That’s right! We’ve heard it all and we’re all sick of the Nude-o-scope body scanners. However yesterday a passenger decided to reveal the FULL Monty for the TSA and surprisingly, since it wasn’t a overly revealing computer image, the TSA didn’t approve and instead the gentleman was arrested.
The TSA demands either a nude computer image to be taken of every traveler or if you opt out, you’re subjected to the standard metal detector and a full body rub down which includes a nice caressing of the genitals (Believe me, my testes get rubbed every time I fly!).
However, yesterday TSA agents in Portland received a live naked body (not on a screen) when a passenger traveling on Alaska Airlines from Portland to San Jose, CA, stripped naked in Portland to protest the TSA’s security screening measures.
John E. Brennan, a 49 year old technology worker, was charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure after he removed all his clothes and refused to put them back on. Brennan had passed through a regular metal detector (Not a nude-o-scope) and was then asked to step aside for an additional screening.
Brennan decided that the TSA crosses the line between privacy and security, so after being chosen for additional screening he decided to undress. He said “The most effective way to tell them I’m not carrying a bomb is take off my clothes…My body should not be illegal and I am not ashamed of my body. So I just took off my clothes.”
Do you think what Brennan did was wrong? I’m tempted to strip naked I’m asked to go through a Nude-o-scope. After all, it would accomplish the same thing!
FYI: This is not the first time someone has been arrested for protesting the TSA, in December 2010, Aaron B. Tobey, a 21 year old student, was arrested at the Richmond International Airport for removing all his clothing but his shorts and writing the 4th amendment on his chest, “Amendment 4: The right of the people to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.”
Tobey was charged with disordering conduct, despite being peaceful and was later released and was allowed to catch his flight.