TSA Pat-Downs: Violation or Safety Necessity

It's question of civil rights. Is the Transportation Security Administration going too far when it comes to airport security measures, or is it doing what needs to be done to ensure our safety while traveling?

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By Natalie Travis

Story Created: Feb 22, 2011 at 8:34 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Feb 22, 2011 at 8:34 PM AKDT

 ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTVA-CBS 11 News) It's question of civil rights. Is the Transportation Security Administration going too far when it comes to airport security measures, or is it doing what needs to be done to ensure our safety while traveling?

It's a topic that's always generated controversy, but after Alaska State lawmaker Sharon Cissna refused a pat-down search at SEA-TAC airport over the weekend, others have come forward claiming they too have felt violated by the TSA.

"I feel really proud of Sharon. I think she stood up for thousands of Americans. Why, when a woman has had a mastectomy, does she have to go through this? It looks to me that there is something wrong with the way TSA is doing things if this is going to be a continuous pattern," said State Representative Beth Kerttula (D-Juneau).

The Transportation Security Administration says it's sensitive to the concerns of passengers who aren't satisfied with the screening process, however it's working to balance those concerns with the very real threat of attempts to use explosives to carry out attacks on planes.

"I consider it sexual assault. It literally took everything in my power not to respond in self defense and what I really wanted to do was go home to my family so, I just put up with it," said Mark Lurtsema, who says he felt violated by a TSA pat-down at the Fairbanks International Airport.

"He [TSA Agent] actually put his hands down my pants and it went down...he was able to go as far down as where the top of my pubic hair starts and to the top of the crack of my behind, all the way around, and there really wasn't any [where] on my body that wasn't touched...I would have said no had I known it was going to be that thorough," said Lurtsema.

When asked how he felt afterwards, Lurtsema said, "Dirty, I needed to take a shower. Actually, I went straight over to the bar and had a beer."

TSA says the majority of passengers won't receive pat-downs, but some who have say they don't want to relive the experience.

"I don't see how patting me down and touching my private area stops terrorism in any way. While I fully support ending terrorism and the danger to American citizens and lives, that's not going to do it. We need to be doing something intelligent rather than something that's such a violation to our civil rights," said Lurtsema.

In a written statement, TSA responded to the Cissna incident, "We take the professionalism of our workforce and the integrity of our security procedures very seriously and will address any alleged issues directly with the passenger and not through the news media."

After refusing the TSA pat-down, Rep. Cissna traveled to Juneau by boat; she is expected to arrive Thursday.

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Sue said on Thursday, Mar 3 at 11:11 AM

Prosecute the TSA and YES they are Trampling our rights in the name of false security!! Put these sex offenders in JAIL!!!!!!!! Where by the way, some of them came from!

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