Security pat-downs coming to malls, churches, hotels?

[SandEagle]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/04/idUS66552269320110504


:\

1984, here we come.

 

[Brigandier]

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

except someone touching your junk

 

[Ns1]

I guess I'm no longer going to malls, churches, and hotels

 

[Ronstang]

If this becomes reality Amazon doesn't have pat downs so fuck you B&Ms.

 

[Brigandier]

except someone touching your junk

So you have nothing to hide, there's just nothing there. Move along.

 

[Duder1no]

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

this is why we're slowly losing our freedom

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Churches? This the Catholics finding a way to get to keep molesting kids without getting in trouble for it?

 

[mmntech]

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

Do us a favour and please never vote again, and for the love of god don't run for office.

I'm pretty sure even Israel doesn't take security to this extreme. Has America become so cowardly and paranoid since 9/11 that they'd just abandon the foundations their country was built on? Benjamin Franklin's warning rings truer than ever. Would you really sink to the level of the Soviet Union and the Peoples Republic of China, and become a surveillance/police state?

Realistically, this won't happen. It's just not logistically possible. Still, it reeks of the red scare eras. I hope Americans realize what their government is doing before it's too late. This is exactly why the founding fathers thought big governments were a bad thing.

 

[HAL9000]

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

100% this.

 

[Bignate603]

Any place that enacts this loses my patronage. If I have to stay at home and get everything delivered to me, so be it.

 

[Brigandier]

this is why we're slowly losing our freedom

Freedom to what, ruin productivity?

 

[SlickSnake]

I'm going to stop wearing underwear, wear loose fitting silk pants, and take plenty of Viagra and visit as many pat downs as I can 4 hours at a time.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Any place that enacts this loses my patronage. If I have to stay at home and get everything delivered to me, so be it.

atot's shutins are fine with this

 

[frostedflakes]

If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

So that means I can come over and search your house?

 

[trmiv]

Is there an actual article that goes with that?

 

[Brigandier]

So that means I can come over and search your house?

Sure, if you really want to. Just don't go in the basement.

 

[SandEagle]

Is there an actual article that goes with that?

sorry, no. i just made it up out of thin air to get u all worked up

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

So you have nothing to hide, there's just nothing there. Move along.

There is an Asian joke somewhere in there....

 

[Terzo]

Original article provided below for your convenience.

Security Pat-Downs at Shopping Malls, Churches and Hotels?
Imagine being searched and patted down before entering such places as a hotel, a shopping mall, a museum, a stadium, a train station, a place of worship or a bus depot and going about your routine business.


This just might happen, as predicted by an Expert: Security Checkpoints Near Soft Targets May Soon Become The Norm — and it could become a way of life in the United States of America.


Would safety increase overall if these security measures were implemented? What potential risks could occur as a result? Is there a better way? What are your thoughts?

Doesn't seem to be much substance-they don't even provide a link to the cited expert prediction. This seems to be more of a "what if" scenario. I won't worry about it unless I hear something more substantial.


*edit*
Apparently the Reuters article is merely a repost of a blog by some guy. In the actual blog post the opinion is referenced, appearing in the following CBS New York article.

Once again, article is below.

Expert: Security Checkpoints Near Soft Targets May Soon Become The Norm

A Day May Come When You'll Be Patted Down Going Into Stores

May 3, 2011 11:59 PM



Security experts believe transit hubs, like NYC’s Penn Station, are among “soft” targets terrorist may choose to attack in the wake of the killing of Osama bin Laden. (Photo: CBS 2)



NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Counter terrorism experts say a retaliation attack for Osama bin Laden’s death is inevitable. Terrorists are expected to aim for more vulnerable soft targets like shopping malls or museums.
They are places jam-packed with people — pedestrian malls, shopping centers and stadiums.

“Yeah, I feel safe. But of course in the back of my head I know that things can happen,” one person told CBS 2’s Hazel Sanchez.

Counter terrorism expert Juval Aviv said terrorists seeking revenge for Osama bin Laden’s death will turn to attacks less dramatic than the destruction on Sept. 11 — focusing instead on soft targets like hotels, places of worship and mass transit hubs.
“It’s easier and less complicated to carry out,” Aviv said. “What they’re going to achieve if they’re successful is to kill as many people as possible.”

Security consultant David Boehm said the future could include security check points entering all soft targets — like your local department store. Boehm said even with a police presence, the areas are vulnerable.

“The reason they’re called ‘soft’ is because it’s so easily accessible to anyone. There has to be security checks for the safety of all people,” Broehm said.

Added security is a turn-off for some New Yorkers.

“There’s a police presence and they search someone with a backpack. Somebody that looks suspicious, but it’s random. I would go if that if that is the case; not if everybody is being searched,” one New Yorker said.

“It’s better to be safe than to be sorry,” another person said.

Despite the challenges to secure high-volume soft targets like Times Square, security experts said one of the best lines of defense is already in place and doesn’t cost a thing.

“We are millions and millions of eyes and ears. We need to assist the police. We need to assist each other and keep each other safe,” Boehm said.

It’s freedom, coming with an increasingly heavy price.

 

[ahenkel]

I'm starting an all girl church

 

[trmiv]

sorry, no. i just made it up out of thin air to get u all worked up

My point is it's not an article. It's just someone's speculation with no substance. Aside from speculation and "hey it could happen!" is there any quotes from any officials, politicians or anyone else saying this is going to start happening? The link even asks for discussion on the matter, but the comments section is closed.

 

[darkswordsman17]

sorry, no. i just made it up out of thin air to get u all worked up

Did you look at the link? All I see is it saying an Expert says it could happen.

Is there supposed to be a video there or something? This is all I get:

Imagine being searched and patted down before entering such places as a hotel, a shopping mall, a museum, a stadium, a train station, a place of worship or a bus depot and going about your routine business.

This just might happen, as predicted by an Expert: Security Checkpoints Near Soft Targets May Soon Become The Norm — and it could become a way of life in the United States of America.

Would safety increase overall if these security measures were implemented? What potential risks could occur as a result? Is there a better way? What are your thoughts?

And that's copied directly from a blog, which just links to a forum.

 

[bfdd]

No. Absolutely I will not stand for this. I will not go anywhere that decides patting me down is a good idea. Fuck them, they obviously don't want my business if they're already suspecting me of being a criminal.

PEOPLE NEED TO STOP HAVING SUCH IRRATIONAL FEARS OF DYING SERIOUSLY. This is the ONLY THING that drives stupid fucking initiatives like this. YOU ARE GOING TO DIE, NOTHING YOU CAN DO WILL STOP IT. The 1000 ways you can think of dying by another persons hand pales in comparison to the other ways your life can just end. Stop being such scared little pussies and stand up to the pieces of shit that cause problems. Stop fucking pointing the finger at everyone else.

 

[vi edit]

I agree that it's just opinion editorial fearmongering.