New Scanners Detect Bombs, Guns, and Knives in Crowds

[Excaliber]

According to this article, the British have developed a scanner that can reportedly pick out persons carrying bombs, handguns, or knives from a distance with no indication to the targets that they are being scanned.

The implications are staggering if you think about it.

[SQLGeek]

The implications are staggering if you think about it.

Interesting 4th Amendment implications with that one.

[AEA]

Sounds like HS/TSA will be their biggest customer to further restrict our Constitutional rights!

I'm sure there is no consideration to dump all the useless TSA gropes/scans and do Israeli profiling that has proven to work!

Heck, TSA cannot even correctly check boarding passes (recent flight taken with expired/stolen boarding pass and no identification). How can we expect them to do ANYTHING correctly?

[kbscobravert]

Born out of the necessity to keep our troops safer while they fight to protect us.

[Bulldog1911]

Born out of the necessity to keep our troops safer while they fight to protect us.

And if used for that purpose would be great. However as AEA said, it will eventually be used to restrict our constitutional rights...

[RPB]

It would surprise me more if that technology did not exist.

With ground penetrating radar and FBI X-ray vans .... guess I'll fill my pockets with lead, have metallic linings sewn into clothes .... and wear a tinfoil hat for shielding to reduce radiation exposure.

Great ... not again .... last time my teeth fillings kept getting radio signals from the Planet Exxon when I had all that metal around me ... now I'll probably pick up planet Valero too

[chasfm11]

Sounds like HS/TSA will be their biggest customer to further restrict our Constitutional rights!

I'm sure there is no consideration to dump all the useless TSA gropes/scans and do Israeli profiling that has proven to work!

Heck, TSA cannot even correctly check boarding passes (recent flight taken with expired/stolen boarding pass and no identification). How can we expect them to do ANYTHING correctly?

No, they'll have to retain the groping because the new scanner cannot detect soiled Depends on 90 year old ladies yet.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

This morning a talk show host on AM radio (IDK who) stated that Homeland Security has
developed some intelligence that Muslim terrorists are considering implanting bombs in people's bodies.

The host speculated that women whose bust looked "store bought" in size would be profiled as potential C4 <or some explosive> carriers.
People who have surgery scars may also be profiled.

I understand that talk show hosts have to generate fear and outrage every day to justify their existence, but sometimes
they do point out upcoming problems about which the general populace should be aware.

SIA

[The Annoyed Man]

Quoting the article:

Heavily-censored reports obtained by the newspaper in a freedom of information request reveal other trials saw the guinea pigs armed with "handguns and knives."

So if American law enforcement starts using this stuff, they're going to know if we're carrying a gun? Does that mean that anybody carrying is going to get stopped and asked for ID to prove that they aren't a criminal?

The implications are not only staggering, they are cause for great concern about civil liberties.

The host speculated that women whose bust looked "store bought" in size would be profiled as potential C4 <or some explosive> carriers.
People who have surgery scars may also be profiled.

I have an 8" long surgical scar up my lower spine. I used to joke about "that's where they hid the bomb" (delivered in an exaggerated whisper). Not any more. I don't tell anybody about it unless they have a need to know.

(Edited to fix quote tags)

[surprise_i'm_armed]

As a dedicated number plate watcher, I have seen the Texas vanity number plate "C4".

The last time I saw it, it was on a white Ford Ranger in and around Corinth (Denton County), Texas.

SIA

[2farnorth]

Maybe a spin off from these things.

http://www.as-e.com/zbv/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Doesn't make me feel comfortable.

[The Mad Moderate]

I have to be honest I am seeing some hypocrisy in this thread. Some here have in the same post said this os violating our right then saying we should profile people. You can't have it both ways. This seems like a better alternative in airports than the current scanners and pat-downs.

[AEA]

Obviously my post you are referring to....
Hypocrisy may in fact be apparent, thanks for pointing that out.

Bottom line is, one is proven to work (Israeli system) while the other (HS/TSA system) is just a waste of money and a "feel good" attempt at security.

And the topic (system) described in the OP would NOT be a better alternative in airports as it would be an addition to what they do now, NOT a substitute.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have to be honest I am seeing some hypocrisy in this thread. Some here have in the same post said this os violating our right then saying we should profile people. You can't have it both ways. This seems like a better alternative in airports than the current scanners and pat-downs.

We're not talking about airports. We're talking about crowds. Any crowds. That's not profiling. That's a straight up police state.