. . . .I never agreed with the spending and never will. Bush was bad. Obama is terrible. . . .We "conservatives" and libertarians didn't agree with expansion of government when forming the TSA . . . please don't associate "conservatism" with Republican support. Republicans were anything but conservative when they were in control . . . Bush was bad Obama / Pelosi / Reid is terrible. Freedom is an afterthought.

So . . . conservatism is another word for cognitive dissonance?

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[thescooterman]

The US has gotten progressively worse to visit. You guys need to stop this insanity.

YOU guys should stop breeding suicidal morons and teaching them how to pack explosives in their panties.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

No, he's got leg braces and can't get them off...

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[Anonymous Coward]

Stories like the above prove that the terrorists have won

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[228e2]

Ooooh . . . too soon? (i would of modded this funny though!)

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[BeansBaxter]

Well thank you kindly for replying then.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[BeansBaxter]

Bush didn't fight an unpopular war he fought an unjust war for the sake of $ and that made it unpopular.

Proof please.

Ignoring of the rules of engagement and the Geneva convention made it and the US even more unpopular with the rest of the world

I don't believe I've read anything anywhere suggesting our troops ignored the Geneva convention. How many Iraq citizens are or were in Gitmo? How do you classify a terrorist fighting in a country he isn't a citizen of?

we went in on a false premise to protect our interests. Granted Saddam was an evil mad man that needed to be removed from the earth but come on this is now very apparent since Bush has left office the us and other middle eastern countries have come together to in a joint efforts to put this snake down pre Obama they would not work with the US

Please cite one success outside of Iraq? Iran is enriching Uranium. Bombs still blow up in Israel. The Taliban is still in power in some places. Hell a terrorist group was elected into power in Palestine. How has Obama made one difference to any of this? Oh right he failed to get the Summer games in Chicago and delayed a surge of troops to Afghanistan despite the requests of his general. I'm sure those helped.

Really he won the war? Because last time I checked we were still there in IRAN and engaged in Afghanistan where we should have been all along

Yes I feel we were successful in regime change in Iraq. The war on terror in Afghanistan and "IRAN" ( I don't know of any US troops in Iran ), I think we are better off engaging the Taliban and Al-Qaeda than to ignore the problem but it is really a maintenance issue and not quickly resolved. If you know of the US doing anything except letting Iran enrich Uranium and a delayed troop surge please post it here.

Re:USA: The worst tourist destination

[BeansBaxter]

Conservatism and libertarianism are political view points. I don't support Bush's rubber stamping of spending. However I did agree with the US enforcing UN mandates and putting teeth to empty threats made over 15 years to the Iraq government. In that sense I supported him. I'm not happy about many other liberal aspects of his presidency. He was not a conservative president. That is my point. Having an extremely liberal ruling class shows how bad it can get however. I long for the Bush spending over the Obama bankrupting. Neither is idea and should a viable libertarian third option exist I'll vote that way.

Just the realities of Security Theater

[Virtucon]

They could have hand checked the kid with other equipment. I travel extensively and have seen people with braces and artificial limbs go through secondary screening. The Screener should have allowed this to be the
case with this kid. There's special scanning equipment that can be used to make sure he's not carrying anything of risk.

Unfortunately IMO the TSA is the new McDonald's when considering entry level employment. It's hard work, long hours and nobody likes dealing with the customers.

Power

[cstdenis]

Power trip.

Lawsuit.

[Anonymous Coward]

Big one. Like get as many free trips to Disney as that kid wants.

Crap like this...

[GeekLove]

...makes me ashamed of my country.

Re:Crap like this...

[RapmasterT]

...makes me ashamed of my country.

people like you who equate one moron who wasn't even following proper procedure with an entire country make me ashamed we're in the same one.

Re:Crap like this...

[schon]

By then, Bob Thomas was furious. He demanded to see a supervisor. The supervisor asked what was wrong.

"I told him, 'This is overkill. He's 4 years old. I don't think he's a terrorist.' "

The supervisor replied, "You know why we're doing this," Thomas said.

Thomas said he told the supervisor he was going to file a report, and at that point the man turned and walked away.

A Philadelphia police officer approached and asked what the problem was. Thomas said he identified himself and said he was a Camden officer. The Philadelphia officer suggested he calm down and enjoy his vacation.

Back home in Glassboro a week later, Bob Thomas called the airport manager and left her what he calls a terse message.

So... how do you feel about morons (like you) who can't read? The "one moron" was backed up by his supervisor, *and* a cop, *AND* the airport manager. Last time I checked, four was more than one.

Re:Crap like this...

[RapmasterT]

So... how do you feel about morons (like you) who can't read? The "one moron" was backed up by his supervisor, *and* a cop, *AND* the airport manager. Last time I checked, four was more than one.

You should check your reading *AND* math skills.

The supervisor didn't say he agreed with the guy, he's quoted as "walking away" when the father said he would file a protest. The cop asked what was going on, doesn't seem to have offered an opinion on the situation one way or another. The airport manager had a "terse" message left on her answering machine.

Basically, you took every person listed in this story, regardless of their involvement, and decided to list them as "supporting" the security idiot.

Yes, people like you embarrass me. Please move to France.

Paranioa

[SleazyRidr]

If it's not an American flag, it's probably a bomb.

Picking up Jack from the airport

[Anonymous Coward]

I went to pickup my step-dad from the airport one time. As I saw him walking toward me, I loudly said, "Hi, Jack!" ... then Lucy had some 'splainin' to do...