OK, I may have just discovered the epitome of stupidity concerning airport security. Just how stringent does security have to become before we start applying a little common sense to the process?
The plethora of restrictions and procedures have already vastly changed the air travel experience. It used to be a pleasurable and convenient way to cover a lot of miles in a short amount of time. Now, if the trip is less than 500 miles, it’s probably faster (and far less stressful) just to drive, instead of arriving at the airport two hours early, waiting in multiple lines, sitting on the tarmac, etc.
Sure, we’ve gradually become accustomed to inconveniences, such as:
– Showing our photo ID up to four different times while walking through the same line.
– Throwing away a beverage container because it contained more than 3.4 oz. of natural spring water (and then paying $5 for a “secure” bottle of water, after passing through the security checkpoints).
– Taking off our shoes before walking through the metal detector, and then leaning up against a wall to put them back on again–increasing the delays for billions of passengers over the years, ever since one guy set his shoes on fire.
Well, this morning, our daughter-in-law was passing through a security checkpoint with our ten-month-old granddaughter. Have you guessed it yet? At the security checkpoint, she was required to remove the baby’s shoes and pass them through the X-ray machine!
Now, let’s even put aside any thoughts about inconvenience, or even health considerations for the baby. For a moment, let’s consider only common sense. Obviously, the baby’s shoes are miniature versions of adult shoes. They’re only about three inches long. Even if someone did have ill-conceived plans for those shoes, and even if the shoes were large enough to somehow establish a threat, two thoughts came to mind:
First of all, any adult could have easily dropped this pair of shoes into his/her shirt pocket, and walked through the metal detector, without having the shoes subjected to the X-ray machine.
Also, if the thin soles of the baby shoes had indeed imposed some threat, then the same threat could be imposed by a variety of objects that routinely escape the X-ray machine, such as belts, shirt collars, etc. What’s next? Will these items soon be scrutinized just as closely?
Oh, no! That brings to mind the “Underwear Bomber” whose plans were thwarted last Christmas Day. I wonder if plans are underway to outlaw underwear.