Invasion of the Body Scanners, Really? Kari Blalack (Revolt against TSA, 2010)

A Quick Overview: How do they work? Backscatter X-ray  This type uses low level x-rays to create the image (Tessler, 2009). Millimeter Wave  This type uses radio waves that bounce off your body to create the image, kind of like a bat using echoes (Tessler, 2009).

The Major Concerns  Health Risks  Why the Nakedness!  Our Rights/ Privacy  Children?

Will it Harm Me?  Many have brought up the concern of radiation. Only Backscatter X-ray scanners emit radiation and this is very mild. A scan will expose you to about 2 to 4 minutes of flight time (Chesen, 2011). So, just pretend that your flight is four minutes longer than normal.

Oh, No! I’m Naked! A concern is that body scans appear naked. Body scanners strip down the human form to such a level only in order to detect metallic and non- metallic hidden items (Drescher, 2010). Because of this they can detect most plastic explosions that metal detectors cannot (Debate: Full-body Scanners at Airports, 2011). (Body Scanner in Canada, 2010)

Where’s My Privacy? I Have Rights!  Body scanners are not meant to invade your privacy but to protect your country. What’s more important, 15 seconds of embarrassment or the possibility of never landing (Tessler, 2009)?  Airports take your privacy seriously, this is why the people scanning you are not the ones viewing your scan. Your scan goes to another room for viewing and is not saved in any systems. Once your through its gone. Your face is never connected with it. (Debate: Full-body Scanners at Airports, 2011)  If you don’t like it then feel free to opt out for the person on person pat down.

Why Children? Children are scanned because terrorist do not have age limits. Some may view the scans as child pornography, but we do not have an issue with law enforcement and the justice system possessing such images so why do we feel differently about the airports trying to ensure safety (Chesen, 2011)? (Healthy Child Care Washington, 2011)

The Ethical Theories  Utilitarian  Kantianism  Slipery Slope

Utilitarian Connection “Ethical choices produces the greatest good and the least harm. Focus on consequences of actions.” -Bentham, Mill (Dziadek, 2011) Being objected to the use of a body scanner may be a personal harm but when viewed against the risk to society as a whole, if this action is not taken, the ultimate good of one day preserving human life out weighs the rest.

Kantian Connection “Human rights are interests and activities which we must respect and protect as a civilization. Every person has the fundamental right to be treated as free and equal rational agent.” -Kant (Dziadek, 2011) The amazing thing about body scanners are that they are literally blind to race. This means that through them, and unlike in pat downs, we can put a stop to racial profiling. Everyone is equal to a scanner. (Debate: Full-body Scanners at Airports, 2011)

Slippery Slope Connection  An argument of many is that by giving up and exception body scanners we are heading down a slope to a technical society where the government has total control. This is a slippery slope argument that cannot be proven. This same view was expressed about the Patriot Act, but hey we are still free. (Sencerz, 2011)

Works Cited  Body Scanner in Canada. Photograph. Canada. TSA Pictures. By Admin. TSA Pictures, 9 Nov Web. 26 Apr  Chesen, Jeff. "Full-Body Scanners: How TSA Made a Mess of the Message." NCSTL. Stetson University College of Law, Apr Web. 19 Apr  "Debate: Full-body Scanners at Airports." Debatepedia. International Debate Education Association, 15 Mar Web. 20 Apr  "Ethical Systems." Philosophy Recitation for Liberal Arts. Ed. Felicia Dziadek. Wiki, Mar Web. 20 Apr  "Full-Body Scanners 101: How Naked Is Full-Body Scan Naked?" Jaunted. Ed. Cynthia Drescher. Concierge, 6 Jan Web. 23 Apr

Works Cited Cont.  Photograph. Washington. Healthy Child Care Washington. Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network, 12 Jan Web. 26 Apr  Revolt against TSA - Body Scanner Security Systems. Photograph. Toptodaynews.com. Top Today News 2011, 13 Nov Web. 24 Apr  Sencerz, Stefan. "What Is Morality?" Lecture. Foundations of Professional Ethics. US, Corpus Christi. 17 Jan Philosophy. Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, 17 Jan Web. 23 Apr  Tessler, Joelle. "Airport Full-body Scanners Have Benefits, and Limits - The Denver Post." Colorado Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic - The Denver Post. Denver Post, 31 Dec Web. 24 Apr