Airport Security

In his essay “Airport Screeners Could See X-rated X-rays”, Joe Sharkey writes how he disagrees with the use of backscatters (x-rays) in airports because people do not want others to see them naked and the technology does not detect all weapons such as plastic bombs.  However, I think that backscatters are essential to airport security and should be used in every airport throughout the country.  Although this x-ray machine might not detect every weapon, it finds a big percent probably and to stop using it would make it easier for people to smuggle weapons through airports.  I would imagine with these x-ray machines it makes searching people much faster and easier as well.  It is not like the whole world is seeing you naked anyways.  These images are never stored making it virtually impossible for them to some how find the internet for the whole world to see.  Only the operator can see you and my guess is very briefly.  I personally would rather be glanced at naked for a few seconds by one person then being groped while being searched for weapons in front of everyone at security clearance.  I have a feeling if x-rays were not used people would still complain about being grabbed and search by someone.  According to a spokeswoman for the x-rays, Ellen Howe, “the images are cartoonlike sketches that only show outlines of each passenger and are never stored.”  Technically, the operator does not even see you completely naked and is only looking for weapons not pleasure.  Also, in Thomas Frank’s essay “X-ray Tests Both Security, Privacy”, he addresses how the backscatter has minimal radiation compared to traditional x-rays which makes them safer to use.  So if your fear is that they pose a health risk think again.  I do believe these make airports safer and the safer airports are the better.