TexasCHLforum.com

Maybe I'm off base, but it was my understanding from reading various articles on the subject that the badges were not required, and frowned upon if not outright banned. Even if they are allowed but the employer won't pay for it, what is the cost of the badges and analyzing the results vs. the typical TSA worker's pay?

WildBill wrote:

Jaguar wrote:I can't believe the TSA makes them work around that stuff 8 hours a day and won't even allow them to have a radiation badge.

Really? I would think that OSHA would require monitoring.

It was a story for a while. They may have finally allowed it, but I haven't heard about it if so. A quick search brought me this, http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/yourlife ... side_N.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Since April 2009, the Army team also has been studying the radiation doses received by TSA workers at six airports, Philadelphia, Baltimore, West Palm Beach, Memphis, Los Angeles, Portland, Ore. The report is not yet final, but Szrom said all the data shows radiation exposure is low — "well below" limits that would require workers to routinely wear radiation monitoring badges.

So they may not be exposed to high levels under normal circumstances, but what about malfunctions? Would you want to know if you got a large dose if one of their machines messed up?

Jumping Frog wrote:

StewNTexas wrote:I will never go through one of their machines. I am afraid any/some/all 'rays' might have some impact on the progarmming, which is extensive.

You do not have to go through any xray or other machines if you do not want to. You can request a search instead.

But I can understand and respect a decision to avoid flying under those circumstances.

I have to travel on business, so I simply put up with it.

Yeah, I opted out at LAX and was told to "stand right there while we get someone." "Right there" was less then 3 ft. away from a industrial refrigerator sized backscatter x-ray emitting machine. The guy didn't say anything, just looked at me kind of funny, as I was backing as far away from the machine as I could get and still be inside the designated area.

I can't believe the TSA makes them work around that stuff 8 hours a day and won't even allow them to have a radiation badge.

"It's very significant," said Dr. Cedric Alexander, TSA Federal Security Director at D/FW Airport. "[Even] one weapon found is significant, because we have to make sure we're protecting the flying public."

The pistol is not a danger to the flying public, it is people who would use any means available to hurt, maim or kill as many other people as possible. A CHL holder is not very likely to be the person who would attempt that, but the TSA doesn't focus on threts, they focus on keeping nail files off planes, and find some firearms by accident.

In the last 10 days, TSA screeners have discovered five guns at D/FW Airport. So far this month, seven have turned up during X-rays of carry-on luggage.

Alexander credits two elements for all the discoveries.

"We really are recovering a lot of weapons," he said. "The technology we are seeing today that has been employed is playing a very, very important part. But I think one of the more significant pieces of the detections [that] are being made is really in our personnel."

Baggage x-ray and metal detectors will find any gun, why credit "technology" with finding them? Oh yeah, someone who knows someone had some naked body scanners to sell, and are still trying to justify the massive bill the taxpayers stuck with.

Oh, "recovering", that would imply the firearms belong to the government in the first place. Or that they were somehow lost and the good folks at the TSA got them reunited with their long lost owners.