Body Scanners and the Fourth Amendment
Advanced Imaging Technology or commonly known as body scanners are installed by Transportation Security Administration at the US airports to map out security threats and avoid any gratuitous menace. A number of people are opposing this move alleging it unconstitutional and violating their rights which has been assured by the fourth amendment of US constitution. The issue has been in debate and in news since the inception of these body scanner machines. This paper discusses several related aspects of the issue.
Recently a US federal court of appeals approved the step taken by the security personnel and ruled that the use of these machines is not unconstitutional. The bench of three judges declined to put a stop to these machines and said “Any passenger may opt-out of AIT screening in favor of a pat-down, which allows him to decide which of the two options for detecting a concealed, non-metallic weapon or explosive is least invasive”.
After having observed the above mentioned analysis it is good to conclude that it seems logical to use these scanning machines. Any compromise in this regard may invite the portentous incidents like 9/11. We are living in a world with the perils of the terrorism and US is on the top of hit list. In these circumstances, people should cooperate with the security arrangements instead of making hue and cry every when and then. Using body scanner machines may annoy some people but in order to prevent any disaster, it is necessary. Prevention at earlier stage is better and wiser than curing the problem at later stage.
References
Pelofsky, J. (2011, July 18). Reuters. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from www.reuters.com: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/18/uk-usa-security-aviation-idUSLNE76E00U20110718
Stellin, S. (2010, November 18). The New York Times. Retrieved April 12, 2012, from www.nytimes.com: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/19/business/19security.html?pagewanted=all
