Maine Senator Wants Independent Study of TSA's Body Scanners 335
OverTheGeicoE writes "U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the top Republican on the homeland security committee, plans to introduce a bill that would require a new health study of the X-ray body scanners used to screen airline passengers nationwide. If the bill becomes law, TSA would be required to choose an 'independent laboratory' to measure the radiation emitted by a scanner currently in use at an airport checkpoint and use the data to produce a peer-reviewed study, to be submitted to Congress, based on its findings. The study would also evaluate the safety mechanisms on the machine and determine 'whether there are any biological signs of cellular damage caused by the scans.' Many Slashdotters are or have been involved in science. Is this a credible experimental protocol? Is it reasonable to expect an organization accused of jeopardizing the health and safety of hundreds of millions of air travelers to pick a truly unbiased lab? Would any lab chosen deliver a critical report and risk future funding? Should the public trust a study of radiology and human health designed by a US Senator whose highest degree is a bachelor's degree in government?"
Re:Should of done that (Score:5, Funny)
Isn't this something our fabulous leaders should of demanded before spending a crap load of money and deploying them all around the nation?
Nah, that would require foresight, a quality visibly lacking from our reactive society.
You Fools! (Score:5, Funny)
If you allow skeptics to get near the machines, they'll jam the faith rays and force us to either face further terrorist attacks or turn up the radiation!
Re:Should of done that (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Too late... (Score:4, Funny)
in one instance I had to let the TSA agent doing the search know that they skipped part of the procedure (I've done it THAT many times!)
I also always get chosen for the cancer box scanner, and always opt-out. It usually goes like so:
ME: stands on marker, puts arms out
HIM: "Sir, you don't have to put your arms out."
ME: puts arms down.
HIM: "Sir, I'm going to pat you down, blah blah blah, can you put your arms up?"
ME: rolls eyes, puts arms back up...
Re:Should of done that (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Too late... (Score:4, Funny)
Watch, the study gets done and finds out that the scanners have almost no harmful radiation on the inside but fires loads of it outside in all directions and hits those who opt out.
Re:Too late... (Score:2, Funny)
"From our independent study by an independent laboratory doing independent experiments of independent independence on these devices, which are completely independently funded by our pro-TSA lobby, we have discovered that these devices emit truly patriotic levels of democracy and strong American family values to anyone who passes through it. Of course, we know science stuff; as all this American democracy penetrates the traveler and stays in the body, it has to make room, else the person will explode. Fortunately, it pushes out all the terrorist genes and unamerican thinking to the area directly outside the device, roughly where the manual pat-downs are happening. Next decade, we plan on getting protective vests for our TSA officers doing the manual pat-downs."
Re:Too late... (Score:4, Funny)
The problem is that opting out of the radiation dosing machines means opting into the government authorized groping line. And if you don't like that option, you are either kicked out of the airport (if you are a politician) or arrested for not cooperating with the TSA (for everyone else).
But at least all of these TSA measures have caught tons of terrorists right. *checks the Terrorists Caught By The TSA counter* *sees it reading zero* Oh, wait... Never mind.
Buddy, believe me, I know what you mean. I few months back I requested my pat-down before realizing I had *cough* morning wood. Lets just say that was the most uncomfortable/entertaining pat-down for the spectators standing in line for their x-ray scans. Poor me. Poor TSA agent...
Moral to the story: Still radiation free.
Re:Should of done that (Score:2, Funny)
Re:immense foresight was used (Score:4, Funny)
Yeah, the devices we sold you were as-is. They can't be upgraded to not cause cancer. You will have to buy this all-new less cancer causing device for only twice the price of the last one.